• Severe storms in Missouri and Virginia caused 9 deaths, major damage, and ongoing tornado threats.
• St. Louis and southern Missouri saw homes destroyed and emergency crews working nonstop.
• The storm system continues moving east, threatening more states with hail, strong winds, and power outages.

Strong storms swept through parts of the Midwest and East Coast on Friday, killing at least nine people. Seven died in Missouri, including five in the St. Louis area. Two others lost their lives in Virginia when trees crashed down on their vehicles. These storms brought heavy winds, large hail, and dangerous tornadoes. Officials across several states warned people to stay alert as the system continued moving east.

St. Louis neighborhoods suffer major destruction

Supercell storms hit St. Louis just after 3 p.m. Tornado warnings came in minutes later. Powerful winds ripped roofs off homes and destroyed entire buildings. Some structures collapsed completely. Officials said some areas looked like war zones. The tornado touched down in Clayton, hit Richmond Heights, clipped Forest Park, and crossed into Illinois. Fire officials used aerial drones and AI tools to track its path. They confirmed widespread destruction.

Mayor and emergency crews focus on saving lives

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer spoke late Friday night. She called it a tragic night for the city. “The loss of life and destruction is truly horrendous,” she said. She told residents the city was grieving. At a press conference earlier, she said the top priority was saving lives. Emergency workers began searching homes immediately. They looked for anyone who might be trapped under debris. “We’re focused on protecting life and rescuing those who need help,” she said.

Search teams go door-to-door in impact zones

Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson led the search efforts. He sent 17 specialized teams into the worst-hit areas. Each team included four or five trained workers and a police officer. These teams checked every home one by one. They moved quickly but carefully. The fire chief stressed the importance of acting fast to find anyone still inside damaged buildings. He also said they would not stop until every area was covered.

City issues curfew and urges people to stay off roads

Officials imposed a curfew for all damaged areas. The curfew runs through 6 a.m. Saturday. The mayor asked people to avoid the streets. She said emergency crews need clear roads to work efficiently. She also warned about looting. Police will patrol neighborhoods to prevent crimes during the night. She asked residents to keep phone use low. Cell towers had issues, and too many calls could cause outages.

Southern Missouri hit by separate deadly storms

In Scott County, Missouri, two more people died from storm damage. That’s about 135 miles south of St. Louis. Local fire chief Jeremy Perrien confirmed the deaths. He said two different parts of the county took direct hits. Several people suffered injuries, and multiple homes were destroyed. Perrien said at least three people were injured. He described the storm as violent and fast-moving. “We had people hurt, homes gone, and families shaken,” he said.

Storms race east into Illinois, Kentucky, and beyond

After hitting Missouri, the storms moved east. They targeted Illinois and Kentucky next. Tornado watches spread across major cities. The watches included Indianapolis, Louisville, and Carbondale. Officials issued alerts through 10 p.m. Central Time. Storms arrived in Indianapolis by 7 p.m. Then they reached Cincinnati, Louisville, and Jonesboro by 8 p.m. Memphis faced the system around 9 p.m., and Nashville came next between 10 and 11 p.m.

Warnings of large hail, twisters, and dangerous winds

Forecasters warned about more tornadoes, including long-track and high-intensity twisters. The storms could bring hail as big as 2.5 inches. Wind gusts could reach up to 80 mph. Meteorologists called the risk “moderate,” which is level 4 out of 5. That covered southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and parts of Kentucky and Indiana. They urged people to prepare for sudden alerts and to take shelter immediately if needed.

Virginia storms and dangerous tornados bring deadly tree falls near Washington

Storms also hit the Mid-Atlantic hard. In Virginia, falling trees killed two people near Washington, D.C. One person drove along the George Washington Memorial Parkway when a tree struck their vehicle. U.S. Park Police confirmed the death. In Fairfax County, a woman died after another tree fell on her car. Local police responded quickly. Both crashes happened during high winds caused by the same system that hit the Midwest earlier.

Hundreds of thousands lose power as system spreads

By Friday afternoon, over 400,000 people had no power. Michigan reported more than 200,000 outages. Missouri had over 100,000. Other states also lost power as the storms moved east. Utility companies began repairs, but strong winds slowed progress. Officials asked residents to stay patient and keep safety in mind during outages.

Saturday storm threat shifts toward Texas and Oklahoma

The severe weather threat isn’t over. Forecasters warned that Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas could see strong storms Saturday night. Risks include damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. The worst storms will likely hit in the evening and overnight. Meteorologists advised people in those states to charge devices, follow alerts, and prepare emergency kits.