Weather System Brings Heavy Downpours and Powerful Winds - At least 15 people perished due to storms in the United States.
Severe thunderstorms in the southern and midwestern parts of the United States have taken a heavy toll, causing the death of at least 15 individuals. Rescue teams and law enforcement officers were scouring the wreckage in different areas to check for potential victims and attending to the injured. The casualties were reported in the states of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky, as per news reports in the US.
Numerous places witnessed tornadoes on Sunday night. News stations reported hailstones approximately the size of tennis balls. Initial assessments indicate that one storm in Oklahoma reached at least level three out of five - such tornadoes can reach wind speeds of up to 265 kilometers per hour.
Massive destruction, especially in Texas
Local officials and residents shared images and videos of the devastation on social media. The storms toppled over heavy-duty trucks and their cargoes, reduced buildings to rubble, and snapped power lines. More than 450,000 individuals across nine states were left without electricity in the initial hours of Sunday night, according to CNN.
Texas' Cooke County, close to Dallas, suffered the most damage. Authorities claimed that a storm there first leveled a rest area on the highway before plowing through a trailer park. Seven individuals lost their lives, including four children. According to the Texas state governor, Greg Abbott, more than 100 people were injured throughout Texas. Numerous houses were destroyed.
The magnitude of the destruction emerged gradually on Sunday night. A state of emergency was announced in various regions.
Storm ongoing
The United States observed a public holiday on Monday - Memorial Day Weekend is unofficially the start of summer with the commencement of swimming season. Many Americans gather for a swim and a barbecue. In certain areas, these festivities might have to be canceled due to the danger of extreme weather. The National Weather Service issued more severe weather and tornado alerts for several states. In southern Texas, warnings were also issued due to expected temperatures exceeding 45 degrees.
Experts link the increase in natural disasters in the United States - storms, floods, and forest fires - to the effects of climate change. The US weather service believes that the number of tornadoes has increased massively in recent years.
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- Despite the ongoing weather system bringing heavy downpours and powerful winds, many Americans were looking forward to the Memorial Day Weekend, marking the start of the summer swimming season.
- The devastating storms in Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas had caused so much destruction that rescue efforts were still ongoing in various aisles of the affected areas.
- The US media reported that hundreds of thousands of people, spanning nine states, had been left without electricity due to the severe weather, with Oklahoma being one of the worst-hit areas.
- The Oklahoma tornado reached at least level three on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with wind speeds reaching up to 265 kilometers per hour, causing widespread damage.
- The casualties in the Southern and Midwestern states underscored the potential dangers of tornadoes, highlighting the need for proper weather warnings and emergency preparedness programs.
- Given the rise in natural disasters, such as storms, floods, and forest fires, in the USA, many experts have linked the phenomenon to the effects of climate change, including an increase in tornadoes.
- With another round of severe weather and tornado alerts issued for several states, including southern Texas, it was important for residents in these areas to stay informed and take appropriate precautions to safeguard their families and homes.
Source: www.stern.de
