More than 350,000 people in Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, and Kansas were left without power after severe storms and tornadoes hit the region over the weekend. The Indianapolis 500 was delayed due to concerns about severe weather, and at least 11 storm-related deaths were reported in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The storms caused widespread damage, overturning vehicles, destroying homes, and injuring multiple people.
In Texas, two children and three family members were among those who died in Cooke County, with other injuries reported in Denton County. In Arkansas, a 26-year-old woman was found dead in a destroyed home in Olvey, and another death was reported in Benton County. Two deaths were also reported in Oklahoma, with guests at an outdoor wedding sustaining injuries from storm damage. Tornadoes and hail were reported in Tulsa, multiple injuries were reported in Benton County, Arkansas, and emergency response teams were conducting search and rescue operations.
The severe weather is expected to move east into the Midwest and Ohio Valley, impacting cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. A tornado watch is in effect in the mid-Mississippi Valley, with damaging wind gusts, tornadoes, and large hail being potential hazards. Flash flooding is also a risk as the storms move across the country, particularly in the mid-Mississippi Valley. The storms will continue to move east, with a risk of severe weather in the mid-Atlantic region on Monday.
Officials at the Indianapolis 500 advised spectators to seek cover due to lightning strikes in the area. The storms are expected to bring 1-2.5 inches of rainfall, with higher amounts possible in areas where training storms develop. On Sunday, a tornado watch was in effect in Kentucky and Tennessee, with 3 million people under flood alerts in Memphis and Tupelo. The storms will finish off on the East Coast on Monday, with a slight risk of severe weather in the mid-Atlantic region, including Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Charlotte.
Overall, 42 million people in the Midwest and Ohio Valley are expected to be impacted by the severe weather. The storms caused significant damage and injuries in multiple states, with emergency response teams conducting search and rescue operations throughout the night. The region saw tornadoes, hail, and strong winds, leading to power outages and delays in major events. The storms are expected to continue into Monday, bringing a risk of severe weather to the mid-Atlantic region.
