Following a destructive storm that caused widespread damage, the threat of tornadoes shifted eastward into the Mississippi Valley and southern regions on Saturday. The storm’s powerful winds had previously led to building damage, dust storms, fatal accidents, and over 100 wildfires in central states.
Missouri experienced multiple tornadoes on Friday, while strong winds up to 80 mph were expected from the north to the south, posing risks of blizzards in cold regions and wildfires in warm, dry areas.
Tragically, three individuals lost their lives on Friday due to car accidents in Amarillo County, Texas, amid a dust storm, as reported by State Department of Public Safety Sgt. Cindy Barkley. One of the accidents involved a pile-up of roughly 38 vehicles.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” Barkley said. “We couldn’t tell that they were all together until the dust kind of settled.”
A wildfire burns at night on Friday, March 14, 2025, south of Langston, Oklahoma. (AP)
Officials urged people in some areas of Camden County in central Missouri to evacuate because of wildfires. The State Highway Patrol warned that the fires were nearing homes and businesses.
Roughly 120 miles of Interstate 70 in western Kansas were temporarily shut down over blowing dust and limited visibility.
High winds also knocked out power to more than 216,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.
The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota starting early Saturday. Snow accumulations of three to six inches were expected, and up to a foot is possible.
Winds gusting to 60 mph were predicted to cause whiteout conditions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
