At least 18 people, including four children, have died in four states after suspected tornadoes hit the central United States overnight, with millions still facing severe weather threats through the remainder of the Memorial Day weekend. Nearly 109 million people across wide areas of the US are at risk of large hail, destructive winds, and intense tornadoes on Sunday, mainly in the mid-Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee River valleys. As the storms progress eastward, the Storm Prediction Center has warned of “violent tornadoes, extreme hail, and widespread wind damage.”
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the storms.
As severe weather continues across parts of the US, a heightened tornado watch, designated as a rare “particularly dangerous situation,” has been issued for Sunday. This watch predicts “several tornadoes and a few intense ones” and covers parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee, including St. Louis and Jefferson City, Missouri; Paducah, Kentucky; and Carbondale, Illinois, affecting 4.7 million people. This type of watch is only issued when there is unusually high confidence in the potential for multiple EF2-strength or stronger, long-lasting tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.
The supercell thunderstorms developing in the watch area are also capable of producing large hail bigger than baseballs and damaging wind gusts up to 75 mph.
“Intense supercell thunderstorms will continue to develop across the watch area through this evening. Several tornadoes are likely, some expected to be intense. Very large hail is also probable, along with a risk of significant damaging wind gusts,” according to the Storm Prediction Center.
A deadly series of storms
The destruction continues a grim month of deadly severe weather in the nation’s midsection.
Tornadoes in Iowa this week have left at least five people dead and dozens injured.
The deadly twisters have struck during a historically bad tornado season, with climate change contributing to the severity of storms worldwide. April saw the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country.
Meteorologists and authorities issued urgent warnings to seek shelter as the storms moved across the region late Saturday into Sunday morning. “If you are in the path of this storm take cover now!” the National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Still expect most of today to be dry, but storm chances do return this evening / overnight across parts of southwestern OK and north TX. Overall chances remain low (20-30%) with large hail being the main potential hazard. #okwx #texomawx pic.twitter.com/p5O2EjxOS0
— NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) May 27, 2024
Harold Brooks, a senior research scientist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, said a persistent weather pattern of warm, moist air is responsible for the string of tornadoes over the past two months.
Brooks advised travelers in threatened areas over the Memorial Day weekend to have a plan for weather emergencies. Those who have already chosen places to get food and other essentials “should probably be thinking about what to do if there’s a dangerous situation to save their lives,” Brooks said.
DENTON FD sending 4 Medics, Rescue, Batt 1 to Marina Circle at Ray Roberts for multiple victims, some reported trapped. E6/M6 enroute to Sanger Fire Station to help cover calls. Major damage at the county line on Lone Oak Road. @cityofdentontx @DentonScanner @DFWscanner pic.twitter.com/MXIe6JzZkK
— City of Denton Fire Department (@DentonFireDept) May 26, 2024
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