Powerful storm roars into central US, threatens 'generational' rainfall
A mammoth springtime storm on Wednesday began its slow journey across the central U.S., which forecasters say could dump several months' worth of rain, triggering possibly historic flash flooding and destructive tornadoes.
Over 46 million people from north Texas to the southern Great Lakes are at risk of tornadoes, hurricane-force winds, heavy rain, and large hail, according to the Storm Prediction Center, which issued an "enhanced risk warning" for the large swath of the country. In Arkansas, the National Weather Service had issued a tornado emergency, the highest warning possible, as a "large and destructive tornado” hit Lake City, Arkansas, and surrounding areas in the northeastern part of the state in the evening.
Dozens of tornado watches and warnings remain in effect Wednesday night from northeastern Texas to Ohio, including Indianapolis, as a major storm is hitting the Lower Ohio Valley and Mid-South. By the afternoon, severe weather was being felt across the middle of the country, with hundreds of flight delays, tens of thousands of power outages, and crews examining damage from possible tornadoes.
This is just the start of a daylong rain event that could be disastrous, experts warn, using words such as "catastrophic," "generational," and "life-threatening" to describe the forecast. Parts of the mid-South, including areas of Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky, could see upwards of 15 inches of rain by Sunday.
"The forecast heavy rainfall in this event has a return interval of anywhere from 25 to 100 years. In other words, a heavy rainfall event of this magnitude falling within 4 days is an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime," said the weather service office in Newark, Arkansas. "Historic rainfall totals and impacts are possible."
More than a dozen tornadoes were reported across Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center. The center reported one person injured in Stoddard, Missouri, when a home was destroyed by a tornado, and four others injured after structures were damaged in Gage, Kentucky.
An EF-1 tornado that hit Vernon County, Missouri, around 12:30 p.m. caused widespread damage, knocking over “multiple semi trucks” on Interstate 49 and eight train cars, according to the weather service office in Springfield, Missouri.
Among several dozen reports of large hail, baseball-sized hail was reported in five locations across Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
More than 480,000 power outages were reported across the U.S. just before 2 a.m. Thursday. More than 429,000 were in seven central states, including Indiana, where more than 5% of the state’s utility customers (178,486) were without electricity.
'Large and destructive tornado' hits in Arkansas
By the early evening, the National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency, the highest warning possible, as a "large and destructive tornado” hit Lake City, Arkansas, and surrounding areas in the northeastern part of the state.
Arkansas Gov. Sara Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency Wednesday and posted on X that she has received reports of tornado and storm damage.
Videos shared on social media showed a massive tornado tearing across the land.
The tornado emergency issued by the weather service, which covered an area near the Arkansas-Missouri border, ended at 7:45 p.m. local time, but Accuweather reporter Leslie Hudson told the weather outlet that the danger did not abate with nightfall.
"The sun is setting here, so now this turns into a much more dangerous situation, trying to track the severe weather as the daylight goes away," Hudson said.
Tornado passes over weather station
Twisters were also reported in Kentucky and Missouri.
A tornado caused the National Weather Service office in Paducah, Kentucky, to shelter in place at 8:18 p.m. local time Wednesday, while KFVS-TV, a Missouri-based CBS affiliate, broadcast as a tornado passed over the station.
"That was a little bit intense folks," meteorologist Grant Dade said on the broadcast. "I’ve never witnessed a wedge tornado come right into the station."
The station reported that at least one person has died due to the storm, citing Sgt. Clark Parrott with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, who said there was "devastation everywhere" between the towns of Advance and Delta.
Kentucky governor declares state of emergency
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency ahead of the arrival of the major spring storm.
"Kentucky, we're under some of the most serious weather threats I've seen," he said in a statement posted on social media. "We need everyone statewide to take this seriously."
Beshear said tornadoes, dangerous winds, and hail are expected Wednesday night and urged residents to prepare an emergency kit and find a safe place to stay.
"This is a four-day event, with rain continuing through Saturday," he said in a statement. "There may be widespread flooding, with impacts felt from the west to the east. I've signed a state of emergency to ensure we are ready to respond. Please stay alert. Let's do everything possible to stay safe."
National Weather Service in Memphis: 'This isn't routine'
The National Weather Service in Memphis, Tennessee, issued a dire warning to residents in the path of the major spring storm, urging them to prepare for major flooding and widespread travel disruptions.
"This isn’t routine. This is a rare, high-impact, and potentially devastating event," the statement said. "Heavy rainfall will likely lead to widespread river, flash, and areal flooding that could cause severe disruptions especially along and north of I-40."
Where will it rain the hardest?
The epicenter of the rain and floods is expected to be in the mid-South, forecasters said. Some of the heaviest rain is projected to fall along the Ohio River between Kentucky and Illinois, where the weather service in Paducah, Kentucky, warned of "catastrophic" flooding.
The major rivers most likely to have significant water level rises include the Ohio, Wabash, White, St. Francis, Kentucky, and Tennessee, according to AccuWeather.
Meteorologists say record flooding is possible in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Mississippi.
– Doyle Rice
Owasso, Oklahoma, hit by possible tornado
A suspected tornado hit the Oklahoma city of Owasso on Wednesday, damaging buildings, topping utility poles, and uprooting trees.
The path of destruction stretched about 11 miles in the city outside Tulsa, and radar indicated a possible tornado had formed, according to a statement from the city government. There were no reported injuries, officials said, as multiple agencies, including the local fire and police department, examined the damage.
Images of the aftermath show shredded roofs, collapsed fences, and piles of debris.
Delays pile up at airports across the U.S.
The massive spring storm is causing delays at major airports from Chicago to Dallas.
Over 120 flights at Chicago O'Hare International Airport were canceled and 500 delayed Wednesday morning, according to FlightAware. Meanwhile, departures at the airport were delayed by an average of over two hours "due to thunderstorms," according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
In Texas, the FAA said a temporary ground stop was issued at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Nearby departures at Dallas Love Field were delayed by over half an hour due to the potent storm system.
Confirmed tornado touches down in Missouri
A confirmed tornado touched down in west-central Missouri on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The twister was measured moving at 50 mph northeast of Adrian, a city near the Kansas state line.
"Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely," said the weather service in Pleasant Hill, Missouri.
School closings
A late-season winter storm impacting states in the northern Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes regions has led school districts to cancel classes on Wednesday as bands of heavy snow and ice make travel dangerous.
Dozens of schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota switched to virtual learning, delayed the start of class or closed schools altogether.
These states, which have had heavy snowfall since the weekend, could get 8 inches more of snow, with higher amounts possible in some areas.
"Gusty winds may lead to areas of blowing snow and very difficult travel conditions," the National Weather Service said.
Map of active tornado watches, flood watches
(This story was updated to add new information.)