Close to 50 million residents across the United States are bracing for severe weather conditions, following a recent spate of tornadoes that devastated parts of the South and claimed one life.
Vast regions of the Midwest and Great Plains are currently under emergency alerts as meteorologists warn of violent storms, including potential tornadoes, expected to continue from Sunday through Monday.
Twelve states are on high alert for these hazardous weather conditions: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Just before 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Wichita, Kansas, received a dire warning about a ‘large, extremely dangerous tornado’ identified approximately six miles south of Neodesha, advancing eastward at 20 mph, as per the National Weather Service.
The alert emphasized, “This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!”
Additionally, a flood watch is in effect for Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri, where rainfall could exceed two inches, raising concerns of flooding.
‘Tornadoes that strike after dark or are wrapped in rain are especially dangerous because they can be nearly impossible to see,’ Tyler Roys, a senior meteorologist at Accuweather, said in a statement.
‘Everyone in the region should be ready to act quickly and have multiple ways to receive warnings and alerts that can wake you overnight,’ he added.
Nearly 50 million people across the US are in the path of severe weather outbreaks, including tornados
Hail, described as larger than baseballs, was reported across several states on Saturday (pictured in Missouri)
Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin are at risk (tornado pictured in Oklahoma)
At least 10 people were injured after a powerful tornado struck northern Oklahoma on Thursday night (damage pictured in Oklahoma)
Storms have battered the central United States over the past week, bringing more than 30 tornadoes and more than 230 reports of hail, according to AccuWeather.
Sunday’s alert comes just hours after several twisters swept through parts of Mississippi and Texas, ripping roofs from homes and leaving residential areas reduced to destroyed structures and debris.
In the afternoon, a tornado with winds reaching 105 mph touched down in the Springtown area of Texas and tore through the community for 32 minutes, covering nearly 10 miles.
One person was killed by the winds, according to NBCDFW News.
Late Saturday, at least 12 unconfirmed tornadoes were reported across parts of the Plains and Southwest, including five in Texas, six in Oklahoma and one in Nebraska.
Hail, described as larger than baseballs, was also reported in Texas and Arkansas on Saturday.
Meanwhile, in Runaway Bay, Texas, a ‘supercell thunderstorm’ unleashing baseball-sized hail and powerful wind gusts helped spawn a tornado with peak winds reported at 135mph.
One person was killed as a result of the twister, with several others injured and at least 20 families displaced, according to county officials.
Late Saturday, at least 12 unconfirmed tornadoes were reported across parts of the Plains and Southwest, including six in Oklahoma (pictured)
A tornado with winds reaching 105 mph touched down in the Springtown area of Texas on Sunday, killing one person
A flood watch has also been issued for areas in Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri (flooding in Texas is pictured on Sunday)
In Oklahoma, around 40 homes were damaged, including light damage at a nearby Air Force base (damage in Oklahoma pictured)
Lightning seen during the seventh inning between the Los Angeles Angels and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Missouri
The same ‘supercell storm’ also spawned a second tornado in nearby Shannon.
Parker County ESD #1 Assistant Fire Chief David Pruitt described the scene based on footage captured by the Texas Sky Ranger, which hovered over both Runaway Bay and Springtown, according to NBC.
He said video showed ‘a field of debris covered by splintered wood, collapsed roofs, and downed walls’ in Runaway Bay, while in Springtown, ‘homes were leveled and vehicles were overturned.’
At least 10 people were injured after a powerful tornado struck northern Oklahoma on Thursday night, leaving around 40 homes damaged and causing light damage at a nearby Air Force base, according to The Guardian.
In a recent GoFundMe post, a man named James Houck said his grandparents’ house was torn apart in Springtown.
He said the tornado left his 71-year-old grandmother, Jacky, and 95-year-old great-grandmother, Clara, with nowhere to go.
‘We are just trying to get them moved out into a safer location closer to my mother in town near their doctors’ offices,’ he wrote. ‘Anything would be greatly appreciated.’
Photos showed her home, set on a large plot of land, completely destroyed, with debris scattered across the surrounding property and the roof completely ripped off.
A car is pictured sitting underneath an uprooted tree on Friday in Oklahoma
A man named James Houck said the tornado left his 71-year-old grandmother, Jacky, and 95-year-old great-grandmother, Clara, with nowhere to go in Springtown, Texas
Photos showed his grandmother’s home on a large plot of land, completely destroyed, with debris scattered across the property and the roof completely ripped off
On Sunday, a Level 3 out of 5 ‘enhanced risk’ of severe weather was predicted for much of Kansas and parts of western Missouri and southeastern Nebraska, including Wichita, Kansas City, Missouri, and Beatrice, Nebraska.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail are all possible.
‘There is some potential for significant severe weather: very large hail around 2 inches in diameter, damaging winds up to 70mph and a few tornadoes,’ the NWS alert read. ‘A strong tornado is possible across mainly south central and southern Kansas.’
A Level 2 out of 5 ‘slight risk’ of severe weather was forecast for parts of northern Texas, northwest Arkansas, western Missouri, southwest Iowa, southern Nebraska, most of Oklahoma and Kansas, according to the NWS.
On Monday, the severe weather threat is expected to spread northeastward, reaching from the lower Mississippi Valley into the Midwest.
Multiple cities were alerted to prepare for an ‘enhanced risk,’ or a Level 3 out of 5, of severe weather: St. Louis, Cedar Rapids, Jonesboro, Evansville, Paducah and Rockford.
Memphis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Louisville, South Bend and Mason City are all forecast to face a Level 2 out of 5 ‘slight risk’ on Monday, which could bring tornadoes, widespread damaging wind gusts, large hail and spotty flash flooding.
Monday’s storm system is expected to dump heavy rain across the central US, raising the risk of isolated flash flooding, with additional heavy rainfall expected in the Great Lakes region.
