Destructive Storm System Sweeps Multiple States
A powerful storm system has swept devastation through Missouri, Arkansas, and other states in the south, claiming dozens of lives and causing widespread destruction. The hardest hit areas by the extreme weather, which included tornadoes, heavy storms, and gale-force winds, were the Mississippi Valley and Deep South.
Missouri Sees Several Fatalities and Injuries
Missouri authorities reported at least 10 fatalities as of Saturday morning, with a number of others injured, the state’s highway patrol said. One such incident was of a man who died when a tornado reduced his house to rubbles.
“It was not recognizable as a house. Just a field of debris,” Butler County Coroner Jim Akers told the Associated Press in an interview. “The floor was on top. We were climbing on walls.” Also rescued was a woman who was inside the house.
Arkansas Also Devastated by Severe Weather
Violent storms, consequently, injured 29 people and killed three on Saturday morning in Arkansas, according to officials.
Deadly Texas Dust Storm Results in Fatal Crashes
A behemothic Texas dust storm caused hazardous roadways, leading to a number of vehicle accidents. Three deaths in individual accidents were documented by the state Department of Public Safety as a result of hazardous visibility and stiff winds.
Widespread Power Failures and Persistent Threats
Over 288,000 people were left without power as of Saturday morning, reported poweroutage.us. The severe weather system keeps moving to the east, spreading extreme weather conditions to other states.
Tornado Outbreak Predicted Over Gulf Coast and Deep South
As the Storm Prediction Center reports, a “tornado outbreak” is expected in central Gulf Coast states and the Deep South. Saturday morning, sections of Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi are already under a tornado warning. There is a “tornadic thunderstorm” that threatens to bring a massive risk to the area, warned officials.
Flash Floods and High Winds Complicate the Hazard
Flash flood warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service for Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, with severe weather predicted through Saturday afternoon. Gusty winds of up to 50 mph are threatening areas from northern Michigan to the Florida Panhandle.
Blizzard Conditions Expected in the North
As the southern states fight tornadoes and flooding, Minnesota and the Dakotas prepare for blizzard conditions. Up to eight inches of heavy snow, along with strong winds, is predicted from Saturday afternoon and evening.
Wildfires Spread Across the Great Plains
Simultaneously, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas are burning due to wildfires. Oklahoma reported over 130 fires throughout the state, resulting in evacuations in numerous towns. During a press conference Saturday, Governor Kevin Stitt indicated that close to 300 houses were destroyed and over 170,000 acres were burned because of the fires.
As the storm system maintains its rampage, authorities are asking residents in threatened areas to stay vigilant and be on guard.
