At least 6 dead from devastating storms as severe weather ravages America’s Heartland
An outbreak of severe weather is ravaging parts of the Plains and Midwest, where at least 6 people died Friday evening amid damaging storms and “major” hail.
The severe weather threat affects more than 63 million people, spanning more than 1,500 miles from Texas to Michigan.
Four of those deaths were reported in two counties in southwest Michigan, where powerful tornadoes tore through Union City.
In Oklahoma, the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of two people after strong storms swept through the central parts of the state.
In Southwest Michigan, the Branch Sheriff’s Office announced Friday evening that at least three people have died after a powerful and dangerous storm hit the Union Lake area.
Sheriff Frederick A. Blankenship is urging residents to avoid affected areas to allow emergency personnel to safely conduct response and rescue operations in the area affected by today’s severe weather.
This comes after strong storms hit the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma on Thursday.
Another death has been reported in Cass County after a tornado ripped through southwestern Michigan, officials said in a news release.
Cass County Emergency Management reports that many large buildings – including homes and barns – sustained significant damage, while others suffered major structural damage and others were completely destroyed.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Friday that a mother and daughter died in Major County during Thursday night’s storms. The emergency management department in Fairview, Oklahoma, shared a video on social media of a possible tornado west of the city on Thursday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Norman confirmed at least three tornadoes as of noon Friday, and the forecast is still ongoing.
FOX Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari tracked down a spotter-confirmed tornado Thursday night outside Quail, Texas.
On Friday, NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center issued a Level 3 out of 5 severe thunderstorm risk for parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the first round of storms is expected to develop by mid-afternoon as a low-pressure area near the surface moves across Kansas and the Missouri Valley.
The atmosphere will be able to support severe thunderstorms capable of producing hail larger than 3 inches in diameter, as well as tornadoes.
Severe storms are possible from Kansas City to Wichita to Oklahoma City by Friday evening.
Overnight, as the cold front moves farther east-southeast, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes will occur from Illinois south through Oklahoma and northeast Texas.
