Dozens dead as tornadoes rip through central and southern US
Forecasters have warned that more storms and hurricane-force winds are due on Saturday night, as thousands of people were left without power.
Twelve people were killed in Missouri, officials said, after twisters tore through the state.
One man died after a tornado passed straight through his house.
'It was unrecognisable as a home. Just a debris field,' said Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County.
'The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls', he said, adding that emergency responders managed to save one woman from the property.
Several other people suffered injuries, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The state's governor warned that more severe weather was expected on Saturday, including the risk of further tornadoes.
Three people were also killed in Arkansas and 29 others were injured across eight counties as storms passed through the state overnight.
'We have teams out surveying the damage from last night's tornadoes and have first responders on the ground to assist,' Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on X.
'In the meantime, I just released $250,000 (£193,000) from our Disaster Recovery fund to provide resources for this operation for each of the impacted communities.'
A further three people were killed in car crashes on Friday during a dust storm in Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle.
About 138 million people are at risk of severe weather in central and southern US states.
Tornado warnings are in place in parts of Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Indiana and Kentucky.
The Storm Prediction Centre said fast-moving storms could result in hail the size of baseballs, but the greatest threat would come from winds near or exceeding hurricane force, with gusts of 100mph possible.
High-speed winds are predicted from the Canadian border to Texas, threatening blizzard conditions in colder northern areas and wildfire risk in warmer, drier areas to the south.
Evacuations were ordered in some parts of Oklahoma, with more than 130 fires reported across the state.
The State Patrol said winds were so strong that they toppled several tractor-trailers.
Bill Bunting, deputy director of the National Weather Service's storm prediction centre, said the storm was unique because of its 'large size and intensity'.
He added: 'And so what that is doing is producing really substantial impacts over a very large area.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
Smoke descends on Northeastern US. Map shows air quality impacts.
State officials from Maine to New York issued alerts for fine particulate matter, a toxic byproduct of wildfires that is small enough to be inhaled. NEW YORK − Wildfire smoke wafted from Canada to create unhealthy air quality levels across the Northeast on July 26. State officials from Maine to New York issued alerts for fine particulate matter, a toxic byproduct of wildfires that is small enough to be inhaled. Smoky conditions impacted cities including Boston and New York. Canada's fires could produce more smoke blowing into the Northeast through the afternoon, said Brooke Taber, a National Weather Service meteorologist stationed in Burlington, Vermont. Smoke is also causing limited visibility in some areas. Wind changes could provide a respite by the night, Taber said. Montreal had some of the worst air quality in the world due to fires in the Canadian Prairies, the Canadian Press reported, citing IQAir, a Swiss-based monitoring company. Several wildfires burning in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are sending large smoke plumes eastward, according to Quebec's fire provincial agency. Meanwhile, New York City climbed on IQAir's list of cities with unhealthy air levels. Hazy skies and the faint smell of smoke blanketed Manhattan on Saturday. Map shows US air quality Why air quality matters Officials urged people to stay indoors to reduce exposure, and to limit strenuous activity. Exposure can cause short-term effects such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, along with coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. It can be particularly dangerous for people in sensitive groups, such as children, older people and those with chronic health conditions, such as asthma or heart disease. Canada is experiencing another harsh wildfire season in a warming climate. Dozens of wildfires are blazing uncontrolled, according to Canada's natural resources department. In early July, Manitoba's government declared a state of emergency for its historic fires. July 17: Brace for more smoky skies as Canadian wildfires rage Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@ or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Newsweek
43 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Wildfire Smoke Triggers Air Quality Alert Across New York: What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An air quality alert was issued for the state of New York, including New York City and Long Island, on Saturday due to smoke drifting in from wildfires burning in Canada. The alert, issued by the state's Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health, is in effect through Saturday night, with improvements expected Sunday. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed hazy skies and the smell of smoke across the region, attributing the conditions to smoke trapped in a sinking air mass above the Northeast. Why It Matters The high levels of fine particulate pollution, known as PM2.5, pose a significant health risk to millions, particularly individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or heart disease. Health officials are advising New Yorkers to limit outdoor activities and stay indoors as much as possible while the alert remains in place. Wildfire smoke from Canada has become a recurring environmental concern for the U.S. this summer, with over 550 active fires currently burning across the country's western and central regions. Wind patterns are carrying the smoke hundreds of miles into the U.S., worsening air quality across multiple states. The sun is seen covered by smoke from the Canadian wildfires on July 25 in Blaine, Minnesota. The sun is seen covered by smoke from the Canadian wildfires on July 25 in Blaine, To Know The NWS said smoke became lodged in a zone of sinking air in the mid-levels of the atmosphere, which has prevented it from clearing. "You may be noticing hazy skies and a light smell of smoke in the air," NWS posted, noting that satellite images show a milky white haze over New England and parts of the Empire State. At midday Saturday, cities like Boston reported air quality index (AQI) levels above 150, considered "unhealthy," while New York City's air remained in the "moderate" range. Meteorologists warn that changes in wind direction or pressure could bring more smoke into the region depending on how the weather evolves over the coming days. The Air Quality alert regions, per New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, consist of: Long Island, which includes Nassau and Suffolk counties New York City Metro, which includes New York City, Rockland, and Westchester counties Lower Hudson Valley, which includes Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Ulster, and Sullivan counties Upper Hudson Valley, which includes Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Washington counties Adirondacks, which includes Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, northern Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and Warren counties. