Deadly severe weather outbreak spawns nearly 90 tornadoes in 13 states as communities begin to rebuild
At least 43 people have been confirmed dead in eight states, from Texas to North Carolina, since the disaster began to unfold on Friday. In total, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center said it has received more than 1,000 storm reports associated with the event.
Recovery just beginning after nearly 90 tornadoes rip through 13 states
Damage surveys from National Weather Service offices across the South and America's Heartland continue to offer new information about the destructive and deadly tornado outbreak from this weekend. Nearly 90 tornadoes, including three EF-4 tornadoes have been confirmed through the NWS. FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillon recaps what we know about the devastation from the storm.
Fast Facts:
- Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and North Carolina all reported deaths from tornadoes or severe storms.
- More than 90 tornadoes, including at least nine EF-3 and three EF-4 tornadoes, have been confirmed.
- Dust storm left several dead in Texas and Kansas; wildfires blamed for additional deaths in Oklahoma.
Damage assessments and recovery operations continue after a powerful storm system over the weekend spawned a deadly severe weather outbreak, dust storms and wildfires.
At least 43 people have been confirmed dead in eight states, from Texas to North Carolina, since the disaster began to unfold on Friday. In total, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center said it has received more than 1,000 storm reports associated with the event.
This graphic shows all of the severe weather warnings issued during the deadly severe weather outbreak last week.
(FOX Weather)
Missouri has seen the most deaths from the storm, with 12, followed by Kansas, which reported eight deaths after a dust storm led to a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 near the Kansas-Colorado state line. Additional deaths were reported in Oklahoma associated with strong winds and wildfires.
More than 90 tornadoes reported in 13 states
EF-2 tornado flips school bus onto Winterboro, Alabama gym
Drone video shows how 120 mph winds from an EF-2 tornado near Winterboro, Alabama flipped a school bus onto the high school gym.
So far, the FOX Forecast Center has confirmed at least 92 tornadoes in more than a dozen states since Friday, including two EF-4 tornadoes in Arkansas – one in Larkin and the other in Diaz. Initial surveys also found EF-4 tornado damage in Tylertown, Mississippi, where 170-mph winds swept a home from its foundation.
At least nine EF-3 tornadoes have been confirmed, with those touching down in communities in Arkansas, Missouri and Alabama.
The FOX Forecast Center said at least 26 EF-2 tornadoes and 34 EF-1 tornadoes also touched down during the severe weather outbreak.
The tornado count is expected to change as storm surveys continue. Since the outbreak, some tornado tracks have been combined into a longer track tornadoes or crossed into another National Weather Service office warning area, resulting in duplicates.
13 PEOPLE RESCUED AFTER BEING TRAPPED IN BURGER KING BATHROOM DURING TORNADO IN MISSOURI
Alabama communities start rebuilding after tornadoes rip across state
Communities across Alabama are starting to pick up the pieces after deadly tornadoes tore across the state over the weekend. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne was in Gordo, Alabama, and spoke with some residents about what they experienced during the deadly storms.
National Weather Service teams will continue to investigate damage to determine whether it was caused by tornadoes or straight-line winds.
The NWS office in Birmingham, Alabama, said its teams have been looking into 16 sets of damage tracks across Alabama from the storms on Saturday.