Severe Storms and Tornadoes Leave 15 Dead Across Southern and Midwestern States

A series of powerful storms and tornadoes swept through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kentucky on Sunday, resulting in at least 15 fatalities and numerous injuries. The severe weather also caused widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the region, and it prompted a delay in the start of the renowned Indianapolis 500.

Governor Greg Abbott confirmed seven deaths in North Texas, where a tornado struck Cooke County near the Oklahoma border on Saturday night. Among the victims were two children aged 2 and 5, according to Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington. Abbott reported over 100 injuries from the devastating storm, along with more than 200 homes and buildings destroyed and 120 structures damaged.

Abbott remarked, "I'll be surprised if those figures don't rise as additional evaluations are conducted."

Additionally, a tornado tore through Denton County, situated northwest of Dallas, on Saturday night, causing damage to residences and other structures and downing power lines. Authorities noted that "several individuals" sustained injuries and were taken to local hospitals.



Tourists flock to Tornado Alley: 

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth reported that its teams evaluated the damage and carried out storm surveys across Montague, Cooke, Denton, and Collin Counties.

This catastrophe follows just five days after tornadoes claimed five lives and injured numerous individuals in Iowa. Moreover, less than two weeks ago, at least eight people lost their lives when storms battered Houston.

In a curious phenomenon, tourists are drawn to Tornado Alley, willing to pay significant sums for the opportunity to witness hazardous storms firsthand. 

Developments:

According to the Associated Press, Arkansas recorded a minimum of five fatalities. Videos and images shared on social media depicted demolished homes in Decatur, Arkansas.

- The risk of severe weather and heavy rainfall will transition towards the mid-Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee valleys later on Sunday, before advancing into the mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Gulf Coast regions on Memorial Day.

- The forecast predicted hazardous and possibly record-setting heat to persist in portions of Texas, the western Gulf Coast, and southern Florida.

- A slow recovery process follows the devastating tornadoes that struck Iowa, with the East Coast preparing for incoming storms.


Scores of individuals sought refuge at a truck stop and gas station in Cooke County, Texas.

The storm had hit a nearby travel center and gas station complex, where over 60 residents had taken shelter, as per Sappington. As the tornado passed through the area, numerous motorists left their vehicles on the highway and sought refuge at a nearby truck stop.

According to officials, everyone survived, but it took rescue teams approximately an hour to extricate individuals who were trapped in the debris. Search and rescue efforts were further complicated by fallen trees and power lines that obstructed access to roads, as stated by Sappington.

A National Weather Service representative informed Reuters that the Valley View tornado boasted peak winds of 135 miles per hour. Although multiple tornadoes had impacted the region, the precise count had yet to be determined, she noted.

Abbott stated that authorities concluded initial search-and-rescue operations on Sunday. He mentioned that officials were still searching for potential additional victims, but by the day's end, there were no reports of missing individuals.



Storm Threat Postpones Indianapolis 500

Officials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway postponed the start of Sunday's Indianapolis 500 due to anticipated adverse weather conditions in central Indiana. They requested the over 125,000 fans within the venue, including those in the grandstands and the Snake Pit, to evacuate and seek shelter. IMS disclosed that approximately 345,000 tickets had been sold for the race.

The race experienced a delay around 11:35 a.m., with rainfall reaching the racetrack near the originally scheduled 12:45 p.m. start time and persisting for over an hour.

"Due to the approaching lightning near (IMS), we've decided to halt the pre-race activities and evacuate fans from the grandstands and the Snake Pit," stated speedway officials in a release. "Spectators are urged to leave the grandstands calmly and follow their personal safety protocols."

IMS officials authorized fans to re-enter the grandstands around 2:05 p.m. on Sunday as conditions improved in the vicinity. Throughout the delay, trucks and powerful dryers were deployed to circulate the 2.5-mile oval track. 

− Nathan Brown and Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star



Power Outages and Tornado Warnings Spread Across Kentucky

In Kentucky, a man lost his life on Sunday when a tree struck him in east Louisville, according to Louisville Metro Police spokesperson Matthew Sanders. Following the sighting of a tornado near Mayfield, over 200,000 homes and businesses in the state remained without power into Sunday afternoon. Mayfield, a town of 10,000 residents, had previously suffered a deadly tornado in 2021 that claimed the lives of at least nine individuals, as reported by The Courier Journal.

The National Weather Service in Paducah issued a warning indicating the approach of additional storms.

"Many of you are currently engaged in cleanup efforts following the morning storms, and we hope you are staying safe!" stated the weather service via social media. "Regrettably, there are more storms expected to develop later today. These storms could produce very large hail, winds exceeding 70 mph, and tornadoes."

A severe thunderstorm warning for Louisville included wind speeds reaching up to 80 mph, as per an alert from the weather service. Earlier, wind gusts of up to 63 mph were recorded at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, as reported by the weather service.



While certain storms may pass, hazards linger.

Sappington affirmed that Texas had sufficient first responders present to carry out a comprehensive search and rescue operation in the storm-affected region. He advised individuals to avoid the area.

"I understand some may be attempting to return, but the conditions are hazardous," he emphasized. "Downed power lines and gas leaks have been reported... We're still in the process of rescuing individuals. The most helpful action people can take now is to allow us some time.

Oklahoma may face potential fatalities.

According to kjrh.com, two fatalities were reported in Pryor, located in the Green Country area of northeastern Oklahoma, although details were not provided. Meanwhile, in Claremore, Oklahoma, situated 30 miles east of Tulsa, authorities declared the city's closure due to blocked roads and downed power lines. Numerous injuries were reported, prompting police to restrict access to only residents and those with essential reasons to enter, as stated in a social media post. "The cleanup process has just commenced and will require considerable time."

The National Weather Service office in Tulsa cautioned that the storm activity was not yet concluded. 

"The potential for a few strong to severe storms persists this afternoon and evening across portions of far eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas," reported the National Weather Service office in Tulsa. "Primary threats include large hail and damaging winds.



Taking shelter in a cooler in Denton, Texas.


In Denton, situated south of Cooke County, the fire department dispatched a rescue team and medical personnel to a marina on Lake Ray Roberts. The department announced on social media, "Multiple victims, with some reported trapped," noting significant damage along the county line.

Residences, establishments, and boats bore the brunt of the storm. Leann Peterson expressed her belief that the storm would bypass the area by moving northward. However, when it unexpectedly hit, a local business owner advised seeking refuge in a restaurant's walk-in cooler.

"We made it into the cooler just in the nick of time, and then more and more people started pouring in, thank goodness. When the storm struck, the noise was deafening," she recounted to nbcdfw.com. "It felt like something had crashed right into us. I didn't grasp the extent of the damage until we emerged."

Contributing: Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal; Reuters