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At least 32 people are dead after dozens of tornadoes, high winds, and dust storms pushed across the United States over the weekend, decimating homes and other structures in several states.
Deaths were reported in Kansas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, and Missouri, where the storms killed a dozen, including three on Friday night when an EF-3 tornado with peak winds of 140 mph ripped through Bakersfield, the National Weather Service said Saturday. A pileup of 71 cars in Kansas claimed at least three lives, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The severe weather threat will linger through Sunday from Florida northward into the upper Ohio River Valley, the Storm Prediction Center warned. More than 60 million in the U.S. are at risk on Sunday.
A tornado watch in portions of north-central Florida was extended to 5 p.m., and a tornado watch is in effect for parts of northeastern West Virginia, northwestern Virginia, and central Pennsylvania until 7 p.m., with an enhanced risk of severe weather in western New York.
Nationwide, 315,000 power outages were reported on Sunday afternoon, with at least one outage in every state and the District of Columbia, according to USA TODAY's outage tracker, including 46,000 outages in Missouri.
The Storm Prediction Center has logged 75 preliminary tornado reports in seven states since Friday, including 32 in Mississippi and 15 in Missouri. The weather service is working to confirm the total number of tornadoes.
Weather service offices in scattered locations across the central and eastern U.S. had field crews conducting tornado damage surveys on Sunday.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves posted on X Saturday night that six deaths had been reported, with three additional people missing. Reeves also reported 29 injuries statewide, including 15 in Covington County. Reeves scheduled a news conference for 4 p.m. local time on Sunday.
In Kansas, eight people died when high winds and a dust storm caused a massive collision on Interstate 70 involving at least 71 vehicles, said Trooper Tod Hileman with the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Three people died in Independence County, Arkansas, according to the state division of emergency management and 32 people were injured across eight counties. A Friday night tornado in Cave City was confirmed by the weather service as an EF-3, with 165 mph winds, just below the threshold for EF-4.
The high winds fanned fast-moving wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma, state officials said. In Texas, 13 fires had burned over more than 27,000 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. One person was reported dead after a pileup in Bovina, Texas.
In Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt declared an emergency for a dozen counties on Saturday, and a statement reported more than 112 injuries.
Another tornado traveled more than 13 miles near Glendale Fishery in Daviess County, Indiana, on Friday night, causing “significant damage to farm outbuildings and grain bins,” the weather service said.
Later on Friday night, a tornado near Oregon, Missouri, destroyed two homes and damaged several others, the weather service reported after a storm survey
On Saturday night, a tornado in Calera, Alabama, damaged businesses and homes near I-65, according to the weather service.
Amidst tornadoes, a 3.0 earthquake rumbled Magee, Mississippi on Saturday afternoon, southeast of Jackson.
To participate in the brief survey visit Tornado Tales:
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
(This story was updated to add new information.)
At least 32 people are dead after dozens of tornadoes, high winds, and dust storms pushed across the United States over the weekend, decimating homes and other structures in several states.
Deaths were reported in Kansas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, and Missouri, where the storms killed a dozen, including three on Friday night when an EF-3 tornado with peak winds of 140 mph ripped through Bakersfield, the National Weather Service said Saturday. A pileup of 71 cars in Kansas claimed at least three lives, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The severe weather threat will linger through Sunday from Florida northward into the upper Ohio River Valley, the Storm Prediction Center warned. More than 60 million in the U.S. are at risk on Sunday.
A tornado watch in portions of north-central Florida was extended to 5 p.m., and a tornado watch is in effect for parts of northeastern West Virginia, northwestern Virginia, and central Pennsylvania until 7 p.m., with an enhanced risk of severe weather in western New York.
Nationwide, 315,000 power outages were reported on Sunday afternoon, with at least one outage in every state and the District of Columbia, according to USA TODAY's outage tracker, including 46,000 outages in Missouri.
The Storm Prediction Center has logged 75 preliminary tornado reports in seven states since Friday, including 32 in Mississippi and 15 in Missouri. The weather service is working to confirm the total number of tornadoes.
Weather service offices in scattered locations across the central and eastern U.S. had field crews conducting tornado damage surveys on Sunday.
- The Columbia, South Carolina office sent a survey team to the north side of Lake Murray and planned to send additional teams on Monday.
- The St. Louis office sent two teams into the field Sunday. One team on Saturday concluded a tornado path from Elmont, Missouri to Union, a result of an EF-1.
- In Tennessee, a team confirmed an EF-1 with 95 mph in Christiana.
- In New Orleans, two teams were working on damage surveys.
'The devastation is heartbreaking'
In Missouri, state officials confirmed a dozen people had died. "The devastation is heartbreaking," Gov. Mike Kehoe posted on X Saturday. "Homes and businesses have been destroyed, entire communities are without power and the road to recovery will not be easy."Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves posted on X Saturday night that six deaths had been reported, with three additional people missing. Reeves also reported 29 injuries statewide, including 15 in Covington County. Reeves scheduled a news conference for 4 p.m. local time on Sunday.
In Kansas, eight people died when high winds and a dust storm caused a massive collision on Interstate 70 involving at least 71 vehicles, said Trooper Tod Hileman with the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Three people died in Independence County, Arkansas, according to the state division of emergency management and 32 people were injured across eight counties. A Friday night tornado in Cave City was confirmed by the weather service as an EF-3, with 165 mph winds, just below the threshold for EF-4.
Extreme weather moves across the U.S.
On its journey from the Pacific coast, the wild weather system dumped feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada and spawned a high-end EF-0 tornado in Pico Rivera, California, just east of Los Angeles. Winds of 70 mph to 80 mph overturned vehicles in several states.The high winds fanned fast-moving wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma, state officials said. In Texas, 13 fires had burned over more than 27,000 acres, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. One person was reported dead after a pileup in Bovina, Texas.
In Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt declared an emergency for a dozen counties on Saturday, and a statement reported more than 112 injuries.
Tornadoes cause widespread destruction
In Bakersfield, Missouri, the Weather Service survey showed several homes were destroyed and others damaged by the tornado, which ripped through the area around 8:30 on Friday evening, rolling cars up to 100 yards and uprooting numerous trees.Another tornado traveled more than 13 miles near Glendale Fishery in Daviess County, Indiana, on Friday night, causing “significant damage to farm outbuildings and grain bins,” the weather service said.
Later on Friday night, a tornado near Oregon, Missouri, destroyed two homes and damaged several others, the weather service reported after a storm survey
On Saturday night, a tornado in Calera, Alabama, damaged businesses and homes near I-65, according to the weather service.
Amidst tornadoes, a 3.0 earthquake rumbled Magee, Mississippi on Saturday afternoon, southeast of Jackson.
Did you experience a recent tornado?
Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Severe Storms Laboratory are hoping to hear from people who have recently experienced a tornado, as part of an effort to better understand how people receive, understand, and act on forecasts and warnings.To participate in the brief survey visit Tornado Tales:
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
(This story was updated to add new information.)
