By John Oyewale
A monster storm sweeping through parts of the U.S. whipped up tornadoes and dust storms and sparked wildfires, killing at least 34 people across six states, according to reports.
The massive storm system with winds reaching 80 mph was forecast to sweep through an over 100 million-strong area from the Canadian border to Texas, according to CBS News. It brought about wintry conditions in the north, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, dust storms, and wildfires in parts of the Midwest and on the West Coast.
Eight people died and many others were injured in a 71-vehicle pileup on I-70 in northwest Kansas Friday, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP). The multiple crashes resulted from traffic getting caught up in a severe dust storm that reduced visibility to almost zero as gusts blew in from Colorado, the KHP said.
“My thoughts are with those affected by this tragic event,” Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said, while also calling for vigilance as the extreme weather lingered and thanking first responders and emergency personnel.
A dust storm also caused a pileup of 38 vehicles along I-27 in Canyon, Texas, a video from CNN shows.
Four people died in Texas, some of them in car crashes in the harsh weather, according to CBS News.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” Sgt. Cindy Barkley of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CBS, adding that the near-zero visibility was a nightmare. “We couldn’t tell that they were all together until the dust kind of settled.”
The strong winds and dry conditions meant the wildfire risk remained high in the state.
Three people died and 34 were injured overnight Friday in Arkansas, triggering a state of emergency declared by Governor Sarah Sanders.
Sanders, saying she spoke with President Donald Trump by phone, added, “He said to tell the people of Arkansas he loves them and he and his administration are here to help with whatever we need following last night’s tornadoes.”
On the ground in Cave City this afternoon and thankful to see so many people taking care of one another. If you need assistance or want to help – Check out https://t.co/NoPJfjNUzG pic.twitter.com/FLDgwN5NOV
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) March 15, 2025
Six people died, three went missing, 29 were injured, and an initial 30,000 people were without power as severe storms, tornadoes and a 3.0 magnitude earthquake hit Mississippi — prompting Republican Gov. Tate Reeves to declare a state of emergency. (RELATED: Video Shows Tornado Form, Send Truck Tumbling Onto Road)
“A lot of our fellow Mississippians are hurting tonight…Please pray, Mississippi!” Gov. Reeves said.
Missouri is the worst affected state as 12 people were reported dead as of Saturday, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSH). Some 140,000 people lost power as of early Saturday but the number reduced to 110,000, the MSHP added.
The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency counted 19 tornadoes across 25 counties in the state.
Describing his state as “devastated,” Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe offered condolences for the lives lost and said rescue efforts were ongoing round the clock.
“It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field,” Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County in Missouri told CBS News of the scene where a man had died as a tornado shredded his home. “The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.”
Missouri resident Dakota Henderson told CBS News that while he and other rescuers worked Friday night, they found five bodies strewn in the debris outside the remains of his aunt’s house in hard-hit Wayne County, Missouri.
Over 130 fires burned across Oklahoma, damaging or destroying nearly 300 homes, Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
The fire danger is high across much of Oklahoma. This fire is on Highway 51 near Stillwater. https://t.co/iKoFAPEcMk pic.twitter.com/U3g5Cp45Rd
— KFOR (@kfor) March 14, 2025
Stitt’s house and ranch were destroyed, too, a video from him shows. “This was my place. Total, total loss in the fires,” he says, while surveying the rubble of his ranch. “We’ll be rebuilding with the rest of Oklahoma.”
After traveling the state today surveying damage, I ended by visiting my ranch where we lost everything to the fires. It’s a sad garden update today.
Oklahomans, we are in this together and we will build back stronger.#okwx pic.twitter.com/J12uvPmiSU
— Kevin Stitt (@KevinStitt) March 15, 2025
“You never think it’s gonna happen to your place and these wildfires just come out of nowhere and really take over. So, be safe, everybody,” Stitt adds.
President Donald Trump issued a statement Sunday that his administration was “actively monitoring” the storms and “ready to assist” the recovery efforts of communities:
We are actively monitoring the severe tornadoes and storms that have impacted many States across the South and Midwest — 36 innocent lives have been lost, and many more devastated. The National Guard has been deployed to Arkansas, and my Administration is ready to assist State and Local Officials, as they help their communities to try and recover from the damage. Please join Melania and me in praying for everyone impacted by these terrible storms!
