Violent tornadoes have swept across parts of the United States, causing widespread damage and claiming at least 26 lives. Schools have been destroyed, and heavy trucks overturned, with further severe weather expected to hit on Saturday.
Widespread damage across the US due to violent storms
The death toll rose after the Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed eight people died in a highway crash caused by a dust storm in Sherman County on Friday. More than 50 vehicles were involved in the collision.
Missouri recorded the highest number of fatalities, with at least 12 people killed by tornadoes overnight. One of the victims was a man who died when a tornado destroyed his home.
Coroner Jim Akers described the scene: “It was no longer recognisable as a house. It was just a field of debris. The floor was turned upside down, and we walked on walls.”
Dakota Henderson, who helped rescue people on Friday night, said his team found five bodies outside his aunt’s home in Wayne County, Missouri. The house was severely damaged.
“It was a very difficult night,” Henderson said. “The situation was distressing for everyone involved.”
Henderson’s aunt was rescued from the only remaining room of her house, and another man was carried to safety after breaking his bones.
In Arkansas, three people died in Independence County, and 29 others were injured across eight counties as the storm passed through.
“We have teams surveying the damage and responders on the ground,” said Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on social media. She and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared states of emergency in response to the weather.
Meanwhile, in the Texas Panhandle, three people died in car crashes caused by a dust storm in Amarillo on Friday.
Extreme weather affects 100 million people
The storm system has affected more than 100 million people. Forecasters predicted winds of up to 80 mph (130 kph), with blizzards in the northern regions and high wildfire risks in the southern areas.
The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of Minnesota and South Dakota. Snow accumulations of up to 6 inches (15.2 cm) are expected, with up to 12 inches (30 cm) in some areas. Winds gusting to 60 mph (97 kph) will create dangerous whiteout conditions.
In Oklahoma, evacuations took place as over 130 fires were reported. Nearly 300 homes were damaged or destroyed. Governor Kevin Stitt confirmed that 266 square miles (689 square km) of land had burned, with winds strong enough to topple tractor-trailers.
Experts noted that extreme weather like this is not unusual in March.
Ongoing tornado threats and further damage
Fast-moving storms could continue to produce tornadoes and large hail on Saturday. Winds near or exceeding hurricane force, with gusts up to 100 mph (160 kph), remain a significant threat.
Regions at the highest risk include eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle.
Bailey Dillon and her fiancé, Caleb Barnes, watched a large tornado from their front porch in Tylertown, Mississippi. The tornado struck near Paradise Ranch RV Park, about half a mile (0.8 km) away.
When they arrived to help, they recorded footage of the devastation: snapped trees, flattened buildings, and overturned vehicles.
“The damage was catastrophic,” Dillon said. “The storm flipped over several cabins, RVs, and campers.”
Paradise Ranch confirmed that all its staff and guests were safe, but Dillon mentioned that nearby homes and schools were destroyed.
Wildfires and power outages
Elsewhere, wildfires continued to threaten the Southern Plains. Strong winds and dry conditions have worsened the risk. A fire in Roberts County, Texas, spread rapidly, growing from less than one square mile (2 square km) to an estimated 32.8 square miles (85 square km) before being contained. Another fire in the area spread to 3.9 square miles (10 square km).
Strong winds also caused power outages, leaving more than 200,000 homes and businesses without power in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, according to poweroutage.us.
