Deadly US Storms Spawn Tornadoes, Fuel Over 100 Wildfires; 3 Killed So Far

The National Weather Service launched a warning about extreme weather across a vast swath of the country affecting more than 100 million people.

Representational Image | A massive storm ravaged the US, bringing deadly crashes, building damage, and over 100 wildfires. Around half a dozen tornadoes were reported in Missouri, with severe weather expected in the Deep South on Saturday.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

A massive storm swept across the U.S. on Friday, resulting in deadly crashes, damaging buildings, and fueling over 100 wildfires in multiple central states, leading to evacuation orders in some communities. Around half a dozen tornadoes were reported in Missouri, with more severe weather in the Mississippi Valley overnight and the Deep South on Saturday.

According to a report by Associated Press, the National Weather Service launched a warning about extreme weather across a vast swath of the country affecting more than 100 million people. Powerful winds blowing up to a speed of 80 mph (130 kph) were predicted from the Canadian border to Texas.

In Texas, a dust storm in the Panhandle led to fatal car crashes, killing three people, according to Sgt. Cindy Barkley of the state’s public safety department. "It’s been a nightmare out here," she said, noting the poor visibility made it difficult to assess the crashes.

Oklahoma saw nearly 150 fires, and strong winds toppled multiple tractor-trailers, according to Oklahoma Forestry Services and State Patrol reports. Truck driver Charles Daniel, navigating Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma, described the hazardous conditions: “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 storm is expected to continue into the weekend, with a high risk of tornadoes and damaging winds in Mississippi and Alabama on Saturday. Heavy rainfall could also cause flash flooding along parts of the East Coast on Sunday.

While extreme weather in March isn’t unusual, Bill Bunting of the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, emphasised the storm’s unusually large size and intensity, leading to significant impacts over a widespread area.

Storms Could Generate Tornadoes: National Weather Service

The National Weather Service reported at least five tornadoes in Missouri, including one in St. Louis, warning residents on X: “This is a life threatening situation. Seek shelter now!”

The Storm Prediction Center cautioned that fast-moving storms could generate tornadoes and hail the size of baseballs. However, the most significant threat came from straight-line winds reaching or exceeding hurricane strength, with gusts potentially hitting 100 mph (160 kph).

A tornado watch remained in effect until 11 p.m. for central and eastern Missouri, including St. Louis, along with parts of Illinois and Arkansas. Other at-risk areas included Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

Nearly 47 million people, from Madison, Wisconsin, to Birmingham, Alabama, faced an enhanced to moderate risk of severe storms. Forecasters grew increasingly concerned that intense thunderstorms further south could pose an even greater tornado threat on Saturday.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, parts of Mississippi—including Jackson and Hattiesburg—as well as Alabama’s Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, were at high risk. Severe storms and tornadoes were also possible across eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee, and the western Florida Panhandle.

“We have a lot of confidence that we most likely will have a tornado outbreak tomorrow,” Storm Prediction Center meteorologist Evan Bentley said. Multiple buildings sustained damages in the storm, including a strip mall in Rolla, Missouri, where a tornado hit on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, warm temperatures, dry air, and strong winds fueled wildfires across the Southern Plains, prompting evacuation orders in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico.

In Roberts County, Texas, northeast of Amarillo, a wildfire rapidly expanded from less than a square mile (about 2 square kilometers) to approximately 32.8 square miles (85 square kilometers), according to the Texas A&M University Forest Service. Fire crews managed to halt its spread by evening.