Memorial Day severe weather outbreak continues on Sunday for America’s Heartland

The Memorial Day weekend severe weather threat continued Sunday, with more dangerous weather unfolding across parts of the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio river valleys. 

Late Saturday into early Sunday, severe thunderstorms produced a deadly tornado outbreak in parts of Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma that has claimed the lives of more than a dozen people. 

By Sunday evening, the second wave of severe weather developed in the heartland of America, where several reports of tornadoes had been received by the National Weather Service.

DEATH TOLL RISING AFTER TORNADOES ROCK AMERICA’S HEARTLAND OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Both Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm watches have been issued for several states. One that covered parts of Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas was designated a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” – the most dire of watches.

WHAT IS A ‘PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION’ TORNADO WATCH OR WARNING?

FOX Weather storm trackers recorded video of several tornadoes Sunday evening that were causing damage as they moved across southeastern Missouri. 

Video from Storm Tracker Brandon Copic showed homes near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, that sustained significant damage during a tornado.

A Tornado Emergency – the most serious of tornado alerts – was issued for a powerful storm that the National Weather Service said began producing a tornado near Eddyville, Kentucky, and raced to the northeast toward the town of Dawson Springs. The storm took a path nearly parallel to Interstate 69. 

Storms on Sunday morning caused the delay of the Indy 500. After lightning was detected in the area on Sunday, Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials paused the pre-race ceremonies and asked fans to evacuate the grandstands and Snake Pit. Spectators were allowed to return a few hours later.

INDY 500 DELAYED AS SEVERE STORMS RUMBLE THROUGH INDIANAPOLIS

With the first round of storms on Sunday, power outages surpassed 200,000 customers in Kentucky. Gov. Andy Beshear warned residents of the Bluegrass State to stay alert for the next round of storms later in the day. 

Many travelers are already at their destinations for Memorial Day weekend by Sunday. However, those traveling on interstates 40, 70, 55 and 65 will want to pay close attention to the forecast.

Severe weather threat shifts to mid-Atlantic on Memorial Day

On Monday, showers and thunderstorms are expected to spread across much of the eastern third of the nation. However, the chances for a severe weather outbreak are much less than during the previous two days. 

The SPC has placed more than 27 million people in the mid-Atlantic in a Level 2 severe weather threat, including Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; and Charlotte, North Carolina.