At least 34 people have died as deadly tornadoes tore through several southeastern U.S. states, causing widespread devastation. Missouri was the hardest-hit state, with 12 confirmed fatalities. The extreme weather event also caused mass destruction across Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia, leaving thousands without power and homes reduced to rubble.
Missouri’s Governor Mike Kehoe described the situation as “devastating,” with emergency response teams deployed to assist affected residents. The state’s emergency management agency reported that at least 19 tornadoes had touched down across 25 counties. Arkansas reported three deaths and 29 injuries, prompting Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to declare a state of emergency. Meanwhile, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed six fatalities, as tornadoes ripped through communities across the state.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of ongoing severe weather in the region, with tornado watches issued for eastern Louisiana, central Tennessee, western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. Flash flood warnings have also been put in place in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana, with meteorologists cautioning that these floods could be life-threatening.
In addition to the tornadoes, extreme weather events extended into Kansas, where a dust storm caused a massive pile-up involving more than 55 vehicles, killing at least eight people. Texas also experienced a similar incident, with a dust storm on Friday night leading to a collision of 38 cars, resulting in three deaths.
The combination of tornadoes and high winds has also fueled over 100 wildfires across several states. In Oklahoma, the 840 Road Fire has already burned more than 27,500 acres and remains uncontained. Authorities have issued a “red flag” warning, signaling severe fire danger in the state’s panhandle region.
Tornado Alley, a stretch of land in the central U.S. prone to tornadoes, has once again seen catastrophic storms. While peak tornado season typically runs from May to June, meteorologists caution that these deadly storms can occur at any time of year. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, authorities urge residents in affected areas to seek shelter and follow safety guidelines to protect themselves from further disasters.
