OKLAHOMA CITY — A vast storm system sweeping across the United States on Friday unleashed a series of deadly incidents, caused structural damage, and fueled over 100 wildfires across central states, resulting in evacuation orders in several communities. Missouri experienced nearly half a dozen tornadoes, while severe weather threats prevailed for the Mississippi Valley into the evening and further south on Saturday.
The National Weather Service issued warnings of extreme weather across a large portion of the nation, affecting over 100 million residents. Forecasts predicted fierce winds reaching speeds of up to 80 mph (130 kph) stretching from the Canadian border down to Texas.
In the Texas Panhandle, three fatalities were confirmed following vehicle crashes linked to a dust storm, according to Sgt. Cindy Barkley from the Texas Department of Public Safety. “It’s been a nightmare out here,” Barkley reported, noting the challenge in assessing accidents due to severely reduced visibility.
An estimated 150 fires ignited in Oklahoma, as reported by Andy James, fire management chief for Oklahoma Forestry Services. The state patrol shared via social platform X that gale-force winds had toppled multiple tractor-trailers.
“It’s terrible out here,” recounted Charles Daniel, a truck driver navigating high winds with his 48-foot trailer along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma. He added, “There’s a lot of sand and dirt in the air. I’m not pushing it over 55 mph. I’m scared it will blow over if I do.”
The forecast for the weekend included ongoing threats of severe storms, with heightened tornado and damaging wind risks predicted for Mississippi and Alabama. Additionally, heavy rains could lead to flash flooding on the Eastern Seaboard on Sunday.
Historically, March is known for fluctuating weather patterns, but Bill Bunting from the Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma highlighted, “What’s unique about this one is its large size and intensity, producing substantial impacts over an extensive area.”
In Missouri, the National Weather Service confirmed at least five tornadoes, including one that struck Saint Louis. “This is a life-threatening situation. Seek shelter now!” they urged.
Weather experts noted the storms were fast-moving, potentially spawning tornadoes and hail as large as baseballs, with the primary danger posed by straight-line winds akin to hurricane forces, with gusts potentially reaching 100 mph (160 kph).
Warnings, including a tornado watch in effect until 11 p.m., were issued for central and eastern Missouri, including St. Louis, as well as parts of Illinois and Arkansas. Threatened areas extended to Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Approximately 47 million people faced varying levels of severe storm threats from Madison, Wisconsin, to Birmingham, Alabama.
Severe weather was expected to elevate, especially across the southern regions. The Storm Prediction Center projected an increased tornado threat for Saturday, particularly in parts of Mississippi, including Jackson and Hattiesburg, as well as Alabama areas such as Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Severe storms are predicted further in eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle.
“We have a lot of confidence that we will most likely experience a tornado outbreak tomorrow,” stated Storm Prediction Center meteorologist Evan Bentley during an online briefing.
The storm caused significant property damage, including a strip mall in Rolla, Missouri which suffered a tornado touchdown on Friday afternoon.
Wildfires broke out amid dry and windy conditions, raising alarms in the Southern Plains. Warm and dry weather coupled with strong winds prompted evacuation orders in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico.
In Roberts County, Texas, northeast of Amarillo, a fire rapidly expanded from less than a square mile (about 2 square kilometers) to an estimated 32.8 square miles (85 square kilometers), as reported by the Texas A&M University Forest Service. Firefighters managed to halt its progression by evening.
Roughly 60 miles (90 kilometers) south, another blaze reached about 3.9 square miles (10 square kilometers) before being contained in the afternoon.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management activated its emergency operations center due to swiftly moving fires which led to the evacuation of residents in Leedey and a rural area east of Norman. Pre-positioned firefighting teams and aircraft were deployed to combat the flames, although poor visibility limited aerial operations.
The National Weather Service warned of exceptionally hazardous fires northeast of Oklahoma City, near Stillwater, urging some residents in the 50,000-populated city to evacuate. Mandatory evacuation alerts were disseminated through social media, including instructions for evacuating homes, hotels, and a Walmart.
Jennifer Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norman, labeled the fire conditions in the region as unprecedented and highly abnormal.
Interstate 70 encounters a 120-mile (190-kilometer) closure stretch in western Kansas due to airborne dust limiting visibility, with eastern roads closed amid wildfires and smoke. A severe dust storm in Amarillo County, Texas, was responsible for a crash involving approximately 38 vehicles.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” Barkley said. “We couldn’t tell that they were all together until the dust kind of settled.”
Evacuation orders were issued in central Missouri’s Camden County owing to nearby wildfires, with the State Highway Patrol cautioning that fires were closing in on residential and commercial buildings.
The intense winds left more than 216,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri without power, as reported by the website tracking power outages.
For the Northern Plains, the National Weather Service announced blizzard warnings in effect for regions of far western Minnesota and far eastern South Dakota beginning early Saturday. Anticipated snow accumulations ranged from 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters), with up to a foot (30 centimeters) in localized spots.
Gusting winds up to 60 mph (97 kph) could create whiteout conditions, with ice slightly glazing roads, making travel perilous, as advised by the weather service.