- More than a dozen people are dead after severe weather, including suspected tornadoes, hit the South and Midwest early Saturday morning. Officials confirmed at least 10 deaths in Missouri, three in Arkansas and three in Texas due to a dust storm-related car crash.
- The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for about 2 million people on Saturday, with a high-risk outlook for Alabama and Mississippi and a moderate risk for western Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.
- Experts advise having multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts and finding a safe interior part of the house to take shelter during storms.
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More than a dozen are dead after an outbreak of severe weather hit the South and Midwest late Friday night, March 14, into early Saturday morning, March 15. Meteorologists warn there is another round of significantly severe weather set for Saturday evening.
How many were killed?
Officials in Missouri confirmed at least 12 were killed by suspected tornadoes and severe weather across four counties. Two of those deaths were caused by a suspected tornado that touched down in Bakersfield, Missouri.
Three others were killed in Arkansas due to the severe storms, according to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Twenty-nine others were injured in the state.
In the Texas Panhandle, a dust storm formed from the same storm system caused car crashes that killed eight others. One vehicle wreck included a 38-car pileup, according to NBC News.
On Saturday night, officials in Alabama said two people were killed after a suspected tornado touched down in a small town. Officials said one man was killed in his workshop where he and his wife were hiding out the storms. The man’s wife was not injured.
A woman who was reported missing Saturday evening was found dead at about 4 a.m. Sunday, March 16. She was discovered almost a mile away from her trailer, which was destroyed.
How long are the severe weather alerts in effect?
The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for about 2 million people on Saturday. Meteorologists said that an “outbreak” of long-tracked tornadoes and severe thunderstorms is expected through Saturday night for much of the south.
⚠️Outbreak of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms expected over parts of the Deep South and Tennessee Valley Today into Tonight (March 15).
— National Weather Service (@NWS) March 15, 2025
* LOCATIONS…
Alabama
Mississippi
Louisiana
Western Georgia
Southern Tennessee
The Florida Panhandle… pic.twitter.com/408PjKlIqg
The NWS in Birmingham, Alabama, issued a rare “high-risk” level five outlook for large swaths of Alabama and Mississippi. Other southern areas, like western Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, are under “moderate risk” of severe weather outbreaks.
“The most dangerous tornado threat should begin across eastern Louisiana and Mississippi during the late morning to afternoon, spread across Alabama late today into the evening, and reach western parts of the Florida Panhandle and Georgia tonight,” the National Weather Service said.
How many are without power?
According to USA Today, nearly 200,000 people were without power on Saturday morning. Officials said suspected tornadoes and strong winds took down thousands of power cables, causing the outages.
These are the numbers by state:
- Missouri: 124,481
- Illinois: 42,350
- Indiana: 35,988
- Arkansas: 14,138
- Tennessee: 13,958
How to prepare for severe weather?
Experts say to have at least two ways to be notified of severe weather. Many use their phones for updates, others use weather radios. Some experts warn against relying solely on severe weather sirens. Often, they are older technology and prone to breaking down.
Meteorologists say people should find an interior part of the first floor or basement level of a house to hide in. This room could be a hallway, bathroom or closet. For more protection, people can get under something sturdy, like a heavy table or workbench.
