A powerful storm system swept across the United States, spawning a wave of extreme weather across the nation, including tornadoes, wildfires, blizzards, and dangerous winds in several states.
Millions are affected and emergency crews work around the clock to contain the destruction.
Tornado Outbreak in Missouri
Several tornadoes were reported across Missouri, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. One shopping plaza was reduced to rubble in Rolla, with several homes totally flattened. An NWS warning said there still was a threat of tornadoes for parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
Massive Dust Storm Triggers Deadly Pileup in Texas
In Amarillo, Texas, three people were killed and a number of others were injured in a 38-vehicle pileup amid near-zero visibility. The dust storm was part of a wider weather crisis affecting the region as strong winds mixed with dry conditions to fuel the problem.
Wildfires Continue To Sweep Several States
More than 130 wildfires are burning throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, forcing evacuations and overwhelming firefighting resources. Firefighting aircraft were having difficulty operating because of the thick smoke and dust, according to officials from Oklahoma Forestry Services, making containment efforts exceedingly difficult.
Hurricane-Force Winds Knock Out Power
Gusts as high as 100 mph have knocked down trees and semi-trucks. More than 216,000 power outages were caused by the storm across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.
Blizzard Warnings Issued in the Northern Plains
Blizzard conditions, including strong winds and snow up to a foot, are affecting travel in western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota. Authorities are advising residents to stay off the roads as the travel conditions worsen.
East Coast Faces Flood Threats
As the storm system heads east, heavy rains will bring the possibility of flash flooding to parts of the East Coast. New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia were among the cities being called to prepare for possible evacuations.
Experts Warn of Unprecedented Weather Patterns
For weather forecasters, this is a highly unusual storm system because of its huge size and because it strikes simultaneously in a number of areas. “This is affecting millions of people across vastly different climates, making it one of the most unpredictable weather events in recent years,” said Bill Bunting with the NWS Storm Prediction Center.
What’s Next?
Weather officials caution that these rough conditions will last through the weekend and advise residents in areas at higher risk to remain informed and heed any evacuations ordered. Meanwhile, emergency response teams remain on high alert as the storm continues its wide swath across the country.
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