Severe weather to take aim at parts of America's heartland still reeling from flooding, deadly storms
At least 25 people in seven states were killed due to the extreme weather, including deaths from tornadoes in Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, and fatalities from flooding in Kentucky.
Severe weather threatens areas hit hard by historic flooding, deadly storms
Millions of people living in communities hit hard by historic flooding and deadly storms from the Midwest to the South will need to keep an eye out for more severe weather on Thursday. FOX Weather Meteorologists Jane Minar and Marissa Torres have the latest on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Communities in the Midwest and South that are still reeling from historic flooding and deadly storms are bracing for more severe weather this week that could delay recovery and response efforts.
At least 25 people in seven states were killed due to the extreme weather, including deaths from tornadoes in Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, and fatalities from flooding in Kentucky.
Massive tornado spotted in Arkansas
FOX Weather exclusive Storm Tracker Brandon Copic captured video of a monstrous tornado on the ground near Lake City, Arkansas, on Wednesday.
One of those monster tornadoes was captured live on FOX Weather on Wednesday, April 2, by FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Brandon Copic.
That tornado that touched down in northwestern Arkansas prompted forecasters to issue a rare Tornado Emergency as the supercell passed through communities such as Lake City and Blytheville.
Now, as those devastated communities begin to sift through debris and anxiously await floodwaters to recede, a new threat has emerged – more severe thunderstorms.
Severe weather threatens cities blasted by deadly storms, flooding
This graphic shows the severe weather threat on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (FOX Weather)
After some frigid mornings across central portions of the U.S. that experienced days of intense storms and torrential rain, warmer temperatures are slowly going to return by the end of the week.
However, so does the severe weather threat.
Nearly 30 million people across portions of the mid-South and Deep South and Tennessee Valley will be at risk of scattered severe thunderstorms on Thursday. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed more than 9 million people in parts of seven states in a Level 2 out of 5 threat on its 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale.
First responders in Arkansas leap into action after an individual drove into a river
According to the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office, the victim had called first responders from Barling and told dispatchers the car had begun to take on water.
Among the cities and towns at risk are those still trying to recover in the wake of the historic disaster that unfolded over the past two weeks.
In Tennessee, this includes cities like Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga.
Birmingham and Huntsville in Alabama are also at risk on Thursday.
Forecasters say the main threats will be damaging wind gusts and large hail, but some tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
On Friday, severe thunderstorms are possible across the eastern Carolinas to southeast Virginia. The primary concerns here will be isolated hail and damaging winds.
Disaster declared, military helps with recovery efforts
President Donald Trump approved emergency disaster declarations for Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide additional support for communities grappling with the scope of the historic disaster.
The National Guard, Kentucky State Police and other state and local leaders have been working tirelessly to keep people safe and have urged people to avoid travel if possible.
"This week we've had two rescues here in Frankfort by boat and 67 individuals were evacuated by boat from a hotel in Louisville," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at a news conference on Tuesday.
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Watch: Frankfort, Kentucky, residents evacuate amid historic flooding
A mandatory curfew was in effect in Frankfort, Kentucky, on Sunday, as dangerous and historic flooding threatened parts of the state. Footage captured by X user @Collins_Wx shows crews from the Winchester Fire Department conducting search and rescues in a flooded street of Frankfort.
Beshear said that so far, there have been 142 rescues and 272 evacuations by boat, with 87 vessels being used to help.
Beshear continued that the biggest concern was people who were still trying to travel on state roads and highways. He referenced a local news story about a person who needed to be rescued after driving around a barricade.
"When you do that, you not only put your life in danger, you put the lives of everybody who's coming to rescue you in danger. We need people to wait this out."
Beshear said that 457 roads and highways have been closed across the state, with 440 closed due to flooding and 17 due to mudslides and rockslides.
Watch: Famous Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY, surrounded by floodwaters
An aerial view of the famous Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, shows it surrounded by floodwaters. As of Sunday, the distillery was closed and will not be accessible to consumers or employees.
The Buffalo Trace Distillery, located on the banks of the Kentucky River in Frankfort was temporarily closed this week because of catastrophic flooding. Days of relentless downpours caused the Kentucky, Ohio and Mississippi rivers to surge out of their banks.
A dramatic drone video provided an overhead look at the muddy water surrounding America's oldest continuously operating distillery.
"We will be closed through Thursday, April 10th at a minimum," the distillery said on social media. "As this is a rapidly unfolding situation, visits may be impacted beyond that time, and we will continue to provide updates as they are available. Due to the unprecedented and ongoing rain and flooding, we are not able to advise on the impact to our total distillery footprint."
SEE IT: KENTUCKY MEN GO VIRAL AFTER BURYING MINIVAN TO USE AS STORM SHELTER DURING SEVERE WEATHER
Watch: Drone video shows Kentucky highway submerged as flooding sweeps across region
A drone video shared by the Hardin County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky provides a look at a highway in Glendale that was submerged in floodwaters on Sunday, April 6, 2025.
Another drone video showed a Kentucky highway underwater amid the historic flooding.
The video provided by the Hardin County Sheriff's Office showed a highway in Glendale submerged in the murky floodwater from the nearby Nolin River.
In the video, electrical lines stand in feet of water. As the camera pans, water sits across the highway, where the yellow dividing line fades into the abyss, and only the guardrails remain visible.
Tennessee flooding leads to mandatory evacuations
The historic flooding that has plagued communities in the Mississippi and Ohio valleys has led to mandatory evacuations in Tennessee.
Dyer County Mayor David Quick issued mandatory evacuation orders for Cocklebur and surrounding communities in Bogota due to the significant flooding impacts in the community.
The evacuation order was posted to Facebook and includes all residents east of Highway 78.
"We understand that this is a difficult situation, but your safety is paramount," Quick said. "Please take this order seriously and evacuate immediately."
The order also had a dire warning – those who don't comply with the evacuation order may not be able to receive help from first responders. In addition, residents may be held personally liable for any damage or injuries sustained.
FLOODING CONTINUES AS OHIO RIVER IN CINCINNATI TOPS MORE THAN 60 FEET, HIGHEST IN 28 YEARS
The Tennessee National Guard has also been helping those impacted by flooding.
On Monday, soldiers from the 230th Engineer Battalion were on hand to assist the Emergency Management Agency in Obion County by delivering 240 cases of supplies to residents.
Meteorologist-in-Charge at the National Weather Service office in Memphis, Tennessee, Darone Jones, joined FOX Weather on Tuesday morning and said there’s still a lot of recovery ahead for waterlogged communities.
"For a lot of these communities, while we’ve had the severe weather over the last week, the rainfall that fell throughout the weekend is just now starting to impact a lot of areas through the mid-South," Jones said.
SEE IT: BUILDING SPOTTED GETTING SWEPT DOWN SWOLLEN KENTUCKY RIVER
Historic flooding continues to plague Tennessee communities: ‘Lots of recovery ahead of us’
Communities across the Mississippi and Ohio valleys are continuing to deal with historic and deadly flooding after a nearly two-week stretch of severe weather. Darone Jones, Meteorologist-In-Charge at the National Weather Service office in Memphis, joined FOX Weather on Tuesday morning to break down the current situation in the region.
And while precipitation stopped falling, the flooding danger isn't over.
"It's very hard to contextualize this," Jones continued. "You know, you mentioned the 223 warnings. Just in comparison to last year, 2024, we issued 262 warnings for the entire year. So, we did all of that in like a four-day span."
Jones went on to say that the event is still unfolding.
"The worst is yet to come for a lot of areas," he said. So, you know, it's not over. So, it's hard to talk about the uniqueness from a historical perspective at this time."