A series of intense storms that swept across eight states over the weekend have resulted in at least 42 fatalities and numerous injuries. These storms triggered tornadoes, wildfires, high winds, and dust storms, leaving a path of destruction in their wake.
In Missouri, scattered tornadoes claimed the lives of more than a dozen individuals. Meanwhile, a sequence of tornadoes in Mississippi — with two striking near the same town within about an hour — resulted in six deaths. Hundreds of homes and businesses were obliterated throughout the Southern and Midwestern regions.
The severe weather commenced on Friday and was classified under an unusual “high risk” category by meteorologists. A preliminary tally showed 46 tornadoes on Friday and 41 on Saturday. The storm also ignited over 130 wind-driven wildfires, which damaged more than 400 homes in Oklahoma. As of Monday, dozens of these fires were still active across the state, according to Oklahoma Forestry Services.
Here’s a breakdown of how the storm affected each state:
**Missouri – 13 Deaths**
Missouri experienced more fatalities than any other state. Among those killed was a man asleep when a tornado tore his home apart. A woman inside the house sustained severe injuries but was rescued by emergency services, who navigated through debris to reach her. The storms primarily struck late Friday and early Saturday in several southern counties.
**Mississippi – 6 Deaths**
In Mississippi, a series of tornadoes ravaged three counties, resulting in six deaths and rendering over 200 individuals homeless, as reported by Gov. Tate Reeves. The National Weather Service confirmed that in Walthall County, within about an hour on Saturday, two tornadoes hit, affecting the hard-hit town of Tylertown, where two adults and a child lost their lives, and several were injured.
**Alabama – 3 Deaths**
Alabama recorded three deaths due to tornadoes. Notably, a man died in Plantersville while sheltering in his workshop, although his wife managed to avoid injury. An 82-year-old woman was also among the victims; both were cherished community members.
**Arkansas – 3 Deaths**
The National Weather Service reported that at least nine tornadoes struck Arkansas. Three individuals lost their lives in Independence County, located in the state’s northeast part, and 29 people sustained injuries across eight counties.
**North Carolina – 2 Deaths**
In western North Carolina, two boys aged 11 and 13 perished when a tree collapsed on their home early Sunday. Firefighters discovered them beneath a 3-foot-wide uprooted tree after relatives reported they were trapped in their bedroom.
**Oklahoma – 4 Deaths**
Wind-driven wildfires devastated more than 400 homes across Oklahoma, including over 70 in and around Stillwater, home to Oklahoma State University. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reported four deaths resulting from the fires or high winds.
Officials in Oklahoma and Texas have issued warnings that certain areas in both states remain at increased fire risk this week.
**Kansas and Texas – 11 Deaths**
High winds led to several dust storms, which contributed to nearly a dozen fatalities in car accidents on Friday. In Kansas, eight individuals died in a highway pileup involving at least 50 vehicles. Additionally, authorities stated three people died in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, located in the Texas Panhandle.
