Deadly Storms Leave Trail of Destruction in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas

Deadly storms wreak havoc in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, leaving at least 13 people dead and a trail of destruction in their wake. The powerful storms obliterated homes, destroyed a truck stop where dozens sought shelter, and caused widespread power outages across the region.

In Cooke County, Texas, near the Oklahoma border, seven deaths were reported after a tornado plowed through a rural area near a mobile home park. Two people were killed in Oklahoma, where storms also destroyed houses, including guests at an outdoor wedding. Tens of thousands of residents were left without power.

The devastation was severe, with homes destroyed, roads blocked, and residents waking up to overturned cars and collapsed garages. In Valley View, Texas, the storms ripped roofs off homes and blew out windows, leaving debris scattered for miles.

The severe weather also caused widespread power outages, with more than 100,000 customers in Arkansas and Missouri without power, and thousands affected in Texas and Oklahoma. Inaccessible roads and downed power lines led to the shutdown of the town of Claremore, Oklahoma.

As the system moved east over the Memorial Day weekend, more severe weather was predicted in Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky. The risk of severe weather extended into North Carolina and Virginia on Monday.

The deadly storms are part of a grim month of severe weather in the nation’s midsection, with tornadoes in Iowa earlier in the week leaving at least five people dead. The increase in severe storms has been linked to climate change, contributing to the severity of storms around the world. April saw the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country.

Meteorologists and authorities issued urgent warnings for residents to seek cover as the storms moved through the region overnight. The National Weather Service urged those in the path of the storm to take cover immediately.

The aftermath of the storms revealed a scene of destruction, with mangled power lines, overturned vehicles, and wrecked homes. The impact of the deadly weather serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and devastating force of nature.