Severe thunderstorms that hit over the long holiday weekend caused at least 21 fatalities, with the Northeast now facing the brunt of the storm. With over 30 million people under a severe thunderstorm watch, major metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia, New York City, and Syracuse were warned of potentially dangerous weather conditions. The storms were capable of producing wind gusts of up to 65 mph and quarter-sized hail, prompting the National Weather Service to issue alerts until 9 p.m. ET on Monday. The deadly weather had already claimed lives in southern states and the Great Plains, including Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported several fatalities in his state, including a 67-year-old woman in Mercer County and a 48-year-old woman in Hopkins County, among others. Beshear described the storms that hit Kentucky as devastating, causing significant damage to homes and businesses across the state. Despite the destruction, there were some positive outcomes, such as a young girl surviving a tree falling on her while riding her bike. However, the overall impact of the storms led to a state of emergency being declared in numerous counties in Kentucky and parts of Arkansas.
The damaging weather also affected other states, such as Texas, where a rancher and 34 cattle were killed in a lightning strike in Colorado. The severe weather continued across Missouri and Kentucky, with images showing large funnel clouds and golf ball-sized hailstones. Power outages were reported, with over 350,000 homes and businesses without power in affected areas. Arkansas had more than 57,000 outages, while Kentucky had over 148,000. The extreme heat warnings in southern and central Texas, with temperatures expected to exceed 100 degrees, added to the challenging weather conditions.
As the cold front moved north, the National Weather Service warned of potentially dangerous heat indexes in southern areas such as Texas, where temperatures could reach up to 120 degrees. Key West, Florida, and surrounding regions were also forecasted to experience similarly hot weather conditions. The severity of the weather events over the holiday weekend highlighted the importance of staying alert and prepared for extreme weather conditions, as the impact on communities and individuals can be devastating. Authorities were working to assess the damage and assist those affected by the storms, while also monitoring the ongoing weather patterns to ensure the safety of residents in at-risk areas.
