Thomas McIntosh
BBC News
US Tornado: Extreme Weather Leaves a Road to Destruction
In the US, at least 34 people have died in Missouri alone, including 12.
At least eight people have been killed in Kansas after more than 55 vehicles were caught in a crash due to a sandstorm.
More than 170,000 properties were not powered on Saturday evening in five states, including Missouri, Michigan and Illinois, according to Tracker Poweroutage.
Even harsher weather is expected in the region, with tornado clocks being issued throughout the Panhandle in eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee and western Florida.
Six deaths have been reported by Gov. Tate Reeves in Mississippi as several tornadoes spread throughout the state.
Flash floods and flood warnings have also been issued in central Mississippi, eastern Louisiana and western Tennessee. This is because bad weather continues to track the Southeast, just like parts of Alabama and Arkansas.
The National Weather Service (NWS) says these flash floods could prove fatal.
Several tornado warnings were issued across Alabama on Saturday night.
The NWS warned of “multiple, long, truck tornadoes” in these areas, describing the situation as “particularly dangerous.”
The weather agency said: “If you live in these areas, you’ll reach the most sturdy structure you can access and stay in place until the storm passes.”
Trouble, Missouri Trooper
Damage caused by tornadoes that hit Missouri
Debris was scattered across the Missouri roads.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said the state was “devastated by a fierce storm and tornado, destroying homes and losing lives.”
The Missouri Department of Emergency Management has shown that 19 tornadoes have hit 25 counties so far, according to initial reports.
Arkansas has seen three deaths and 29 injuries. He urged Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to declare a state of emergency.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also declared a state of emergency, but Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt confirmed that one person has been killed in the state.
The sandstorm that killed three people in Texas on Friday night caused an estimated stack of 38 cars.
“This is the worst I’ve ever seen,” Sgt. Cindy Berkley, of the state Department of Public Safety, told reporters.
“We couldn’t say they were all together until the dust settled down.”
More deaths have been reported in Texas since then.
The devastating storm has fuelled more than 100 wildfires in several central provinces and overturned multiple semi-trailer tracks, CBS reports.
In Oklahoma, one of the fires known as the 840 road fires, Oklahoma has already burned 27,500 acres, and remains 0% restrained, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Service. The agency has issued a “red flag” warning to the province’s Panhandle region, indicating a serious fire risk.
Matt Taylor with forecasts of serious thunderstorms affecting the central and eastern US areas.
Tornadoes form when wet, warm air rises and mix with the cold air above to form thunder.
Winds blowing from different directions rotate the air and move the air vortex upwards.
Four states with tornado-related deaths confirmed on the past day are on the roads of frequent weather events.
This geography is best suited tornado layers, and thus we have acquired a tornado alley with an unofficial name in the US in this range.
According to the NOAA, 54 people died in tornado-related incidents in 2024. Nine people have died in Texas. There were eight in Oklahoma, five in Arkansas and one in Missouri.
The peak tornado season for the tornado array is from May to June, but meteorologists have warned that tornadoes can occur annually.
Have you ever been affected by a US tornado?
Please contact us.
You can also contact us using the following methods:
Please use this form
Please email hasyoursay@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
Upload photos and videos
Please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
In some cases, your choice of comments and questions will be published and displayed as providing your name and location unless otherwise stated. Contact details will not be published.
