Severe storms have left more than 30 people dead across the United States as powerful winds, hail, tornadoes, and flooding battered over 20 states. The devastation unfolded over three days, with the hardest-hit areas including Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Mississippi officials confirmed six new fatalities and nearly 30 injuries as storms intensified Saturday night into Sunday. Missouri reported 12 deaths, while Kansas saw eight lives lost, including eight fatalities from a highway pileup caused by dust storms. Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma also suffered tragic losses.
Survivors described terrifying encounters with the storms. An Alabama man, whose home was destroyed, recounted how his bedroom—now in ruins—would have been his final resting place had he been inside. In Missouri, high winds overturned a tractor-trailer, leaving the driver covered in shattered glass. A nearby gas station and restaurant were also struck, sending people into a panic. “There were tons of people in the store, just running around crying and screaming. It was pretty scary,” the driver recalled.
Meanwhile, blizzard warnings were issued for parts of western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota, as the same weather system brought snow and high winds to the north while intensifying wildfire risks in the south.
As emergency crews continue search and recovery efforts, three people remain missing in Mississippi. With over 100 million Americans affected by the extreme weather, officials warn that dangerous conditions could persist.
Last month, an EF2 tornado touched down in Seminole County, Florida, crossing over the FOX 35 News studios as severe storms rapidly moved through Central Florida. The tornado, which had peak wind speeds of 115 mph, struck at 9:36 a.m., just two minutes after the National Weather Service (NWS) of Melbourne issued a tornado warning for the area.
While the storm caused considerable damage, there were no fatalities or injuries reported, according to emergency management officials during a news conference Monday afternoon.
The Lake Mary tornado is noted as the first significant tornado in Orange and Seminole Counties in over 25 years. An EF2 tornado is defined by the NWS as one that produces considerable damage, such as tearing roofs off houses, demolishing mobile homes, overturning boxcars, and snapping or uprooting large trees. The tornado’s wind speeds were recorded between 113-157 mph, placing it within the EF2 category.
