Deadly Storms Devastate the South and Midwest, Leaving at Least 20 Dead

A deadly storm outbreak has ripped through the South and Midwest, leaving at least 20 people dead, including 12 in Missouri. The severe weather has triggered tornadoes, high winds, wildfires, and flooding, with conditions expected to worsen throughout the weekend.

Key Facts

• Missouri: The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed 12 storm-related deaths in a Facebook post on Saturday afternoon.
• Arkansas: The Arkansas Department of Public Safety reported three fatalities and at least 29 injuries due to the storms.
• Texas: The Texas Department of Public Safety stated that four people were killed in car crashes caused by a dust storm.
• Oklahoma: Gov. Kevin Stitt confirmed one death related to smoke inhalation from wildfires. More than 170,000 acres have burned, and over 290 homes have been destroyed.

Severe Weather Threat Continues

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes expected to impact:

• Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, western Georgia, Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle through Saturday night.
• The most dangerous tornado threat will move from Louisiana and Mississippi in the afternoon to Georgia and Florida at night.
• The storms are expected to bring violent tornadoes, frequent lightning, severe wind gusts, large hail, and flash flooding.

Widespread Destruction and Emergency Declarations

Multiple states have already witnessed severe destruction since Friday:

• Tornadoes were reported in Missouri, Mississippi, Indiana, Illinois, and Arkansas.
• Wildfires spread rapidly across the South and Midwest, with Oklahoma alone reporting over 130 fires.
• Texas’ largest wildfire, the Windmill Fire, grew from 500 to 18,000 acres in less than 24 hours.
• States of emergency have been declared in Missouri, Arkansas, and Georgia.

Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage

At least 300,000 power outages have been reported, with Missouri being the hardest hit—nearly 120,000 homes and businesses were without electricity as of Saturday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us.

Big Number

100 million. That’s the estimated number of people at risk of being affected by these severe storms, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.

 

What’s Next?

Authorities are urging residents in high-risk areas to stay alert, seek shelter, and prepare for possible power outages, flooding, and additional tornadoes throughout the weekend. Emergency services continue to assess damage and respond to communities in need.