United States – A powerful storm system has brought destructive weather to large parts of the U.S., affecting millions from the South to the upper Midwest. The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of a “potentially historic” multi-day storm with tornadoes, flooding, high winds, and heavy rain.
Tornadoes Reported in Multiple States
Tornadoes were reported late Wednesday night in Arkansas and Oklahoma, with additional tornado activity seen by Thursday morning in Indiana and Kentucky.
Tragically, one person died in southeast Missouri due to severe storms in that area, according to local TV station KFVS, which cited the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Massive Power Outages Across 8 States
As of early Thursday morning, over 250,000 people were left without electricity across multiple states including:
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- Michigan
- Ohio
This data comes from PowerOutage.us, a website that tracks power disruptions across the country.
NWS Issues Life-Threatening Weather Warnings
The National Weather Service has called the situation “life-threatening” and warned of a “rare, high-impact, and potentially devastating event.“
Their latest forecast includes:
- Tornadoes, some possibly reaching EF3 level (with winds up to 165 mph)
- Flash flooding
- Damaging hail and wind gusts
- Rainfall totals of up to 15 inches in some places
Cities like Memphis, Little Rock, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Louisville are in the storm’s path and could face extreme conditions.
Emergency Declarations and Local Warnings
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, calling this storm “one of the most serious weather threats” he has ever seen.
In Little Rock, Arkansas, city officials cancelled the weekly emergency siren test, warning that any sirens heard would indicate an actual tornado emergency.
Most At-Risk Areas
According to the NWS, the highest risk zones for tornadoes and severe storms include:
- Northeastern Arkansas
- Western Tennessee
- Western Kentucky
- Southern Illinois
- Southeastern Missouri
Other states including Indiana, Ohio, Mississippi, and Texas are also expected to face strong winds, hail, and localized tornadoes, though possibly less severe.
Threat of Historic Rainfall and Worsening Floods
One of the biggest dangers is extreme rainfall, with some areas forecasted to receive up to 6 inches of rain in just two days, and up to 15 inches by the weekend. The storm system is expected to stall over the area, leading to repeated heavy rain and flooding.
“This isn’t routine,” the NWS Memphis office warned. “This is a rare and high-impact event.”
Flooding is likely to saturate the soil, damage homes and roads, and lead to long-term disruptions in daily life for millions.