A series of powerful storms unleashed tornadoes across a swath from southern Michigan to Arkansas on Tuesday night, injuring over a dozen people and leaving extensive damage in their wake. Much of the central and eastern U.S. remains under the threat of severe weather.
In Michigan, approximately 50 workers at a FedEx facility in Kalamazoo County were temporarily trapped as tornadoes ripped through the area. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in the partial collapse of the building. However, a nearby mobile home community was hit by a tornado, resulting in 16 to 20 people being hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller reported that around 176 properties were damaged, with 17 of them completely destroyed. In neighboring St. Joseph County, seven structures, mostly homes, were destroyed by another tornado, according to Branch County Emergency Manager Tim Miner. Thankfully, there were no fatalities or serious injuries in this area.
More than 30,000 homes and businesses, primarily in southeastern Michigan, were without power on Wednesday morning.
The storm system produced at least eight tornadoes in Michigan, with additional tornadoes reported in Arkansas, Ohio, and West Virginia, as confirmed by the National Weather Service. The Plains region was hit by powerful storms on Monday, resulting in multiple tornadoes, one fatality in Oklahoma, and significant damage across several states.
Meteorologists are warning of more severe weather to come. Nearly four million people in parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee are at an enhanced risk of severe storms. These storms are expected to bring tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. Cities at the highest risk include Nashville, Memphis, St. Louis, Louisville, and Little Rock. A vast area from Texas to Georgia and up through New England is at a slight risk of experiencing severe weather.
Throughout the day and into the evening, meteorologists anticipate multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms in the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee valleys. In Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, thunderstorms are forecast to develop by late afternoon. Besides the threat of wind, rain, and tornadoes, hail larger than 3 inches in diameter is also a concern as the system moves eastward through the evening.
Flood and tornado watches are in effect across Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri through Thursday morning.