Today, we’re bracing for a serious tornado and a notable thunderstorm outbreak in the Deep Southern States of United States. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has even issued a high-risk forecast for areas in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Stay safe out there!
On Friday, Missouri experienced multiple tornadoes. Forecasters predicted winds reaching up to 80 mph stretching from the Canadian border all the way down to Texas. This weather pattern poses a risk of blizzard conditions in the chillier northern regions, while the warmer, drier southern areas face the threat of wildfires. The governors of Alabama, Kansas, and Missouri have declared emergencies in response to the looming threat of severe weather and wildfires.
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Tornado predictions
The windstorm threat shifted eastward into the Mississippi Valley and the southern regions on Saturday, just one day after a powerful storm wreaked havoc, damaging buildings, kicking up dust storms that led to tragic accidents, and sparking over 100 wildfires across several central states. The federal Storm Prediction Center has just released its latest forecast, warning that we can expect several major tornadoes this Saturday afternoon and evening.
Some of these could be long-track tornadoes and might even be quite violent. The Storm Prediction Center has a system of five categories to alert us about potential severe weather, from marginal risks to high threats. They use color-coded forecast maps, where the areas with the lowest risk are marked in green, while the highest risk zones are highlighted in magenta.
Damages
The extent of the damage remained uncertain in the early hours of Saturday as forecasters from the National Weather Service worked tirelessly to issue tornado warnings. Tragically, three individuals lost their lives on Friday due to car accidents caused by a dust storm in Amarillo County, Texas, as reported by Sgt. Cindy Barkley from the state Department of Public Safety. One of the accidents was a massive pileup that involved around 38 vehicles.
On Friday afternoon, a series of fast-spreading fires ignited in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, fueled by strong winds and extremely dry conditions. At least 15 fires prompted evacuations across Oklahoma, particularly in Leedey and Norman, where a group of “dangerous wildfires” was racing quickly to the northeast, as reported by the National Weather Service.
Strong winds took down power lines, leaving over 216,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri without electricity.
Top 3 biggest tornadoes in U.S. history
The United States has experienced some of the most devastating tornadoes in history, leaving behind widespread destruction and tragic loss of life. Here are the three most catastrophic tornadoes ever recorded in the country.
The Tri-State Tornado (1925)
The deadliest tornado in U.S. history, the Tri-State Tornado, struck on March 18, 1925, tearing through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. With a path length of 219 miles and winds exceeding 300 mph, it killed 695 people and injured over 2,000. Entire towns were obliterated, making it one of the most destructive natural disasters in American history.
The Joplin Tornado (2011)
On May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri, with winds over 200 mph. It killed 161 people, injured more than 1,000, and caused nearly $3 billion in damage. The tornado destroyed a third of the city, including homes, hospitals, and schools, making it the deadliest single tornado in modern U.S. history.
The Moore Tornado (2013)
Another EF5 tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013, with winds reaching 210 mph. It killed 24 people, including several children at Plaza Towers Elementary School, and caused $2 billion in damage. The tornado’s 17-mile path left neighborhoods in ruins, highlighting the deadly power of such storms.
These tornadoes serve as grim reminders of nature’s fury and the importance of preparedness in tornado-prone regions.
Stay Safe
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