A series of powerful storms over the Memorial Day holiday weekend caused widespread destruction and killed at least 21 people across the central and southern US, affecting Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kentucky, Associated Press reports.
The death toll includes seven fatalities in Cooke County, Texas, from a tornado, eight in Arkansas, two in Mayes County, Oklahoma, and four in Kentucky. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency and reported significant damage in Charleston and Barnsley, areas previously hit by a 2021 tornado. More than 500,000 customers lost power across the eastern US, with Kentucky experiencing about 170,000 outages.
The storms are part of a historically severe tornado season, influenced by climate change and persistent warm, moist air. The heat index in parts of south Texas reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and record high temperatures were set in cities like Miami, San Antonio, and Dallas. The storms coincided with a severe heat wave in the southern states. President Joe Biden offered condolences and assured federal support for the affected areas.
