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At least 34 people have lost their lives across the US, including 12 in Missouri, after powerful tornadoes ripped through several southeastern states, overturning vehicles and destroying homes.
In Kansas, a dust storm led to a crash involving more than 55 vehicles, resulting in at least eight fatalities.
Overnight into Sunday, more than 250,000 properties across seven states—including Michigan, Missouri, and Illinois—were left without power, according to PowerOutage.
Severe weather conditions are expected to persist, with tornado watches in effect for eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee, and the western Florida Panhandle.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed six deaths as multiple tornadoes swept through the state. Flash flooding warnings have also been issued in central Mississippi, eastern Louisiana, western Tennessee, Alabama, and Arkansas. The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that these floods could be deadly.
On Saturday night, Alabama was placed under multiple tornado warnings, with the NWS describing the situation as "particularly dangerous," citing the potential for "multiple intense to violent long-track tornadoes."
"If you live in these areas, get to the sturdiest structure you have access to and remain in place until the storms pass," the NWS urged.
Gusts reaching 60 mph (97 km/h) were recorded in Shelby, Tennessee.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe described the destruction in his state as devastating, noting that tornadoes had left homes destroyed and lives lost. The state’s emergency management agency reported 19 tornadoes had hit 25 counties so far.
In Butler County, one home was completely destroyed, with Coroner Jim Akers telling CBS News, "It was unrecognizable as a home—just a debris field. The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls."
Alicia Wilson, a Missouri resident who was evacuated, described the storm as "the scariest thing I’ve ever been through; it was so fast, our ears were all about to burst."
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency after confirming three deaths and 29 injuries. Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt also declared states of emergency, with Oklahoma reporting one tornado-related fatality.
Meanwhile, in Texas, a dust storm on Friday night resulted in a massive 38-car pileup, killing three people. Sgt. Cindy Barkley of the state’s public safety department called it "the worst I’ve ever seen." Another death was later reported in Texas.
The severe storms have also fueled more than 100 wildfires across multiple central states, overturning semi-trailer trucks. One fire in Oklahoma, named the 840 Road Fire, has already burned 27,500 acres and remains completely uncontained. A "red flag" warning has been issued for the state’s panhandle, indicating extreme fire risk.
Tornadoes form when warm, moist air rises and collides with colder air, generating massive thunderclouds. Shifting winds cause the air to rotate, leading to the formation of a funnel.
Four of the states hit by tornado-related fatalities lie within "Tornado Alley," an area frequently impacted by these violent storms due to its ideal geographic conditions.
In 2024, tornadoes claimed 54 lives, including nine in Texas, eight in Oklahoma, five in Arkansas, and one in Missouri, according to NOAA.
While peak tornado season in Tornado Alley runs from May to June, meteorologists warn that these storms can strike at any time of the year.
