As the winds whipped eastward into the Mississippi Valley, the Deep South and other parts of the U.S. on Saturday, they caused at least 16 deaths in three states and extensive damage.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves stated on social media that Saturday tornadoes were reported in six counties. Three hospitalizations were reported, and “this number will increase” according to Reeves. He said that more severe weather will be expected today in the state.
Extreme conditions, including hurricane-force wind gusts, are predicted to affect a region with more than 100,000,000 people. Wind gusts of up to 80mph are predicted to occur from the Canadian border all the way to Texas. This could lead to blizzard conditions and wildfires in the colder areas in the north, as well as a risk of wildfires in the warmer, dryer areas in the south. NWS stated that the most severe tornado threat was in eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and western Florida Panhandle, Georgia.
According to the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, at least ten fatalities were reported in Missouri. A massive storm system that moved across the United States unleashed windstorms, caused deadly dust storms, and sparked more than 100 fires.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe stated that first responders and volunteers, as well as faith-based partners, “worked relentlessly” throughout the night in response to tornadoes, severe storms, before that dangerous and damaging wildfires.
Kehoe stated, “I am grateful for the heroic efforts of those helping their Missourian neighbors.” “Our prayers and thoughts go out to those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. We stand with everyone affected by these destructive storms.”
Officials in Arkansas reported that three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured in eight counties due to a storm system which moved through the state over night. The State Emergency Operations Center has been contacted by staff from the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management.
According to Sgt. Cindy Barkley, from the department of public security in Texas. A pileup involving 38 cars is estimated to have occurred.
Barkley called the visibility near zero a nightmare. “We couldn’t see them until the dust settled.”
Oklahoma has seen more than 130 reported fires. State Patrol reported that winds were so powerful they knocked over several tractor trailers.
Charles Daniel, an Oklahoma truck driver towing a 48 foot trailer on Interstate 40 in the western part of the state, said: “This is horrible out here.” There’s a lot sand and dust in the air. I won’t go over 55 mph. “I’m afraid it will blow away if I push it over 55 mph.”
Forecasters warned that the severe storm threat will continue through the weekend, with a chance of damaging winds and tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama on Saturday. On Sunday, flash floods could occur in some areas of the East Coast due to heavy rain.
Experts say that it is not uncommon to experience such extreme weather in March.
Bill Bunting, of the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center’s Storm Prediction Center located in Norman Oklahoma said that this storm is unique because of its size and intensity. “So what this is doing is producing very substantial impacts across a large area.” “The threat from tornadoes has moved east to the Mississippi Valley and Deep South, on Saturday. A day after a huge storm system that was moving across the nation killed at least six people, unleashed wind that damaged buildings, caused deadly crashes, and fanned over 100 wildfires.
Magenta highlights areas of highest risk
The Storm Prediction Center warns of severe weather in five categories, from marginal to very high. The forecast maps have been color-coded with the areas of lowest risk in green, and the highest in magenta.
The area with the highest level of risk on Saturday includes Mississippi and Alabama.
According to the product descriptions of the agency, “high risk” is given when severe weather will include “numerous intense long-tracked” tornadoes or thunderstorms that produce hurricane-force winds and cause widespread damage.
In recent years, many of the days that the “high-risk” designation has been used have become reality.
Tornadoes hit amid storm outbreak
At least five tornadoes, including one near Saint Louis, were reported by the weather service on Friday. The storm caused damage to several buildings, including the strip mall in Rolla Missouri where a tornado had been reported on Friday afternoon.
The Storm Prediction Center warned that fast-moving thunderstorms could produce twisters, hail the size of baseballs and straight-line winds approaching or exceeding hurricane-force, with gusts up to 100 mph.
National Weather Service: “Potentially Violent” Tornadoes are expected in the Deep South and Central Gulf Coast, as well as the Tennessee Valley.
Storm Prediction Center warned that parts of Mississippi, including Jackson and Hattiesburg, and Alabama areas including Birmingham and Tuscaloosa were at high risk. Storms and tornadoes are also possible in eastern Louisiana, central Tennessee, and western Florida Panhandle.
Wildfires breakout amid gusty, dry conditions
Wildfires are spreading rapidly in the Southern Plains due to warm, dry conditions and strong winds. On Friday, evacuations for certain communities in Texas and Oklahoma were ordered, as well as Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Kansas.
The Texas A&M University Forest Service reported on X that a fire in Roberts County (Texas), northeast of Amarillo quickly spread from less than one square mile to approximately 32.8 square kilometers. By Friday evening, crews had stopped the fire’s advance.
Around 60 miles south of the fire, another blaze grew to 3.9 square kilometers before it was stopped in the afternoon.
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management activated their emergency operations center in response to several fires in fast-moving areas that forced evacuations of Leedey, a town in western Oklahoma and a rural area in eastern Oklahoma.
Andy James, Oklahoma Forestry Services’ fire management chief, explained that firefighters were prepositioned to help authorities respond quickly to fires. He added that firefighting aircraft had also been deployed in certain parts of Oklahoma and Texas, but they were unable to fly because of the smoke and dust.
The National Weather Service announced on Friday night that a “complex” of fires near Stillwater was located to the northeast of Oklahoma City. It urged residents of the 50,000-person city to evacuate. Social media was used to issue mandatory evacuation orders for homes, hotels and Walmart.
Wildfires are threatening homes and businesses in central Missouri’s Camden County. The State Highway Patrol has warned people via social media about the danger.
Due to dust blowing and poor visibility, approximately 120 miles of Interstate 70 were temporarily closed in western Kansas.
According to the website poweroutage.us, high winds knocked out electricity in more than 216,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings throughout Texas, Oklahoma Arkansas, and Missouri.
Blizzard warnings for the Northern Plains
Early Saturday morning, the National Weather Service issued warnings of blizzards in parts of western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota. Up to six inches of snow accumulation was expected.
Whiteout conditions were predicted due to gusts of up to 60 mph.
