At least 37 people have been killed following numerous tornadoes, severe winds, and dust storms that swept across the United States during the weekend, causing extensive destruction to homes and buildings across multiple states.
Fatalities were recorded across Kansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, and Missouri. In Missouri, twelve people died, including three on Friday night when an EF-3 tornado with maximum winds of 140 mph struck Bakersfield, as confirmed by the National Weather Service on Saturday. This state has reported the maximum casualties.
In Kansas, a motorway incident involving over 70 vehicles resulted in at least eight deaths, according to state patrol reports. Meanwhile, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed six deaths across three counties and at least 27 injuries statewide. All previously missing persons have been located alive. Approximately 217 people remain displaced, with 23 counties reporting damage. Initial estimates indicate 12 tornadoes struck the state between Friday and Saturday night, as per the latest reports.
Additionally, Arkansas reported three deaths and 32 injuries across eight counties, with a confirmed EF-3 tornado in Cave City reaching 165 mph winds. Additional fatalities included three in Alabama, three in Amarillo, Texas due to dust storm-related crashes, and two in Oklahoma resulting from wildfires and weather-related incidents.
The risk of severe weather continues through Sunday (local time) from Florida up to the upper Ohio River Valley, as warned by the Storm Prediction Center. Over 60 million Americans face weather-related risks on Sunday.
A tornado watch remains active in north-central Florida until 5 pm (local time), whilst parts of northeastern West Virginia, northwestern Virginia, and central Pennsylvania are under watch until 7 pm, with western New York facing heightened severe weather risks.
Since Friday, the Storm Prediction Center has documented 75 preliminary tornado reports across seven states. The weather service continues its work to verify the total number of tornadoes.
Across the nation, power disruptions affected over 337,000 customers by Sunday afternoon, with Missouri reporting nearly 41,000 outages, according to USA Today’s tracking system.
Weather service offices throughout the central and eastern United States deployed field teams on Sunday to assess tornado damage.
President Donald Trump issued a statement on Sunday, indicating his office’s monitoring of the situation and the deployment of National Guard to Arkansas.
“My administration is ready to assist state and local officials, as they help their communities to try and recover from the damage,” Trump added. “Please join Melania and me in praying for everyone impacted by these terrible storms!”
Various weather service offices conducted surveys: Columbia, South Carolina examined Lake Murray’s north side; St. Louis confirmed an EF-1 tornado from Elmont to Union; Tennessee verified an EF-1 with 95 mph winds in Christiana; and New Orleans deployed two assessment teams.
During the storms, Birmingham weather service staff sought refuge in their “safe room” when a tornado-warned system approached their facility.