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported more than 550 wildfires burning nationwide, with over 15 million acres scorched so far. While most of the fires are located in central and western Canada, wind patterns have carried smoke into Ontario, Quebec, and across the Northeastern U.S. The smoke was funneled into the region by a cold front that triggered storms on Friday. High pressure behind the front caused northerly winds to trap the smoke near the ground. What People Are Saying New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in a press release this morning: "(DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald are issuing an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulate matter on Saturday, July 26, 2025, for the Long Island, New York City Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, and Adirondacks regions due to the impact of smoke from wildfires in Canada. The pollutant of concern is: Fine Particulate Matter. The advisory will be in effect from 10 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. It added: "DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern." What Happens Next? A new front is expected to arrive early next week, potentially bringing more smoke and similar air quality concerns to the Midwest and Northeast. As rain pushes in from the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, the current plume of smoke is expected to drift offshore. Sunday is projected to bring clearer skies, but smoke models suggest another wave of wildfire haze could reach the Northeast early next week.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Edmonton resident struck by lightning in Thursday storm saved by paramedics
A west Edmonton resident struck by lightning during a Thursday afternoon storm burst was saved by quick intervention from Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics who happened to be nearby. 'At approximately 4:15 p.m. on July 24, Alberta Health Services EMS received a call for an incident near Callingwood Estates,' said a Friday statement emailed to Postmedia from Community Engagement and Communications for AHS. The individual, transported to hospital in critical condition, had to be resuscitated at the scene, friends of the victim shared on social media. The call came in close to an EMS station, and the response was lightning fast, with first responders arriving in a minute. 'I helped call them in, they were indeed there that quick,' posted one friend of the victim. A poster named Brodi said Edmonton is lucky to have some of the most amazing paramedics around. 'The fact that they do the job in all kinds of weather conditions — some quite dangerous, like thunderstorms, extreme heat, blizzard conditions — just shows some serious determination and dedication to their jobs and to helping others,' Brodi said. Lightning has been in the news recently after Olympic ski cross medalist Audun Groenvold, 49, died after being struck by lightning. Groenvold, who won bronze at the 2010 Vancouver Games, was a coach and sports commentator. He had been on a cabin trip at the time of his death. The Norwegian Ski Federation said Groenvold was 'quickly taken to hospital and received treatment for the injuries he sustained in the lightning strike' and then died from his injuries. Assessing risk of lightning strikes Canadian statistics suggest somewhere around one in six individuals struck by lightning dies from their injuries. Between 2002 and 2017, there were 180 lighting-related injuries in Canada. On average, two to three individuals die each year from lightning strikes. There used to be a rule about the time between lightning and thunder to determine distance, but that rule has been outmoded by research. 'When you hear thunder, you are in striking distance of lightning,' said Christy Climenhaga of Environment and Climate Change Canada. And even if you can't hear thunder, don't assume you're safe outside. 'Lightning can strike outside of where a thunderstorm is, it can strike 15 kilometers away,' she said. 'It can strike even more so if you can hear thunder, that's when you know that it is time to head inside or into a vehicle to take shelter because you are at risk of lightning. 'When you think about severe thunderstorms or even regular thunderstorms, the main threats you think about are things like hail and strong winds and heavy downpours, which are risks, but lightning is a big risk, and we don't think about it that often, because being injured or hit by lightning is rare, but it does happen.' Lightning strikes aren't as simple as a bolt hitting someone straight on, she added. Lightning can injure with ground current, where lightning strikes a very tall object nearby, and that energy travels outwards from that strike, along the ground surface. With side flashes, lightning strikes a taller object and jumps over to the nearby victim. Livestock have been felled after sheltering up against metal fences. Sporting during thunderstorm is a particularly risky behaviour — hoisting a metal bat or tennis racket could increase risk, Climenhaga said. Going inside or at least getting into a car is a safer bet during a thunderstorm, she said. Prime environment for thunderstorms With a cooler front moving through Thursday, there was a prime environment for thunderstorms across Alberta, said Climenhaga. 'We definitely saw that around the Edmonton area, a very strong storm that moved through between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., bringing with it some rain,' Climenhaga said. There were reports of hail and lightning. By midday Friday, most of the risk had moved into southern Alberta, she said. Related Edmonton International Airport damaged by Thursday wind storm Vicious cycle: Wildfire smoke and wind a growing threat in Alberta You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
