Midwest Devastated: Tornadoes, Flooding, and Death Toll Rises!

2025-04-03 06:00:55.871

Severe storms, including intense and violent tornadoes, have caused widespread destruction across Missouri, Arkansas, and Indiana. Homes and farms have been destroyed, and a radio tower in Indiana was toppled. Approximately 14 million people were initially under tornado watches stretching from Ohio to Mississippi. The storms are also expected to trigger multiple days of near-nonstop rain, leading to "generational" flooding in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi. At least one death has been reported in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, though the circumstances are still unclear. A tornado watch remains in effect for parts of several states, with the potential for tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail. Several people were rescued from a partially collapsed warehouse in Indiana, and others were injured in Kentucky. Heavy damage has been reported in Craighead County, Arkansas, affecting multiple cities. Over 200,000 customers are without power across several states. Flash flood warnings are in effect for millions, and a high risk of flooding is forecast for several states. The National Weather Service office in Paducah, Kentucky, had to shelter in place due to a tornado passing nearby. A tornado also caused significant damage in Lake City, Arkansas, and Potosi, Missouri. The storms are described as having an almost textbook look for a tornado-producing storm, with a hook echo visible on radar. A meteorologist at a CNN affiliate in Missouri reported on the tornado while sheltering in place at the station. The tornado threat has ramped up to extreme levels in the lower Mississippi Valley, with multiple "large and extremely dangerous" tornadoes reported. A tornado emergency was issued for Lake City, Arkansas, due to a large and destructive tornado. Drone shots show significant damage in Owasso, Oklahoma, following a storm.