Tornadoes Hit Midwest and South, Kill Three/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Severe storms tore through the South and Midwest, spawning destructive tornadoes that killed at least three people and injured several others. Widespread damage, power outages, and road closures followed, with more flash flooding expected in the days ahead. Meteorologists warn of “once-in-a-generation” rainfall across the region.
South, Midwest Storm Disaster – Quick Looks
- At least three confirmed deaths in Tennessee and Missouri
- Dozens of tornadoes reported across Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana
- Tornado emergency issued near Blytheville, Arkansas
- Warehouse collapses in Indiana; school closures follow
- Flash flooding and power outages reported in multiple states
- More than 330,000 customers lost electricity by Thursday morning
- Extreme rainfall forecast through Saturday, up to 15 inches
- School and road closures widespread amid ongoing storm threat
- National Weather Service warns of “historic” flood event
- Widespread damage includes overturned vehicles and destroyed homes
Tornadoes Hit Midwest and South, Kill Three
Deep Look
Deadly Storms Slam South and Midwest, Tornadoes Leave Trail of Destruction
Severe thunderstorms barreled through the South and Midwest on Wednesday, unleashing powerful tornadoes and torrential rains that left at least three people dead, damaged homes and buildings, and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands. The widespread system, which brought high winds and hail, is expected to continue dumping heavy rain and triggering flash flooding through the weekend.
Forecasters said the conditions — driven by daytime heat, high moisture levels, and strong wind shear — created a volatile setup across Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Mississippi, with tornado warnings lighting up weather alerts throughout the evening.
Tornadoes Kill Three, Injure Several
In southeast Missouri, one person died as storms battered small towns, according to Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Clark Parrott. Two more deaths were confirmed early Thursday by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency: one in McNairy County and another in Obion County.
In Kentucky, four people were injured when a suspected tornado hurled debris into a church in Ballard County. One victim remains in critical condition.
Meanwhile, in northeast Arkansas, a rare “tornado emergency” — the National Weather Service’s most severe tornado warning — was issued around Blytheville. Meteorologists reported debris flung more than 25,000 feet into the air. Another tornado touched down near Harrisburg, Arkansas.
Indiana Warehouse Collapses, Schools Shift to Remote Learning
In Brownsburg, Indiana, part of a warehouse collapsed during the storms, trapping at least one person and prompting local police to warn residents against traveling. On Interstate 65 near Lowell, five semi-trucks were blown over, Indiana State Police reported.
Indianapolis Public Schools announced a remote learning day Thursday due to widespread outages and damage. At least 10 school districts canceled or delayed classes.
Devastation in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas
In Delta, Missouri, a town of fewer than 400 residents, extensive damage forced schools to close for the rest of the week. Power lines and trees were down, and roads into the town were blocked.
“There is too much damage in town,” said Superintendent David Heeb. “We need to give our families a chance to regroup.”
Nearby in Pilot Grove, homes were damaged, cars flipped, and power poles snapped. In Nevada, Missouri, officials are investigating whether a tornado caused building collapses and vehicle overturns.
Oklahoma also experienced severe conditions. A tornado touched down in Owasso, heavily damaging roofs and power lines. No injuries were reported, but emergency crews described the scene as “widespread chaos.”
Power Outages Spread Across Region
By Thursday morning, more than 330,000 utility customers were without electricity across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Illinois, and Tennessee, according to PowerOutage.us.
In Indianapolis, flash flooding left at least one city street underwater, with water rising nearly to the windows of parked vehicles.
Unrelenting Rainfall Expected Through the Weekend
Meteorologists warn the worst may be yet to come. The current weather system is expected to linger into Saturday, dropping as much as 15 inches of rain across portions of Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and southern Indiana and Illinois.
“This is an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime,” the National Weather Service warned. “Historic rainfall totals and impacts are possible.”
Middle Tennessee, which has already been hit hard, is bracing for four more days of rain due to a stationary front. “I don’t recall ever seeing one like this, and I’ve been here 30 years,” said NWS meteorologist Mark Rose.
Flooding Threats Loom for Millions
Flash flooding could become widespread across the lower Mississippi and Ohio valleys, with storms repeatedly hitting the same regions. Floodwaters may inundate entire towns, sweep away vehicles, and damage homes already weakened by earlier storms.
In total, more than 90 million Americans remain under threat of severe weather as the storm system stretches from Texas to the Northeast.
Emergency services across multiple states are urging residents to have shelter plans ready and stay updated on local warnings as conditions continue to evolve.
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