TL/DR –
Severe storms have swept through Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, resulting in at least one death caused by a falling tree in Claiborne County, Tennessee. The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings across these regions, with “large and extremely dangerous” tornadoes confirmed in southern Illinois and near Spring Hill, Tennessee. This severe weather, which includes heavy rain, strong winds, and hail in some areas, is expected to affect around 21 million people and follows a spate of destructive storms and tornadoes in the Midwest.
Severe Storms in Midwest Result in Casualties and Extensive Damage
On Wednesday, severe weather conditions gripped Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, claiming at least one life. The storms, characterized by heavy rainfall, potent winds, and hail, came a day following tornadoes ripping through Michigan.
In Claiborne County, northeast Tennessee, a tree fell on a vehicle amid the storms, leading to one fatality. The local office of emergency management recorded this incident around 10 a.m., local time.
In the afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued tornado warnings across Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee as the storms continued to hammer the Midwest and Eastern United States.
In Williamson County, southern Illinois, the NWS issued a tornado warning after detecting a “confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado” on Wednesday afternoon. However, no immediate damage was reported.
A similar “large and destructive” tornado was sighted near Spring Hill, Tennessee, about 35 miles south of Nashville. The NWS declared a tornado emergency, emphasizing the life-threatening situation.
Forecasters predict the continuation of severe storms from Texas to North Carolina throughout the evening. As per the NWS’s Storm Prediction Center, about 21 million residents were at an enhanced or moderate risk of severe weather on Wednesday.
The NWS office in Nashville issued a warning via social media advising people not to let their guard down.
The most intense storms were anticipated to impact a corridor covering the cities of Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee, affecting approximately four million residents. Additionally, an enhanced risk of severe weather threatens a wider area of about 17 million people from Texas to North Carolina, inclusive of Memphis, St. Louis, and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Heavy downpours also led to flash flood warnings in certain parts of Tennessee and Missouri on Wednesday. Forecasters reported flooding in cities like Cole Camp and Lincoln in Missouri, with potential spread to creeks, streams, highways, and other low-lying areas.
According to reports, nearly 50 tornadoes occurred from Oklahoma to Ohio over the past two days, causing extensive damage.
These storms resulted in power outages and strong winds. Approximately 28,000 customers in Michigan were still without power on Wednesday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us.
Kalamazoo, southern Michigan, was among the hardest hit with tornado damage to nearly 200 mobile homes. Winds were so strong that some homes were lifted and at least 16 people were injured, however, none seriously.
About 50 workers had to be rescued from a FedEx depot center in Kalamazoo County after a tornado severely damaged the building. Oklahoma authorities reported another tornado, up to two miles wide, causing widespread destruction on Monday, killing one person in Barnsdall, and damaging up to 40 homes in the small town.
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