At least seven people have been confirmed dead, and 13 others injured, after a series of tornadoes tore through the U.S. Midwest and South. The storms began late Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction. Local media reports say five fatalities were reported in Tennessee, one in Missouri, and one in Indiana.
More than 30 tornadoes
The hardest-hit areas were Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, where residents described the devastation as tornadoes ripped off roofs, tossed cars into the air, and caused widespread damage. More than 30 tornadoes were reported by Thursday evening, with some communities also experiencing baseball-sized hail.
The storms caused power outages for over 210,000 homes and businesses across seven states, from Texas to Ohio. The Weather Prediction Center issued a warning about a “prolonged, life-threatening flash flood event,” affecting around four million people. Flash flood warnings are in place for parts of the Midwest and South as the storm system continues eastward. Forecasters expect severe weather, including more tornadoes and large hail, through the weekend.
Authorities are warning of rare and potentially catastrophic flooding, with areas that rarely flood expected to see significant water levels. The National Weather Service called the situation “a rare, high-impact and potentially devastating event.”
