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US tornadoes: At least 19 dead as storms tear through southern US US tornadoes: At least 19 dead as storms tear through southern US
(about 4 hours later)
'Look at all that debris': Man shelters from tornado in car US tornadoes: Extreme weather leaves trail of destruction
At least 19 people have died in the US - including 11 in Missouri alone - after deadly tornadoes tore through several south-eastern states, flipping cars and flattening homes. At least 20 people have died in the US - including 12 in Missouri alone - after deadly tornadoes tore through several south-eastern states, flipping cars and flattening homes.
Three people were killed in a car crash during a fierce dust storm in Texas, while deaths have also occurred in Oklahoma and Arkansas.Three people were killed in a car crash during a fierce dust storm in Texas, while deaths have also occurred in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
More than 200,000 people are without power across five states - Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Texas and Arkansas - according to tracker PowerOutage. More than 240,000 properties were without power across six states - including Texas, Missouri and Illinois - on Saturday afternoon, according to tracker PowerOutage.
Further severe weather is on the horizon for the region on Saturday, with tornado watches issued in central Mississippi, eastern Louisiana and western Tennessee. Further severe weather is expected for the region, with tornado watches issued in central Mississippi, eastern Louisiana and western Tennessee.
Follow updates on this storyFollow updates on this story
Flash flooding and flood warnings have also been issued in the same three states, as well as parts of Alabama and Arkansas, as severe weather continues to track across the south-east.Flash flooding and flood warnings have also been issued in the same three states, as well as parts of Alabama and Arkansas, as severe weather continues to track across the south-east.
A tornado warning - the highest level threat - was also issued in central Mississippi on Saturday morning. The National Weather Service (NWS) has said these flash floods could prove deadly.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of "multiple intense to violent long-track tornadoes" in those areas, describing the situation as "particularly dangerous". A tornado warning - the highest level of alert - was also issued in central Mississippi on Saturday morning.
The NWS warned of "multiple intense to violent long-track tornadoes" in those areas, describing the situation as "particularly dangerous".
The meteorological agency said: "If you live in these areas, get to the sturdiest structure you have access to and remain in place until the storms pass."The meteorological agency said: "If you live in these areas, get to the sturdiest structure you have access to and remain in place until the storms pass."
Damage from a tornado that hit Missouri Mike Kehoe, governor of Missouri, said the state had been "devastated by severe storms and tornadoes, leaving homes destroyed and lives lost".
Mike Kehoe, governor of Missouri - where the 11 deaths were reported across four south-easterly counties - said the state had been "devastated by severe storms and tornadoes, leaving homes destroyed and lives lost".
Missouri's emergency management agency said initial reports indicated 19 tornadoes had struck 25 counties so far.Missouri's emergency management agency said initial reports indicated 19 tornadoes had struck 25 counties so far.
One person died on the road in Oklahoma, the BBC's US partner CBS News reported, citing officials, while three deaths were reported in Arkansas. Arkansas has seen three deaths and 29 injuries - prompting Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to declare a state of emergency.
Georgia's governor, Brian Kemp, also declared a state of emergency ahead of a predicted severe weather pattern hitting his state.
The NWS expects the threat of tornadoes to spread into Alabama, Florida and Georgia into Sunday.
Meanwhile, one person died on the road in Oklahoma, the BBC's US partner CBS News reported, citing officials.
The same dust storm that caused three deaths in Texas on Friday night caused a pile-up of an estimated 38 cars.The same dust storm that caused three deaths in Texas on Friday night caused a pile-up of an estimated 38 cars.
"It's the worst I've ever seen," Sgt Cindy Barkley, of the state's department of public safety, told reporters."It's the worst I've ever seen," Sgt Cindy Barkley, of the state's department of public safety, told reporters.
"We couldn't tell that they were all together until the dust kind of settled.""We couldn't tell that they were all together until the dust kind of settled."
A further death has since been reported in Texas.A further death has since been reported in Texas.
In Texas and Oklahoma, the destructive storms fuelled more than 100 wildfires and overturned several semi-trailer trucks, CBS reports.In Texas and Oklahoma, the destructive storms fuelled more than 100 wildfires and overturned several semi-trailer trucks, CBS reports.
One of those fires, known as the 840 Road Fire, has already burned 27,500 acres and remains 0% contained, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Service. The agency has issued a "red flag" warning for the state's panhandle area, signaling extreme fire danger. One of those fires, known as the 840 Road Fire, has already burned 27,500 acres and remains 0% contained, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Service. The agency has issued a "red flag" warning for the state's panhandle area, signalling a severe fire danger.
Matt Taylor with the forecast on severe thunderstorms affecting central and eastern parts of the USMatt Taylor with the forecast on severe thunderstorms affecting central and eastern parts of the US
Tornadoes form when moist, warm air rises, mixing with cold air above to form thunderclouds.
Winds blowing from different directions cause the air to rotate, creating a vortex of air moving upwards.
The four states where tornado-related deaths have been confirmed in the past day lie within a path frequently hit by the weather phenomenon.
It has earned this stretch of the US the unofficial name Tornado Alley, because its geography is ideal for tornado formation.
In 2024, 54 people were killed in tornado-related incidents, according to Noaa. Nine people died in Texas. There were eight in Oklahoma, five in Arkansas and one in Missouri.
Peak tornado season in Tornado Alley is from May to June - but meteorologists caution that tornadoes can occur at any time of year.
Have you been personally affected by the tornadoes in the US?Have you been personally affected by the tornadoes in the US?
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