Severe Weather Claims At Least 40 Lives Across Multiple U.S. States

A series of severe weather events across multiple U.S. states this weekend resulted in at least 40 fatalities, with tornadoes, dust storms, and wildfires wreaking havoc primarily in the Midwest and South. The storms earned a 'high risk' designation from forecasters due to their intensity, leading to significant destruction in states such as Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi. Eyewitness accounts describe harrowing experiences, including individuals finding shelter in cars as tornadoes destroyed their homes. The National Weather Service continues to issue warnings for ongoing dangerous winds and potential further tornado activity across the Southeast. States of emergency have been declared in Arkansas, Georgia, and Oklahoma, highlighting the widespread impact of the storms. The extreme weather has also left over 320,000 people without power and contributed to nearly 150 wildfires in Oklahoma.