At least 26 killed across 8 states during Memorial Day weekend severe weather outbreak

04:04

Cleanup continues in Texas after deadliest tornado in Lone Star State since 2015

Recovery efforts are continuing in parts of Texas after the deadliest tornado in the Lone Star State since 2015. FOX Weather Correspondent Max Gorden has the latest from Sanger, Texas.

At least 26 people were killed during a severe weather outbreak over Memorial Day weekend that produced tornadoes, tennis ball-sized hail, damaging winds and power outages for thousands across America's heartland.

The worst of the storms hit during the overnight hours Saturday when at least 20 tornadoes were seen by radar or in person across the region, according to the FOX Forecast Center. Storm damage was reported in Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama. At least a dozen people were killed during these storms.

That was followed by another wave of dangerous storms Sunday that produced additional tornadoes and widespread damage in several states, as well as additional deaths.

Texas tornado kills 7, including 2 children

Some of the most devastating damage in Texas happened outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington said in a news conference that seven people were killed and more than 100 were injured. The sheriff said that two children were among the dead. 

This is the deadliest tornado in Texas state history since 2015. The National Weather Service gave it a preliminary rating of EF-2 with 135 mph winds. Another tornado that devastated Montague County was also rated a preliminary EF-2.

CHILDREN AMONG 7 DEAD IN TEXAS AFTER DEADLIEST TORNADO SINCE 2015

04:44

'I've been in Texas most of my life and this is one of the worst storms I've ever seen,' said tornado survivor

Tommy Kerr of Cooke County, Texas joined FOX Weather to tell how he and his wife survived one of the worst storms he has ever experienced. The NWS rated the tornado an EF-2.

Multiple people were injured at a travel center and Shell gas station off Interstate 35 near Valley View, where dozens of people sought shelter during the tornado. 

Denton County officials said a tornado moved into the northern part of the county late Saturday, damaging homes, flipping RVs and ripping down power lines in the area.

Major damage was reported at Lake Ray Roberts Marina and RVs.

The Denton Fire Department said multiple victims were trapped in the property above, and major damage was reported along the Denton-Cooke county line. 

An 18-wheeler overturned on Interstate 35, taking down power lines and stopping traffic for several hours, county officials said. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbot issued disaster emergencies across four counties.

WATCH: 2 WOMEN LIVE THROUGH DEADLY TEXAS TORNADO AS IT CUTS ACROSS ROAD THEY WERE TRAVELING

04:17

Texas community in recovery mode after deadliest Texas tornado in 9 years

FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth Reporter Dan Godwin joins FOX Weather from Valley View, Texas where the community is still reeling after a tornado destroyed parts of the town and killed 8 of their neighbors.

Oklahoma reports 2 storm-related deaths during outbreak

A lone supercell, which was part of the severe storms, started in northeastern Oklahoma and continued along the Missouri-Arkansas state line, causing widespread damage along its path. 

In northeastern Oklahoma, two people were killed and others were injured after a tornado hit Mayes County, according to emergency management officials. The NWS survey team analyzing the damage rated it a preliminary EF-3.

Mayes County Emergency Management Director Johnny Janzen said the majority of the damage was near East 427 and West 470 Road. 

At least 8 killed in Arkansas storms

Officials have confirmed at least eight storm-related deaths in Arkansas.

At least one possible tornado and wind gusts over 60 mph caused damage in Bentonville, Arkansas. Benton County Judge Barry Moehring said in a news conference that officials have confirmed multiple injuries on the east side of the county and at least one death. 

The Baxter County Sheriff's Office said one person died during the severe weather, and multiple others were injured. 

The NWS rated the tornado that damaged Boon County an EF-3.

AT LEAST 8 DEAD IN ARKANSAS AS TORNADO OUTBREAK CARVES PATHS THROUGH TOWNS

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First look at tornado damage in Rogers, Arkansas

A tornado tore through Rogers, Arkansas in the early morning hours. Residents are waking up to scenes of destruction.

Harrison city officials said a young woman was killed when a possible tornado touched down in the Bellefonte area and crossed Highway 65 before destroying homes in the Olvey area. Other injuries were reported from the damaged homes. 

The Sheriff's Office in Marion County, Arkansas, said two people died as a result of the storms.

Arkansas officials confirmed three more storm-related deaths Monday but did not provide any details about the victims.

05:23

Mayor among Rogers, Arkansas residents trapped by tornado damage

Rogers Mayor Greg Hines said his home was among those cut off by debris created from an overnight tornado in Arkansas. At least one person was killed during the severe weather outbreak. 

Kentucky reports at least 5 deaths

In Kentucky, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed one death along with injuries and several buildings with structural damage following Saturday night's storms. 

Another person was killed in Mercer County, Kentucky, during a separate round of severe weather Sunday night when a tree fell onto a house, according to Mercer County Emergency Management Director Brad Cox. The other occupant of the house was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

During an update Monday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed three more storm-related deaths, one each in Harden, Hopkins and Caldwell counties.

Beshear declared emergency zones in five Kentucky counties.

04:52

Rare 'Tornado Emergency' issued near Eddyville, Kentucky, on Sunday

Video captured a tornado on the ground near Eddyville, Kentucky, on Sunday after the National Weather Service issued a rare "Tornado Emergency" for the small city some 30 miles east of Paducah.

At least 1 killed in Alabama

Early Monday in Alabama, the Mountain Brook Fire Department, Mountain Brook Police Department and Homewood Fire Department responded to a large tree that had fallen onto a residential structure during severe weather. Officials said the structure sustained heavy damage, resulting in the death of at least one person inside.

Officials responded to a large tree that had fallen onto a residential structure during severe weather in Mountain Brook, Alabama, early Monday, May 27, 2024.

(Mountain Brook Fire Department)

1 death reported in Missouri

Storms in Missouri resulted in at least one death.

Authorities in Sikeston said a man was crushed Sunday morning when storms blew a tree down on the tent where he was sleeping.

18-year-old girl killed in North Carolina

Officials in North Carolina also reported a death related to the weekend storms that hammered the state. Clay County EMS and Clay County Fire Department were dispatched to the Penland Point community on Monday morning for a tree that had fallen onto a camper trailer.

Upon arrival, emergency services located a deceased 18-year-old girl inside the damaged trailer. A large tree had been uprooted by 50-70 mph straight-line winds and landed on the portion of the trailer that housed the victim – a high school senior from Haywood County, North Carolina, who was visiting the Clay County area with friends over Memorial Day weekend. 

At least 1 dead in Virginia

The Nelson County Sheriff's Office in Virginia, some 35 miles southwest of Charlottesville, confirmed that a 26-year-old man was killed Sunday evening when thunderstorm winds of up to 60 mph downed a tree limb onto the vehicle in which he was sheltering from the storm.