Tornadoes Kill 7 as Storms Bring Catastrophic Flooding

A severe weather outbreak escalated into a hazardous situation Wednesday as multiple tornadoes carved a path of destruction throughout the South and Midwest, leaving once lively communities in ruins. Reports show at least 15 accounts of twisters causing damage across six states including Missouri, Michigan, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Tennessee.

The life-threatening weather continues in the affected areas as another incoming storm promises dangerous, potentially historic flash flooding. Over 37 million people across 11 states are under flood watch— the NWS issued a high flash flooding risk over the next several days.

Seven Dead as Rescue Crews Search for Survivors

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued 728 warnings throughout the day and night on Wednesday— ranking as the third-highest number of warnings during a 24-hour period since 1986. The warnings were issued for a large swath of land from northern Texas and up into the western edge of Pennsylvania, with the highest concentration in west Tennessee.

The severe storm system brought a tidal wave of destruction upon many central and southern U.S. regions, with Tennessee enduring a particularly devastating outcome.