Deadly Storm System Sweeps US, Bringing Tornadoes, Fire, and at Least 16 Fatalities
OKLAHOMA CITY — The threat of severe tornadoes in the United States became a reality, resulting in fatalities and widespread destruction as powerful winds moved eastward into the Mississippi Valley and the Deep South on Saturday. Tragically, at least 16 individuals lost their lives, and numerous homes were left in ruins.
Missouri experienced the highest number of casualties as of Saturday morning, with 10 deaths reported by authorities. The Missouri State Highway Patrol also indicated that several individuals sustained injuries.
Among the deceased was a man whose home was obliterated by a tornado.
“It was impossible to recognize it as a home. It was simply a field of debris,” stated Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, describing the scene that greeted first responders. “The floor had been flipped over. We were walking on what used to be walls.”
Akers mentioned that rescuers successfully extracted a woman from the wreckage.
Arkansas officials reported on Saturday morning that three individuals perished in Independence County, and 29 others were injured across eight counties due to the storms that swept through the state overnight.
On Friday, authorities confirmed that three people died in traffic accidents during a dust storm in Amarillo, located in the Texas Panhandle.
These deaths occurred amidst a significant storm system traversing the nation, unleashing winds that fueled deadly dust storms and ignited over 100 wildfires.
Extreme weather conditions, including winds equivalent to hurricane force, are anticipated to impact an area inhabited by over 100 million people. Wind gusts reaching up to 80 mph (130 kph) were forecasted from the Canadian border down to Texas, raising the possibility of blizzard conditions in colder northern regions and escalating the risk of wildfires in warmer, drier southern areas.
Evacuations were mandated in certain Oklahoma communities as more than 130 fires were reported throughout the state. The State Patrol noted that the strong winds caused several tractor-trailers to overturn.
“It’s a disaster out here,” commented Charles Daniel, a truck driver transporting a 48-foot (14.6-meter) trailer along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma. “There’s a significant amount of sand and dirt in the air. I’m keeping my speed under 55 mph because I fear it will tip over if I go faster.”
Experts suggest that such extreme weather events are not uncommon in March.
“What sets this event apart is its expansive size and strength,” explained Bill Bunting of the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. “Consequently, it’s generating substantial impacts across a vast area.”
Tornadoes hit amid storm outbreak
The Storm Prediction Center warned that rapidly moving storms could generate tornadoes and hailstones as large as baseballs. However, the most significant threat was expected to come from straight-line winds nearing or exceeding hurricane force, with gusts potentially reaching 100 mph (160 kph).
The center identified areas of Mississippi, including Jackson and Hattiesburg, and areas of Alabama, including Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, as being at high risk. Severe storms and tornadoes were also considered possible across eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee, and the western Florida Panhandle.
Wildfires break out amid dry, gusty conditions
Wildfires in the Southern Plains presented a significant threat of rapid spread due to warm, dry conditions and strong winds. Evacuation orders were issued on Friday for some communities in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico.
A fire in Roberts County, Texas, located northeast of Amarillo, rapidly expanded from less than a square mile (approximately 2 square kilometers) to an estimated 32.8 square miles (85 square kilometers), according to the Texas A&M University Forest Service on X. Crews managed to halt its progress by Friday evening.
Roughly 60 miles (90 kilometers) to the south, another fire grew to approximately 3.9 square miles (10 square kilometers) before its advance was stopped in the afternoon.
Strong winds also caused power outages affecting over 260,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, according to the website poweroutage.us.
Blizzard warnings in Northern Plains
The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for portions of far western Minnesota and far eastern South Dakota, effective early Saturday. Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters) were anticipated, with the possibility of up to a foot (30 centimeters) in some areas.
Winds gusting up to 60 mph (97 kph) were expected to create whiteout conditions.
—Julie Walker reported from New York. Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia, and Golden from Seattle.