Additional Coverage:
Deadly Storms Sweep Across Multiple States, Leaving Trail of Destruction
A devastating, multi-day severe weather system has claimed at least six lives across three states, with the threat of further storms, tornadoes, and widespread flooding continuing.
Tragically, six fatalities have been attributed to the storms. In Missouri, Whitewater Fire Protection District Chief Garry Moore, 68, died while on duty, possibly aiding a stranded motorist.
A 27-year-old man in Hendricks County, Indiana, perished after stepping out of his vehicle and contacting downed live power lines. Four additional weather-related deaths were confirmed in Tennessee.
States of emergency have been declared in Tennessee and Kentucky. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear urged residents to “stay alert, take all precautions, and be prepared.”
Wednesday’s onslaught included a tornado outbreak with at least 20 reported tornadoes from Arkansas to Indiana. One Arkansas resident, Matt Ziegler, described the eerie silence as a tornado passed near his Lake City home.
On Thursday, a tornado watch remained in effect for Tupelo and Memphis, Tennessee, and Nashville, Tennessee. Damaging winds up to 70 mph are also possible.
Nashville public schools are closed. Widespread reports of downed trees and power lines, along with road closures, are emerging from the affected areas.
The threat of flooding is significantly increasing as the system stalls, dumping torrential rain. Rescuers are responding to numerous flooding and water rescue calls.
Motorists are urged to avoid flooded roadways.
Over 38 million people across 11 states, from Arkansas to Ohio, are under a flood watch until Sunday morning. This includes Louisville, Kentucky; Indianapolis; and Cleveland. A particularly dangerous situation (PDS) flood watch is in effect for about 4 million people in parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky, including Memphis; Little Rock; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Union City, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky; and Evansville, Indiana.
A rare high-risk warning for excessive rainfall is in effect Thursday for northeast Arkansas, northwest Tennessee, Memphis, and western Kentucky. The severe weather threat continues Friday, with a level 3 of 5 risk for nearly all of Arkansas, and a moderate risk of excessive rainfall from east of Dallas to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Springfield and St. Louis, Missouri.
On Saturday, the severe weather threat continues at a level 3 of 5 for Arkansas, Louisiana, western Mississippi, and eastern Texas, with strong tornadoes possible. A high-risk flood threat is also in effect for Memphis, Jonesboro, and Evansville.
Rainfall totals are expected to reach 10 to 15 inches or more from Jonesboro to Paducah, with 7 to 10 inches possible from Little Rock to Memphis to Louisville to Cincinnati. The system is forecast to move east on Sunday, bringing rain to the Southeast through Tuesday.