Tornadoes and Severe Storms Strike US South and Midwest, Threaten Historic Flooding

Tornadoes and powerful storms wreaked havoc across the South and Midwest US on Wednesday, causing widespread damage, knocking down power lines, and triggering flash flooding in several areas. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that these severe weather conditions could last throughout the weekend, affecting over 13 million people.

As of Wednesday, at least two dozen tornado warnings were issued, with NWS urging residents to seek shelter immediately. Tornado emergencies were declared in states including Arkansas, Illinois, and Texas, with forecasters predicting severe wind gusts, large hail, and significant flash flooding. The NWS cautioned that the storm system could bring up to a foot of rain in the hardest-hit areas, leading to what experts described as a “once in a generation” flood event. The storms are expected to cause life-threatening conditions through Saturday.