19 hours ago
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Violent storms and tornadoes have torn across the US south and midwest, killing at least one person and downing power lines and trees, smashing homes and upturning cars across multiple states.
Dozens of tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Mississippi on Wednesday evening. In Arkansas, the National Weather Service told residents: “This is a life threatening situation. Seek shelter now.”
At least one person died due to the storms in Missouri police there said, with multiple reports of damage across several states. Homes were ripped apart in Lake City, Arkansas, trees were shredded and cars flipped over.
In parts of Tennessee, people were told to not use the roads due to the amount of debris on them.
A rare tornado emergency was declared around Blytheville, Arkansas, on Wednesday evening after debris was hurled at least 25,000ft into the air.
“It’s definitely going to be a really horrible situation here come sunrise in the morning in those areas, coming out of Arkansas,” Chelly Amin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told the Associated Press.
In Indiana, winds reached 81mph and caused widespread power outages. Debris from damage has covered roads in the state and schools have been closed.
While the US south and midwest have long faced the prospect of such storms, the severity of such events is being amplified by the climate crisis, scientists have said.
Tornadoes may be shifting to different parts of the country, while a warmer climate holds more moisture, leading to more intense downpours.
The coming days are likely to bring severe flash flooding across several states, with more than a foot of rain possible. There will be “significant, life-threatening flash flooding” until Saturday, the National Weather Service warned. “Historic rainfall totals and impacts are possible.”
The looming floods are likely to cause further damage and increase the death toll. One man did manage an unusual escape, though, after a tornado destroyed his home in Selmer, Tennessee.
Matt Vandevander jumped into his bathtub to shelter from the storm but it ripped him out of his house and threw him into his neighbors yard. Somehow, Vandevander survived with just a few scratches.
“It’s a miracle,” he told WMC, a CNN affiliate. “I’m very happy – happier than I probably should be.”
