Washington, D.C. — A series of severe weather events has ravaged parts of the United States, with the latest reports indicating over 550 storm incidents last Friday and an additional 135 on Saturday. This destructive pattern is responsible for numerous tornadoes and has resulted in a death toll that has risen to 36 across multiple states.
The storms have now shifted eastward, putting approximately 40 million residents at risk along the East Coast, from Florida to western New York. Cities within this risk zone include Pittsburgh, Erie, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Charlotte, and Raleigh. The most intense activities are expected in western Pennsylvania as the severe weather systems continue moving across the region.
As of this morning, the severe weather threat is expected to gradually decrease by this evening. While most areas will see an end to the stormy conditions, the Northeast, particularly New England, may experience lingering showers into early tomorrow as the system progresses offshore.
In Missouri, the National Weather Service confirmed that at least three tornadoes made landfall on Friday. The tornadoes, rated as EF-2 and EF-1, occurred in several counties, causing significant damage to infrastructure and landscapes. The weather service plans to continue its survey in Missouri and Illinois to assess the full extent of the devastation.
The impact of the storms has been lethal, particularly in Missouri where most of the fatalities occurred. Severe weather conditions also triggered a massive 50-vehicle collision in Kansas, contributing to the death toll. Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, and Oklahoma have also reported casualties directly related to the storms.
Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama reported that severe conditions had taken two lives in the state and caused widespread damage across 52 counties. Recovery efforts and damage assessments are ongoing as the affected communities begin to rebuild.
Utility disruptions have compounded the situation, with nearly 200,000 people without electricity across the South and Midwest as reported by PowerOutage.us. Missouri and Georgia are the hardest hit, but significant outages are also affecting North Carolina, Michigan, and Alabama.
The devastation has drawn national attention, with figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson expressing condolences and prayers for the victims and the affected families.
Additionally, the weather situation continues to evolve in Florida where the National Weather Service has expanded a tornado watch to include Dixie and Lafayette counties. Residents are urged to stay vigilant and prepare to seek shelter if warnings are escalated.
As the system moves off the Atlantic coast, the full scope of its impact and the resilience of the affected communities will become clearer. Emergency response teams remain on high alert, and support continues to flow to the regions hardest hit by this spate of severe weather.