At least 32 killed by storms and tornadoes in US as extreme weather threatens millions

The United States has recently been hit by tornadoes and severe storms, resulting in at least 32 deaths and affecting the Mississippi River Valley and the southern United States. This large-scale storm system not only triggered deadly dust storms and tornadoes but also fueled the spread of over 100 wildfires, causing severe damage to multiple states. The extent of the devastation underscores the urgent need for disaster relief and preparedness.

Missouri has suffered the highest death toll in this disaster, with at least 12 fatalities. This includes a resident whose home was completely destroyed by a tornado. In Kansas, a dust storm caused a pileup of at least 50 vehicles, resulting in 8 deaths. According to meteorologist David Roth of the U.S. National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center, a low-pressure system drove severe thunderstorms across parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri from Friday night to Saturday morning, with at least 26 tornadoes reported, although it has not yet been confirmed whether all of them touched down. The rapid formation and intensity of these storms highlight the challenges in providing timely warnings.

Arkansas officials stated that 3 people died in Independence County, and another 29 were injured in storms across 8 counties in the state. In Amarillo, Texas, located in the Texas Panhandle, 3 people also died in car accidents during a dust storm. Extreme weather is expected to affect areas inhabited by more than 100 million people, with gusts of up to 130 kilometers per hour expected from the Canadian border to Texas, with northern cold regions facing blizzard threats, while warm and dry southern regions face wildfire risks. These widespread impacts necessitate coordinated response efforts across multiple states.

Some communities in Oklahoma have ordered evacuations, and more than 130 fires have been reported nationwide, with nearly 300 homes damaged or destroyed. Governor Kevin Stitt said at a press conference on Saturday that about 689 square kilometers of land in the state had been burned. The state patrol reported that strong winds even overturned several trailers. Truck driver Charles Daniel in western Oklahoma said, "The situation here is very bad." Experts say that such extreme weather in March is not uncommon. The scale of the destruction underscores the importance of proactive measures to mitigate wildfire risks.

The Storm Prediction Center stated that fast-moving storms could produce tornadoes and baseball-sized hail on Saturday, but the biggest threat would come from straight-line winds approaching or exceeding hurricane strength, with gusts potentially reaching 160 kilometers per hour. Strong winds have also caused power outages for more than 200,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Severe tornadoes are expected on Saturday afternoon and evening, with the highest risk areas extending from eastern Louisiana and Mississippi to Alabama, western Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle. In addition to Oklahoma, wildfires in other parts of the southern plains are also spreading rapidly in Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico, due to warm, dry weather and strong winds. The combination of severe weather events poses significant challenges for emergency responders and affected communities.