CNN
—
Tornado-spawning storms tearing across parts of the Central United States caused several injuries, damaged homes, left thousands in the dark and fueled calls to seek shelter overnight in North Texas and Oklahoma, authorities said.
More than 77 million people across across broad swaths of the US – starting with parts of the Central and Southern Plains then the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys – are under threat of large hail, damaging winds and a fierce twisters Sunday as the multi-day storms disrupt Memorial Day weekend.
In north Denton County, Texas, a possible tornado injured an unknown number of people, damaged several homes, overturned 18-wheelers, downed trees and knocked out power lines on Saturday night, authorities said early Sunday. Deputies responded to multiple locations, including “homes and RV trailer parks,” Dawn Cobb, a county spokesperson, said in a news release.
Damage was reported at the Ray Roberts Marina in Sanger, which warned residents on social media to immediately get off the docks.
“Multiple victims,” some whom may be trapped, were reported in Ray Roberts after severe weather struck the area overnight, City of Denton fire officials said, adding medics and other resources have been sent to the scene.
Damage to several homes was also reported in the neighboring city of Celina, where officials said city was impacted by “apparent tornadic activity” on Saturday.
The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth issued several tornado warnings for multiple North Texas cities late Saturday night, telling residents to seek shelter immediately as a tornado was seen heading east between Valley View and Sanger around 10:40 p.m.
Across state lines, damage was also reported throughout Rogers County, Oklahoma, after a possible tornado swept the area, downing power lines and trees and damaging homes. In the city of Claremore, officials said there was “a lot of damage” and that electricity will be out for much of the city “for an extended period of time.”
High temperatures and high humidity fueling strong storms in the country’s midsection are setting the stage for nocturnal tornadoes in the overnight hours, the National Weather Service said. Tornado watches and warnings continue in parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, along with severe thunderstorm watches further east, affecting millions of people.
More than 200,000 homes and businesses throughout the Plains and Missouri were without power early Sunday amid the severe weather, including 96,244 customers In Missouri, 48,309 in Kansas, 30,948 in Texas and 20,678 in Oklahoma, according to poweroutage.us.
Storms will expand in both scope and strength in the evening and overnight and move east into the Mississippi Valley.
“Violent tornadoes, extreme hail and corridors of widespread wind damage” are most likely within the area of the watch, according to the Storm Prediction Center but could extend beyond it. Anywhere from Kansas and Nebraska to the Mississippi Valley could encounter storms unloading strong wind gusts, hail and tornadoes.
City of Denton Fire Department
City of Denton Fire Department shared a photo early Sunday of a badly damaged building following severe weather in the area.
Robust thunderstorms will continue over parts of the Mississippi Valley through Sunday morning before gradually losing their strength. But a new round of damaging storms is expected to arrive quickly after.
Thunderstorms will develop over parts of the Midwest by Sunday afternoon and grow farther south and east through the evening and overnight hours. Powerful storms could ultimately stretch from the Great Lakes to the South Sunday night.
The Storm Prediction Center warned of a Level 4 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms in parts of the Central and Southern Plains through Sunday morning, saying, “there will be an added threat of EF2 to EF5 tornadoes and hail 2 inches or greater over the region.”
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts of 74 mph or greater could also threaten parts of Kansas, western Missouri and northern Oklahoma on Sunday.
The travel hubs of Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Nashville could have to contend with damaging storms, leading to delayed or canceled flights.
Supercell thunderstorms that fired up in parts of the south and central US on Saturday triggered tornado watches and warnings, including a rare “particularly dangerous situation” tornado watch designation for three states where the National Weather Service saw an unusually high confidence in the potential for tornadoes of at least EF2 strength to form.
On Sunday, the severe weather threat is expected to shift east to the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys.
A Level 3 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms is in place over parts of the middle Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley into Monday morning, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The storms could bring hazards including frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail and a few tornadoes.
The Storm Prediction Center noted added potential threats of EF2 to EF5 tornadoes, hail 2 inches or larger and severe thunderstorm wind gusts of 74 mph or greater over parts of the region.
The potential for heavy rain over parts of the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, middle Mississippi Valley, and Central Appalachians prompted the slight risk, Level 2 of 4, of excessive rainfall in those regions through Monday morning.
Cities like Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati; St. Louis; Nashville, Tennessee; and Indianapolis are among the cities included in the Level 3 threat. It’s possible the severe weather could affect the Indianapolis 500 race slated for noon ET on Sunday.
The National Weather Service office in Indianapolis forecast showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4 p.m. ET in Speedway, Indiana, on Sunday, with an 80% chance of precipitation and gusts as high as 25 mph.
The last time rain shortened the Indy 500 race was in 2007 after 166 laps, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The unofficial start of summer is also ushering in sweltering heat, reaching potentially record high temperatures for parts of the US on Monday.
Houston; New Orleans; Miami; Mobile, Alabama, Tampa, Florida; and Charleston, South Carolina, are among locations where warm weather will feel more like July than late May through the holiday weekend.
A subtropical upper-level high over Mexico will help spawn excessive heat warnings and heat advisories over southern Texas through Monday, according to the Storm Prediction Center. “The ridging will create a dangerous early-season heat wave over south Texas and southern Florida,” according to the center.
Daily high temperatures and heat index reading exceeding 115 are possible in some areas, the Storm Prediction Center noted.
Those spending time outdoors or who are dealing with a loss of power should drink enough water, dress in lightweight clothing and locate cooling centers if necessary.
CNN meteorologist Elisa Raffa and CNN’s Paradise Afshar contributed to this report.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
