- Tornadoes and storms killed at least 34 people across multiple U.S. states, with Missouri reporting 12 deaths.
- A dust storm in Kansas caused a 55-vehicle pileup, leaving eight dead; Texas reported similar fatal crashes.
- Over 170,000 homes lost power as states issued emergency declarations amid ongoing severe weather threats.
At least 34 people have been k!lled across the United States after deadly tornadoes and severe weather swept through several southeastern and central states, flattening homes, flipping vehicles, and leaving a trail of destruction.
Missouri suffered the heaviest loss, with 12 fatalities reported, while Mississippi confirmed six deaths, according to Governor Tate Reeves. In Kansas, at least eight people died after a massive dust storm caused a crash involving more than 55 vehicles.
Power outages affected over 170,000 homes and businesses across five states — including Michigan, Missouri, and Illinois — by Saturday evening, according to PowerOutage.us.
Authorities have issued tornado watches across eastern Louisiana, central Tennessee, western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle, with forecasters warning that more intense storms are expected.
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The National Weather Service (NWS) described the situation as “particularly dangerous,” warning of “multiple intense to violent long-track tornadoes.” Residents were urged to take shelter in the sturdiest structures available.
Flash flood warnings were also issued in central Mississippi, eastern Louisiana, western Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas, with the NWS cautioning that these floods could prove deadly.
In Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe described the state as “devastated” by the storms, with initial reports indicating 19 tornadoes struck 25 counties. In Arkansas, three deaths and 29 injuries prompted Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to declare a state of emergency.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt confirmed one fatality due to the storms, while Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp also declared a state of emergency in response to the destruction.
Meanwhile, Texas was hit by a dust storm-induced pileup involving around 38 vehicles, resulting in three deaths on Friday night. A fourth death has since been reported.
Sgt. Cindy Barkley of the Texas Department of Public Safety described the scene: “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen… We couldn’t tell they were all together until the dust kind of settled.”
The storms have also fueled over 100 wildfires in central states, overturning semi-trailer trucks and stretching emergency services thin. In Oklahoma, the 840 Road Fire has already scorched 27,500 acres and remains 0% contained, prompting a red flag warning for the state’s panhandle.
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Tornadoes form when warm, moist air rises and collides with cold air aloft, creating thunderclouds and rotating vortices. Winds from different directions fuel this rotation, forming the tornado’s funnel.
Four of the hardest-hit states—Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri—lie within Tornado Alley, a region notorious for frequent tornadoes due to its geographical and climatic conditions.
In 2024, 54 people died in tornado-related incidents: 9 in Texas, 8 in Oklahoma, 5 in Arkansas, and 1 in Missouri, according to NOAA. While peak tornado season typically runs from May to June, meteorologists warn that tornadoes can strike year-round.
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