Severe weather wreaked havoc across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas over the Memorial Day weekend, resulting in at least seven fatalities and leaving a trail of destruction. Tornadoes, downed power lines, and structural collapses have prompted search and rescue operations as authorities assess the extent of the damage.
Severe weather impacted Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas over the Memorial Day weekend, resulting in at least seven fatalities and extensive damage.
Texas:
A tornado near the Oklahoma border on Saturday night left five people dead, including three family members in Valley View. The storm overturned trucks and damaged a highway truck stop, leading to numerous non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency responders are still assessing the full extent of the damage and conducting search and rescue operations. Significant damage was reported in Denton County, where a tornado also hit, halting traffic on Interstate 35 and damaging homes and other structures.
Oklahoma:
Severe storms also affected Oklahoma, where attendees at an outdoor wedding in Woods County were injured. The city of Claremore experienced extensive damage from downed power lines and trees, leading to widespread power outages and inaccessible roads.
Arkansas:
In Benton County, one person died, and multiple others were injured due to the storms. Significant damage was reported in areas such as Decatur and Rocky Branch, with emergency services responding to various incidents, including gas leaks and structural collapses.
The National Weather Service issued numerous warnings as the storms moved across the region, emphasizing the potential for continued severe weather in the coming days, stretching from the Great Plains to the East Coast.
Consequences:
The storms left over 360,000 people without power across affected states. Authorities are continuing search and rescue efforts and damage assessments as daybreak reveals the full extent of the devastation.