OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A powerful storm system sweeping across the United States has shifted its focus eastward, bringing the threat of tornadoes to the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday. This comes after the same system triggered destructive winds, deadly dust storms, and over 100 wildfires across central states on Friday.
The storm’s impact has been widespread, affecting more than 100 million people. Tornadoes were reported in Missouri, while winds gusting up to 80 mph (130 kph) battered regions from the Canadian border to Texas. Northern areas faced blizzard conditions, while the southern regions grappled with heightened wildfire risks due to dry, warm weather.
The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings early Saturday for parts of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, and Texas. The storm’s intensity has been described as both rare and dangerous.
Deadly Dust Storms and Wildfires
In the Texas Panhandle, a dust storm near Amarillo caused a series of fatal car crashes, claiming three lives. Sgt. Cindy Barkley of the Texas Department of Public Safety described the scene as chaotic, with near-zero visibility leading to a massive pileup involving 38 vehicles. “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” Barkley said. “We couldn’t even tell the cars were there until the dust settled.”
Meanwhile, wildfires erupted across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds. Over 130 fires were reported in Oklahoma alone, prompting evacuations in several communities. Winds were so fierce that they overturned tractor-trailers on highways.
Charles Daniel, a truck driver traveling along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma, described the harrowing conditions: “There’s so much sand and dirt in the air. I’m not going over 55 mph because I’m scared my trailer will blow over.”
Tornadoes and Severe Weather Continue
The storm system is expected to persist through the weekend, with a high risk of tornadoes and damaging winds in Mississippi and Alabama on Saturday. Flash flooding is also a concern for parts of the East Coast on Sunday.
Bill Bunting of the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, noted the unusual scale and intensity of the storm. “What’s unique about this one is its large size and intensity,” he said. “It’s producing substantial impacts over a very large area.”
On Friday, at least five tornadoes were reported in Missouri, including one near St. Louis that damaged buildings and a strip mall in Rolla. Forecasters warned of “potentially violent” tornadoes in the central Gulf Coast and Deep South, with areas like Jackson, Mississippi, and Birmingham, Alabama, at particularly high risk.
Wildfires Spread Amid Dry Conditions
Wildfires in the Southern Plains expanded rapidly due to warm, dry weather and gusty winds. In Roberts County, Texas, a fire grew from less than a square mile to over 32 square miles (85 square kilometers) in a matter of hours. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze by Friday evening, but not before it caused significant damage.
In Oklahoma, fast-moving fires forced evacuations in towns like Leedey and areas east of Norman. Firefighting aircraft were grounded due to poor visibility caused by smoke and dust, complicating efforts to control the flames.
Blizzard Conditions in the North
While the South battled tornadoes and wildfires, the Northern Plains faced blizzard conditions. The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota, with up to a foot of snow and winds gusting to 60 mph (97 kph) creating whiteout conditions.
Power Outages and Road Closures
The storm’s high winds knocked out power to over 216,000 homes and businesses across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri, according to poweroutage.us. In western Kansas, a 120-mile stretch of Interstate 70 was temporarily closed due to blowing dust and poor visibility.
A Storm of Unprecedented Scale
Experts say such extreme weather is not uncommon in March, but the sheer size and intensity of this system have made it particularly destructive. As the storm continues to move east, residents are urged to stay alert and follow local advisories.
