Powerful storms that swept across the Midwest and South have resulted in at least 42 fatalities, with regions in the Northeast also impacted by severe weather. Over the weekend, dozens of states were battered by destructive forces, including tornadoes, heavy rains, wildfires, and dust storms. Authorities on Monday were assessing widespread damage as communities grappled with the aftermath.
In a tragic incident in Transylvania County, North Carolina, two boys aged 11 and 13 died when a tree fell on their family’s trailer. The Connestee Fire Rescue reported that the children were found trapped under the tree and other debris, while three other family members escaped without injuries.
The National Weather Service confirmed that a series of tornadoes, primarily spanning Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, caused significant destruction. In Talladega County, Alabama, an EF-2 tornado tossed a school bus onto the roof of Winterboro High School.
Across these seven states, Missouri reported the highest death toll with 12 fatalities, followed by Kansas with eight, and Mississippi with six. Wildfires intensified the chaos in Texas and Oklahoma, causing at least four deaths.
The storms moved to the Northeast, bringing heavy rain and hail over the region. Meanwhile, dust storms in Kansas led to a highway pile-up with at least eight casualties. Power outages were widespread, affecting over 120,000 residents across several states, including Pennsylvania, Missouri, and New York.
While the severe weather system is losing strength as it travels eastward, parts of the western United States are now under winter storm warnings. The Sierra Nevada is bracing for snowfall and strong winds, while plains regions could see similar conditions through Tuesday.
