Deadly Storms Batter Central and Southern US, Leaving Dozens Dead

As of Saturday night, the central and southern United States were reeling from a barrage of severe weather. Dozens of violent tornadoes, blinding dust storms, and gust-driven wildfires had claimed the lives of at least 34 people.

Over the preceding 24 hours, more than 40 tornadoes had struck eight states. The threat of severe weather continued to loom over the southern and southeastern regions of the country. In Mississippi, the governor reported six fatalities across three counties, with three individuals still missing.

Missouri experienced a devastating impact, with as many as 19 tornadoes potentially passing through the state. At least 12 people lost their lives in four counties, and widespread destruction was reported. Arkansas also suffered, with late-night storms resulting in three deaths and nearly 30 injuries.

Blinding dust storms, one in Kansas and another in Texas, caused numerous vehicle pileups, leading to a total of 12 fatalities. The destructive storms also fueled over 100 wildfires across several central states. In Oklahoma, one person died due to wildfire smoke.

In Oklahoma, over 170,000 acres had burned, and nearly 300 homes and buildings were damaged. More than 130 blazes were reported across 44 counties. Georgia's governor declared a state of emergency.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center warned that extreme weather conditions could affect over 100 million people. The center issued a "high risk" alert for severe weather on Saturday, anticipating a tornado outbreak across the central Gulf Coast States and the Deep South. Meteorologists predicted that wind speeds could reach 80 mph from the U.S.-Canada border down to Texas over the weekend. The North was expected to face blizzards, while the South and Southeast could experience severe tornadoes, large hail, and wildfires. Heavy rainfall on the East Coast might also lead to flooding.