Massive storm that fueled tornadoes, blizzard leaves 33 dead across US
At least 33 people have died across the central and southern U.S. amid a massive storm that fueled violent tornadoes, high winds, dust storms and icy conditions.
The extreme weather conditions – earning an unusual "high risk" designation – impacted an area that is home to more than 100 million people, with winds threatening blizzard conditions in colder northern areas and fanning the wildfire risk in warmer, drier places to the south.
Sunday marks the third and final day of the severe weather outbreak portion of the storm system, as the heavily populated Interstate 95 corridor from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast is at risk, FOX Weather reports.
Tornadoes
At least 33 people have been killed by severe storms moving across the US as new warnings are issued; LiveNOW from FOX
Violent tornadoes and high winds decimated homes, wiped out schools and toppled semi tractor-trailers as a monster storm that also produced dust storms and icy conditions killed at least 33 people across the central and southern U.S.
Most of the destruction from tornadoes was found in southeastern Missouri, where officials confirmed at least a dozen deaths from severe weather and tornadoes. Six deaths were confirmed in Wayne County, three in Ozark County and two in Butler and Jefferson counties.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced six people died in three counties and three more people were missing late Saturday as storms moved further east into Alabama, where damaged homes and impassable roads were reported. There was also an earthquake reported in Mississippi.
Officials confirmed three deaths in Arkansas, where Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency. In Alabama, Dallas County Sheriff Michael L. Granthum said there was one storm-related fatality in that county.
"As you drive through this community, you see so many neighbors coming out, taking care of each other," Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Saturday. "The judge himself has been out clearing debris over the course of the last 24 hours."
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also declared an emergency in anticipation of the storm's shift eastward. Early Sunday morning, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency used its social media accounts to repost a National Weather Service tornado watch for parts of southeast Georgia.
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In response to the watch, which warns of isolated tornadoes and hail and gusts of 50 to 70 mph, Kemp posted a note saying his family was "praying for all those impacted by this storm system and those still in its path."
"We will continue to work closely with state and local officials to respond to damage and assess any needs following this weather event," Kemp wrote.
Dust storms
Dust storms spurred by the system's early high winds claimed almost a dozen lives on Friday. Eight people died in a Kansas highway pileup involving at least 50 vehicles, according to the state highway patrol. Authorities said three people also were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle.
Three fatalities, 32 injured in one Arkansas county alone (@AR_Emergencies)
Wildfires
Evacuations were ordered in some Oklahoma communities as more than 130 fires were reported across the state and nearly 300 homes were damaged or destroyed. Gov. Kevin Stitt said at a Saturday news conference that some 266 square miles (689 square kilometers) had burned, sharing that he lost a home of his own on a ranch northeast of Oklahoma City.
Blizzard warnings
To the north, the National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of far western Minnesota and far eastern South Dakota starting early Saturday. Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters) were expected, with up to a foot (30 centimeters) possible. Winds were expected to cause whiteout conditions.
The Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press and FOX Weather.