Sun Mar 16 01:20:00 UTC 2025: **Devastating Tornadoes and Storms Kill at Least 20 Across US South**
**Little Rock, AR –** At least 20 people have died and dozens more injured after a wave of tornadoes and severe storms ripped through several southeastern states, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The hardest-hit state appears to be Missouri, where 12 fatalities have been reported. Arkansas has reported three deaths and 29 injuries, prompting Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to declare a state of emergency. Oklahoma and Texas each reported at least two deaths, with one death additionally reported in Texas due to a separate dust storm. The dust storm also caused a massive 38-car pileup.
The storms caused widespread damage, flattening homes and flipping cars. Over 240,000 homes and businesses across six states were left without power. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued tornado warnings, including a high-level alert for central Mississippi, warning of intense and violent tornadoes. Flash flood warnings and watches were also issued across several states, with the NWS warning of potentially deadly conditions.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe described the devastation as severe, with numerous homes destroyed. Initial reports indicate that 19 tornadoes touched down in 25 Missouri counties. In Oklahoma, a wildfire sparked by the storms has already consumed 27,500 acres.
The severe weather is expected to continue, with the NWS predicting the threat of tornadoes to spread into Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Governors in Arkansas and Georgia have declared states of emergency. The storms, which impacted areas known as “Tornado Alley,” highlight the ongoing threat of severe weather during peak tornado season, though tornadoes can occur throughout the year. The NWS urges residents in affected areas to seek shelter in sturdy structures until the storms pass.
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