Severe storm and tornado alert: Which areas could be affected on Memorial Day?

Over the past few weeks, severe weather has hit the United States, with tornadoes sweeping through central states, causing not just damage to properties and vehicles, but also human fatalities.

This weekend specifically, the US are celebrating Memorial Day (Monday 27), a time in which the country remembers those who have fallen in conflicts around the world.

President Joe Biden issued a statement in response to the casualties, saying “Jill and I are praying for those who tragically lost their lives as a result of devastating tornadoes that tore through Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, levelling entire communities and leaving a path of destruction in their wake”.

Here is the latest news regarding which areas are affected by the high winds and wild weather on Memorial Day.

How many people have died from the storms and tornadoes?

CNN reports that “at least 18 people, including four children, are dead in four states after suspected tornadoes struck the central United States overnight” with “just under 109 million people were under threat of large hail, damaging winds and a fierce twisters”. Officials told CNN that 8 people were killed in Arkansas, 7 people were killed in Texas, 2 people were killed in Oklahoma and 1 person was killed in Kentucky.

The media outlet reports that “supercell thunderstorms firing up in the watch area will also be capable of large hail bigger than the size of baseballs and damaging wind gusts to 75 mph.”

Tornado watch issued by the for more than 3 million people

“Intense supercell thunderstorms will continue to develop across the watch area through this evening. Several tornadoes are likely, some of which are expected to be intense. Very large hail is also likely, along with the risk for potentially significant damaging wind gusts,” the Storm Prediction Center said.

The storms in central areas continue to move east. A new tornado watch was issued by the Storm Prediction Center for more than 3 million people living in parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky, including Louisville, Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana. It was active until 1 a.m. CDT Monday morning.

Going into Sunday, the Storm Prediction Center has declared a heightened tornado watch for several states, with parts of Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas designated as a rare “particularly dangerous situation (PDS)” while highlighting them as “several tornadoes and few intense likely”.

Meteorologist Greg Diamond said that “PDS Tornado Watches are issued when the forecaster has high confidence that multiple strong or violent tornadoes will occur in the watch area.” The National Weather Service advises residents to be alert and check the forecast overnight and during their Memorial Day plans, as well as have multiple ways to receive warnings. Remember to regularly check tornadohq.com for the latest updates.