US: At least 17 dead as tornadoes, wildfires wreak havoc
What's the story
A wave of tornadoes has left a trail of destruction through parts of the US, with Missouri the most affected. The intense storms swept east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday. At least 17 people have been killed so far, including 11 in Missouri alone. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has also confirmed multiple injuries along with the deaths.
Rescue efforts
Rescuer's harrowing account of Missouri tornado aftermath
Butler County coroner Jim Akers said the scene was "unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field." He added, "The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls." However, rescuers managed to pull out one woman from her home. Three deaths have been reported in Arkansas in Independence County and 29 injured in eight counties due to overnight storms.
Emergency response
Governors declare states of emergency amid severe weather
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders assured that teams are assessing damage from last night's tornadoes and have first responders on ground to help. Both Sanders and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp have issued states of emergency in their states. The severe weather system brought destructive winds to the region, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
Fire outbreaks
Cross-country storm triggers wildfires and dust storms
The cross-country storm has produced winds that led to deadly dust storms and fanned over 100 wildfires. Severe weather, including hurricane-force winds, was set to hit the areas home to over 100 million people. Winds of up to 130kph were forecasted from Canada to Texas, bringing blizzard conditions to the north and heightened wildfire risks to the south.
Texas tragedy
Dust storm in Texas leads to 3 fatalities
Three people were killed in vehicular accidents in Amarillo County, Texas, during a dust storm on Friday. Sgt Cindy Barkley said the near-zero visibility was a nightmare: "We couldn't tell that they were all together until the dust kind of settled." The incident exemplifies the intense toll of the ongoing weather across several states.
Fire emergency
Southern plains face fire emergency amid severe weather
The Southern Plains is witnessing a fire emergency amid dry conditions and strong winds. Evacuations have been ordered in several communities in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico. In Roberts County, Texas, northeast of Amarillo, a fire grew dramatically from 2sqkm to about 85sqkm before it was contained by emergency crews. Another fire nearby spread to 10sqkm before containment as strong winds disrupted power supply across several states.
Weather warnings
Blizzard warnings and high-risk alerts issued
Blizzard warnings were issued by the National Weather Service for parts of western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota. 7.6-15.2cm of snow was expected, but it could go up to 30cm. Winds of up to 97kph were forecast, which would probably lead to whiteout conditions. The Storm Prediction Centre issued high-risk alerts for Mississippi including Jackson and Hattiesburg, and Alabama including Birmingham and Tuscaloosa due to the severe weather system hovering over eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee, and the western Florida Panhandle, which could bring storms and tornadoes.