Tornadoes carve a path of destruction through the southern US as storms claim lives and leave thousands without power. (Photograph/ Lisa Lambert & Brandon Drenon/Video/BBC
EPICSTORIAN — A Missouri tornado caused catastrophic damage, claiming 12 lives after a powerful storm system swept through the southern United States.
Fatalities were also confirmed in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Homes were leveled, vehicles overturned, and entire neighborhoods left in ruins.
A dust storm in Texas triggered a deadly chain reaction on the roads. Three people died when reduced visibility caused a multi-car pileup.
More than 240,000 properties across six states, including Missouri and Illinois, lost power by Saturday afternoon, according to Power outage.
Severe Weather Intensifies
Tornado warnings stretched across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee as meteorologists monitored the storm system. Flash flooding added to the crisis, prompting alerts across Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that rapidly rising waters posed an immediate threat to life.
Missouri Tornado Aftermath Mike Kehoe Provides Damage Report
Reports from Missouri’s emergency management indicated that 19 tornadoes had already hit 25 counties. Governor Mike Kehoe described the impact as devastating, acknowledging the widespread loss of homes and lives.
In Arkansas, three deaths and 29 injuries were confirmed. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency, mobilizing resources for recovery. Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, issued a similar declaration ahead of anticipated severe weather.
Storms Fuel Fires and Road Disasters
Oklahoma reported fatalities as tornadoes and extreme winds caused havoc. The dust storm responsible for the deadly Texas crash also contributed to a 38-car pileup, bringing traffic to a standstill. Sgt. Cindy Barkley of the Texas Department of Public Safety called the wreckage one of the worst she had ever seen.
Wildfires erupted in Texas and Oklahoma, fueled by powerful winds from the storm system. More than 100 fires burned through the region, including the 840 Road Fire, which scorched 27,500 acres and remained uncontained.
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The Oklahoma Forestry Service issued a red flag warning for the state’s panhandle, signaling an extreme fire risk.
Tornado Alley Faces Relentless Storms
Mississippi remained under a high-alert tornado warning as the NWS forecasted “multiple intense to violent long-track tornadoes.” The agency classified the situation as “particularly dangerous” and urged residents to seek shelter immediately.
Tornado Alley, a region notorious for frequent twisters, saw widespread destruction. Although peak tornado season falls between May and June, meteorologists cautioned that severe storms could strike at any time.
Storm-related deaths in 2024 totaled 54 across the US. Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri reported some of the highest casualties last year.
The current storm system continues its path across the southeast, raising concerns that the toll may rise further.
