Severe weather turns deadly Sunday across America's heartland as threat shifts to I-95 corridor Monday

03:00

Severe weather threat shifts to I-95 corridor on Memorial Day

After severe weather and tornadoes tore across the nation's heartland and killed at least 20 people across four states over the weekend, the threat of severe storms shifts east on Memorial Day and places millions along the Interstate 95 corridor at risk of damaging wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes.

The Memorial Day weekend severe weather outbreak continued Sunday, with more dangerous weather unfolding across parts of the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys. 

Late Saturday into early Sunday, severe thunderstorms produced a deadly tornado outbreak in parts of Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma that claimed the lives of more than a dozen people.

By Sunday evening, the second wave of severe weather developed in the heartland of America, where more than a dozen reports of tornadoes had been received by the National Weather Service.

One person was killed in Mercer County, Kentucky, when a tree fell onto a house during a severe thunderstorm Sunday night, according to Mercer County Emergency Management Director Brad Cox; the other occupant of the house was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. This brings the death toll from the Memorial Day weekend severe weather outbreak to at least 20 people.

WEEKEND SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES KILL AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE ACROSS 4 STATES

02:07

Tornado tosses debris into air in Missouri

Pieces of debris are seen flying through the air as a tornado tears across the landscape near Mountain View, Missouri, on Sunday.

Shortly after 8 p.m. CT, a Tornado Emergency – the most serious of tornado alerts – was issued for a powerful storm that the National Weather Service said began producing a tornado near Eddyville, Kentucky, some 30 miles east of Paducah. The likely tornado took a path nearly parallel to Interstate 69, racing to the northeast toward the town of Dawson Springs.

Kentucky Emergency Management reported damage to about 20 homes north of Dawson Springs in the Charleston community.

Three minor injuries were reported just north of Princeton, Kentucky, roughly halfway between Eddyville and Dawson Springs.

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.

In Missouri, FOX Weather storm trackers recorded video of several tornadoes Sunday evening that were causing damage as they moved across southeastern portions of the state. 

Video from Storm Tracker Brandon Copic showed homes near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, that sustained significant damage during a tornado.

00:47

Homes damaged in Missouri after tornado

Several homes were damaged by a tornado near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, as severe storms rip across America's Heartland.

To the south, in Arkansas, estimated thunderstorm winds between 55 and 60 mph in Benton County knocked down trees and power lines and caused damage to some structures.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Both Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Watches had been issued for several states. One that covered parts of Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas was designated a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" – the most dire of watches.

WHAT IS A 'PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION' TORNADO WATCH OR WARNING?

Storms on Sunday morning caused the delay of the Indy 500. After lightning was detected in the area on Sunday, Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials paused the pre-race ceremonies and asked fans to evacuate the grandstands and Snake Pit. Spectators were allowed to return a few hours later.

INDY 500 DELAYED AS SEVERE STORMS RUMBLE THROUGH INDIANAPOLIS

Fans wait for the rain to stop as the start is delayed for the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 26, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

(James Gilbert / Getty Images)

With the first round of storms on Sunday, power outages surpassed 200,000 customers in Kentucky. Gov. Andy Beshear warned residents of the Bluegrass State to stay alert for the next round of storms later in the day. By Monday morning, more than 180,000 customers in Kentucky were without power.

Severe weather threat shifts to East Coast on Memorial Day

On Monday, showers and thunderstorms are expected to spread across much of the eastern third of the nation. However, the chances for a severe weather outbreak are much less than during the previous two days. 

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has placed more than 68 million people in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and Southeast in a Level 2 out of 5 severe weather threat, including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and Charlotte, North Carolina.

MILLIONS ALONG I-95 CORRIDOR FACE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT ON MEMORIAL DAY AS DEADLY WEEKEND STORMS SHIFT EAST

Monday severe weather outlook.
(FOX Weather)

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