Article Summary –
Severe storms hit Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, resulting in at least one death and causing widespread destruction. Tornado warnings were issued across these states, with two large and dangerous tornadoes confirmed in Illinois and near Nashville, Tennessee, where debris and damage to homes were reported. Approximately 21 million people were at an enhanced or moderate risk of severe weather, with the most intense storms expected to hit Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee, affecting potentially four million people.
Severe Storms Cause Destruction Across Multiple US States
Powerful storms resulted in at least one fatality in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee on Wednesday, causing hail, heavy rain, and strong winds. This severe weather follows the widespread storms and tornadoes that battered the Midwest, particularly Michigan, on Tuesday.
A fatal incident occurred in Claiborne County, Tennessee, when a tree struck a vehicle during the storms earlier that day. The local office of emergency management confirmed this tragedy.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported continuous storm activity in the Midwest and the Eastern US during Wednesday, issuing numerous tornado warnings across Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In Williamson County, Illinois, a tornado warning was issued after a “confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado” was seen on Wednesday with no immediate damage reports.
Another “large and destructive” tornado was confirmed near Spring Hill, Tennessee, approximately 35 miles south of Nashville. The NWS declared a tornado emergency, warning locals of a “life-threatening situation”.
This tornado touched down in Maury County, including Spring Hill, where officials are still assessing the storm’s aftermath. Preliminary reports suggest scattered debris and people trapped in destroyed homes, said Pat Woodmansee, assistant director of the county’s emergency management agency.
According to the NWS’s Storm Prediction Center, about 21 million people faced an enhanced or moderate risk of severe weather on Wednesday.
The NWS office in Nashville urged people via social media to remain vigilant, warning that any storm could quickly intensify due to the unstable atmospheric conditions.
About four million people, including those in Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee, faced the most intense storms, with the potential risks of large hail, tornadoes, and damaging winds. Meanwhile, an area housing about 17 million people, stretching from Texas to North Carolina, faced a heightened risk of severe weather.
Heavy rains also triggered flash flood warnings in parts of Tennessee and Missouri. Forecasters reported flooding in several Missouri cities, which could extend to small creeks, streams, highways, and low-lying areas.
Close to 50 tornadoes were reported from Oklahoma to Ohio over the past couple of days, causing extensive damage throughout the Midwest. These storms also resulted in power outages, with about 28,000 customers in Michigan still left without power according to PowerOutage.us.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, tornadoes damaged approximately 200 mobile homes and resulted in 16 injuries. Furthermore, 50 workers had to be rescued from a FedEx depot center in Kalamazoo County after a tornado devastated the building. In Oklahoma, a tornado as wide as two miles led to widespread destruction, killing a resident in Barnsdall and damaging around 40 homes.
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