Severe storms and tornadoes wreaked havoc across a vast expanse of the Southern region over the weekend, claiming over 20 lives in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kentucky.

The same hazardous weather looms over the eastern part of the nation, with more than 30 million individuals under a severe thunderstorm watch until Monday evening, as per the National Weather Service.

Arkansas reported at least eight fatalities, Texas seven, Kentucky five, and Oklahoma two, all amidst the devastation caused by twisters and storms that obliterated hundreds of homes. Additionally, a lightning strike claimed the lives of a rancher and 34 cattle in Colorado.

As of 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, over 320,000 residences and businesses were without power, primarily concentrated from Missouri and Arkansas in the west to Virginia and South Carolina in the east. Kentucky bore the brunt of the outages, surpassing 111,000.

Developments:

∎ Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina found themselves under a tornado warning until 11 p.m. on Monday, as announced by the National Weather Service through X.


∎ A severe thunderstorm watch enveloped New York City, northeastern New Jersey, and the lower Hudson Valley until 9 p.m. on Monday, with thunderstorms and showers advancing from the southwest, according to the weather service.

∎ On Monday, storms lashed New York, causing extensive delays in air travel as approximately 44 million individuals were anticipated to journey during the holiday period. At LaGuardia Airport, planes experienced an average delay of one hour and 40 minutes on Monday afternoon, while traffic to Newark Airport encountered an average delay of 3 hours and 27 minutes, according to the FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center.


Seven fatalities reported in Texas, among them two children.

On Sunday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott verified that seven individuals lost their lives, while approximately 100 sustained injuries due to tornadoes and severe weather in northern Texas, roughly 70 miles north of Fort Worth.

Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington reported that among the casualties were two young children, aged 2 and 5. Sappington informed WFAA, a local news station, that a tornado swept through southern Cooke County and sections of Denton County on Saturday night. He mentioned that approximately 60 to 80 individuals sought refuge from the storm at a travel center.

"It took some time to reenter the area due to extensive damage with power lines down and trees toppled," he remarked.

Governor Abbott stated that amidst tornado activity spanning around 50 square miles in Texas, at least 200 homes and buildings were demolished, while 120 suffered damage. He expressed expectation for these figures to rise as damage assessment progresses.



The devastation followed closely on the heels of a previous bout of tornadoes that tore through central Texas, causing power outages and significant roof damage. "The aspirations and livelihoods of Texas families and small enterprises have been shattered by successive storms," remarked Abbott. His disaster declaration, issued earlier this month, now encompasses 106 counties.

Abbott announced ongoing search and rescue efforts, with multiple disaster relief organizations dispatching volunteers to assist those impacted.

Arkansas has confirmed eight fatalities, while Oklahoma has reported two deaths.

At least eight individuals lost their lives in Arkansas following a tornado that swept through the northwestern region of the state. The weather service verified on Sunday night that it had identified EF-3 tornado damage close to the city of Decatur, approximately 10 miles east of the Oklahoma border.

Subsequently, a preliminary EF-2 tornado was confirmed in Paragould near the state's northeastern border, as announced by the weather service on Monday.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued an emergency order on Sunday, earmarking $250,000 for disaster relief efforts. Arkansas Representative Steve Womack emphasized the necessity for patience, remarking, "People will need to understand that recovery from this event won't happen overnight."

In Oklahoma, severe storms resulted in two fatalities in Pryor, located approximately 50 miles east of Tulsa, as confirmed by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. The storms also left approximately 8,400 individuals without power.

City manager John Feary reported that a tornado in Claremore, situated in the northeastern part of the state, caused extensive damage, including downed trees, power lines, and significant damage to residences. Feary added that 23 individuals were injured in the town, three of whom sustained life-threatening injuries.

Following the storm, the Red Cross established two shelters in the affected area.



Kentucky reports five fatalities.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency on Monday morning following the devastation caused by severe storms in Louisville on Sunday afternoon, resulting in at least five fatalities. Beshear informed during a news conference that one individual was "fighting for their life.

Following an initial storm death toll of four, the governor informed CNN that a fifth individual tragically perished during the cleanup, succumbing to overheating and experiencing a heart attack. Governor Beshear remarked, "This has certainly been a devastating series of storms for Kentucky."

The victims included a 67-year-old woman from Mercer County, a 62-year-old woman from Hardin County, a 48-year-old woman from Hopkins County, and a 34-year-old man from Jefferson County.

The National Weather Service verified at least one tornado in Mayfield, situated near the southwest corner of the state. During a news conference, Governor Beshear stated that the tornado traversed approximately 40 miles, with some twisters exhibiting erratic behavior, "spinning down then spinning back up."

The western part of the state bore the brunt of the severe weather, causing significant damage to state highways and roads, according to Kentucky Secretary of Transportation Jim Gray.

One of the most impactful consequences of the storm was a fuel spill resulting from a dock detachment on Dale Hollow Lake, a reservoir bordering Tennessee. Governor Beshear informed that the Energy and Environment Cabinet had dispatched a hazmat team to assess the situation.



Colorado rancher dies in lightning strike.

Severe thunderstorms swept through the central U.S. over the weekend, and in Rand, Colorado, approximately 80 miles northwest of Denver, a tragic incident occurred. According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, a lightning strike claimed the life of a rancher and 34 of his cattle on Saturday.

The victim, identified as Mike Morgan, 51, was struck while tending to his cattle, authorities stated in a news release. Despite immediate efforts from bystanders and first responders, Morgan, a resident of Walden, Colorado, was declared deceased at the scene.

Meghan Rickels, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, expressed heartfelt condolences, noting, "On a personal note, Mike Morgan was an outstanding member of the community and will be extremely missed."

Memorial Day storm forecasted to shift eastward.

The storm is predicted to diminish in strength as it traverses the eastern seaboard and the Southeast on Monday. Nevertheless, there remains a possibility of damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes.

Sections of Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina were under a tornado watch until Monday evening. Additionally, a coastal flood advisory was issued for the District of Columbia early on Monday.

In New York, the weather service warned of the potential for up to 2 inches of rain and "localized flash flooding" as severe thunderstorms were anticipated to pass through the New York metro area until Monday evening.



The National Weather Service forecasts stormy conditions, including isolated severe thunderstorms, to reappear in central Texas and certain areas of Oklahoma on Monday afternoon, persisting through the night.

A severe thunderstorm watch has also been declared through Monday afternoon for portions of Georgia and South Carolina. The affected regions may experience hail measuring up to 1 inch and the potential formation of one or two tornadoes, as reported by the weather service.

AccuWeather reports that southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, and sections of Mississippi and Alabama could encounter winds reaching speeds of up to 75 mph.

Contributing: Olivia Evans, Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal; Reuters