Over the weekend, a powerful string of storms tore through Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, causing immense devastation and tragically claiming the lives of at least 18 individuals.
The aftermath of these storms has left behind a trail of widespread destruction. Many homes were destroyed, and a truck stop, where numerous individuals sought refuge, was completely obliterated.
Tragically, in Cooke County, Texas, close to the Oklahoma border, seven individuals perished when a tornado ravaged a rural region near a mobile home park. Oklahoma also tragically reported two fatalities, as storms wreaked havoc on homes and caused injuries to guests attending an outdoor wedding.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott revealed that a significant number of individuals suffered injuries in the devastating tornado that occurred on Saturday.
Additionally, a considerable amount of homes and buildings were either destroyed or damaged. He cautioned that these figures could increase. Power outages affected a large number of residents throughout the region.
A tornado wreaked havoc in the greater Dallas area, causing vehicles to be overturned and a highway to be closed. Several individuals in Denton County have been hospitalised, although the details of their conditions are not currently available.
On Sunday morning, Sheriff Ray Sappington of Cooke County sadly confirmed the devastating loss of seven lives, including two young children aged 2 and 5 from the same family.
Sheriff Sappington expressed the severe impact on parts of Cooke County and expressed concern that the number of casualties might rise as search and rescue efforts continued to locate missing individuals.
Tragically, there have been multiple fatalities in Arkansas, with one of the victims being a young woman discovered outside a devastated residence in Olvey. Three deaths were confirmed in Benton County, while two fatalities occurred in Mayes County, Oklahoma.
Oklahoma experienced intense weather warnings, as described by the National Weather Service as resembling “a highly flammable brush pile.” Officials issued a warning about the severe weather conditions, including the potential for large hail, dangerous winds, and tornadoes.
Two homes in North Texas had their roofs blown off and a store was completely destroyed in Clay County. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. Wichita, Kansas, encountered the unfortunate event of fallen trees and power lines, resulting in 8,000 customers being left without electricity.
A tornado occurred near Mutual, Oklahoma, resulting in minor damage but fortunately no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, South Texas experienced scorching temperatures, reaching a heat index of nearly 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This extreme heat was made worse by recent storms and power outages.
Travellers were advised to be cautious of possible disruptions caused by the severe weather over Memorial Day weekend. April and May have experienced an unusually high frequency of tornadoes, with April documenting the second-highest count of twisters ever recorded.
Storms around the world are becoming more severe due to climate change. The storm system is forecasted to shift towards the east, impacting states such as Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia.