United States: A powerful storm swept through parts of the United States, bringing violent tornadoes that destroyed homes and claimed lives as it moved across the Mississippi Valley and Deep South. As of Saturday, at least 17 people had died, and many homes were completely destroyed.
Missouri Hit the Hardest
Missouri suffered the most damage, with tornadoes striking overnight and killing at least 11 people, according to state officials. The Missouri State Highway Patrol also reported multiple injuries.
One man died when a tornado tore through his home, leaving only debris behind.
“It didn’t even look like a home anymore—just a pile of wreckage,” said Butler County Coroner Jim Akers. “The floor was upside down, and we were walking on what used to be walls.”
Emergency crews were able to rescue a woman from the wreckage, Akers said.
Storm Damage in Arkansas
Officials in Arkansas reported that three people died in Independence County, and 29 others were injured across eight counties as the storm passed through.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders posted on X, saying, “Our teams are assessing the damage from last night’s tornadoes, and first responders are on the ground helping.” She also announced that $250,000 from the state’s Disaster Recovery fund would be used to support affected communities.
Deadly Dust Storms in Texas
In the Texas Panhandle, a massive dust storm led to deadly car accidents. Officials confirmed that three people died in crashes in Amarillo due to low visibility.
These tragedies happened as a massive storm system moved across the country, creating strong winds that caused dust storms and wildfires.
Strong Winds and Dangerous Wildfires
Weather experts warned that the storm would affect over 100 million people as it continued moving. Winds up to 80 mph (130 kph) were expected from Canada to Texas, causing blizzards in the north and increasing wildfire risks in dry southern areas.
Several towns in Oklahoma were evacuated as over 130 wildfires were reported. More than 300 homes were damaged or destroyed by fire. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said that about 266 square miles (69,000 hectares) had burned.
The wind was so strong that it overturned several tractor-trailers on highways.
“It’s terrible out here,” said truck driver Charles Daniel, who was driving on Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma. “There’s so much dust in the air. I’m not going over 55 mph because I’m afraid my truck might tip over.”
More Tornadoes Expected
The Storm Prediction Center warned that more fast-moving storms could bring large tornadoes, hail the size of baseballs, and winds over 100 mph (160 kph).
The highest risk areas included eastern Louisiana and Mississippi in the afternoon, moving into Alabama, western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle in the evening.
Wildfires Spreading Quickly
Aside from Oklahoma, wildfires were also spreading in Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico due to dry conditions and strong winds.
A fire in Roberts County, Texas, northeast of Amarillo, grew from just one square mile (2 square kilometers) to 32.8 square miles (85 square kilometers) within hours. Firefighters were able to stop its spread by Friday evening.
About 60 miles (90 kilometers) south, another fire burned 3.9 square miles (10 square kilometers) before being contained.
Power Outages and Blizzard Warnings
Strong winds knocked out power for over 260,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, according to poweroutage.us.
In the Northern Plains, the National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of Minnesota and South Dakota. Snowfall of 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters) was expected, with some areas getting up to a foot (30 centimeters). Winds up to 60 mph (97 kph) could cause whiteout conditions, making travel dangerous.
While experts say extreme weather in March is not unusual, many people remain on high alert as the storm continues to cause destruction.
