As of Saturday morning, authorities reported that Missouri experienced the highest number of fatalities, with at least 11 deaths attributed to tornadoes that struck the area overnight. Additionally, the Missouri State Highway Patrol indicated that several individuals sustained injuries.
The risk posed by violent tornadoes in certain regions of the United States has resulted in both fatalities and widespread destruction, as powerful winds advanced eastward into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday. At least 17 individuals lost their lives, and numerous homes were obliterated.
As of Saturday morning, Missouri reported the highest number of fatalities, with authorities confirming that overnight tornadoes led to at least 11 deaths. The Missouri State Highway Patrol also indicated that several individuals sustained injuries.
Among the deceased was a man who perished when a tornado devastated his residence.
“It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field,” remarked Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, as he described the scene that rescuers encountered upon arrival. “The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.”
Rescue teams were able to save a woman who was inside the home, according to Akers.
In Arkansas, officials reported on Saturday morning that three individuals died in Independence County, with 29 others injured across eight counties as storms swept through the state overnight.
“We have teams out assessing the damage from last night’s tornadoes and have first responders deployed to provide assistance,” stated Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on X. “In the meantime, I have authorized the release of $250,000 from our Disaster Recovery fund to support resources for each of the affected communities.”
Additionally, on Friday, authorities reported that three people lost their lives in car accidents caused by a dust storm in Amarillo, located in the Texas Panhandle.
These fatalities occurred as a significant storm system traversed the nation, unleashing winds that resulted in lethal dust storms and ignited over 100 wildfires.
Forecasts predict that extreme weather conditions, including hurricane-force winds, will impact an area inhabited by more than 100 million people. Winds reaching up to 80 mph (130 kph) are anticipated from the Canadian border to Texas, posing threats of blizzard conditions in the colder northern regions and increasing wildfire risks in the warmer, drier southern areas.
Evacuations have been mandated in certain communities across Oklahoma as over 130 fires have been reported statewide.
Approximately 300 residences have suffered damage or destruction due to these fires. During a news conference on Saturday, Governor Kevin Stitt announced that around 266 square miles (approximately 69 hectares) have been consumed by flames in the state.
The State Patrol reported that the winds were so intense that they caused several tractor-trailers to overturn.
“This situation is dire,” remarked Charles Daniel, a truck driver transporting a 48-foot (14.6-meter) trailer along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma. “There is a significant amount of sand and dirt in the air. I am not exceeding 55 mph due to concerns that my vehicle may tip over.”
Experts indicate that such extreme weather conditions are not uncommon in March.
Tornadoes occur during storm outbreak
The Storm Prediction Center has warned that rapidly moving storms could generate tornadoes and hailstones as large as baseballs on Saturday. However, the most significant danger is anticipated from straight-line winds that may reach or surpass hurricane strength, with gusts potentially hitting 100 mph (160 kph).
Severe tornadoes, some of which may be long-tracked and violent, are forecasted for Saturday afternoon and evening. The area with the highest risk extends from eastern Louisiana and Mississippi in the afternoon to Alabama and western Georgia, as well as the Florida panhandle in the evening, according to the Center.
Wildfires ignite under dry, windy conditions
In addition to Oklahoma, wildfires in other parts of the Southern Plains are poised to spread rapidly due to warm, dry weather and strong winds affecting Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico.
A fire in Roberts County, Texas, located northeast of Amarillo, rapidly expanded from less than a square mile (about 2 square kilometers) to an estimated 32.8 square miles (85 square kilometers), as reported by the Texas A&M University Forest Service on X. Firefighting crews managed to halt its progression by Friday evening.
About 60 miles (90 kilometers) to the south, another fire expanded to approximately 3.9 square miles (10 square kilometers) before its spread was contained in the afternoon.
Severe winds have resulted in power outages affecting over 260,000 residences and businesses across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, as reported by poweroutage.us.
Blizzard Warnings in the Northern Plains
The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for regions in far western Minnesota and far eastern South Dakota, effective from early Saturday. Predicted snow accumulations range from 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters), with potential totals reaching up to a foot (30 centimeters).
Winds are anticipated to gust up to 60 mph (97 kph), which may lead to whiteout conditions.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
