Severe storms continued to pound parts of the South and Midwest on Sunday, as a punishing storm system unleashed life-threatening flash floods and powerful tornadoes stretching from Mississippi to Kentucky. This relentless pattern of inclement weather has significantly impacted local communities, causing road closures, widespread power outages, and even prompting some voluntary evacuations.
According to the Associated Press, at least 18 individuals across several states have tragically died due to weather-related incidents since Wednesday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear issued a warning on Sunday morning, informing residents that they could expect another day or more of severe weather. "Please, everybody be careful," he urged. "We've tragically lost two individuals, two Kentuckians, two children of God already, and we don't want to lose any more."
Among the reported fatalities was 9-year-old Gabriel Andrews, who was swept away by floodwaters while heading to his school bus stop in Frankfort on Friday morning, as reported by WLKY. Additionally, the Tennessee Department of Health confirmed that storms in Tennessee had claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including a lineman from the Carroll County Electric Department who lost his life while on duty, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
Half of the fatalities reported in Tennessee occurred in McNairy County, where an EF3 tornado struck on Thursday, damaging 332 buildings and destroying 108 of them. The National Weather Service reported that certain areas in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee received more than a foot of rain, while portions of Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri experienced more than 10 inches.
As of Sunday morning, flash flood warnings were in effect for various regions, including western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, and central Alabama. Tornadoes were also reported in multiple states, with tornado warnings currently active for parts of Alabama and Mississippi.
The impact of the storm system has resulted in significant power outages, with over 54,000 customers in Arkansas without electricity early Sunday afternoon. Thousands more were reported to be without power in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, as documented by the website PowerOutage.us. Additionally, the flight tracking website FlightAware reported that 103 flights in and out of the U.S. were canceled on Sunday, with 2,892 flights delayed due to the severe weather conditions.
In Tennessee, Montgomery and Obion counties implemented voluntary evacuation orders on Saturday for areas prone to flooding. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, Governor Beshear requested that residents of Frankfort conserve water throughout the weekend to mitigate the impact of the ongoing storm.
As the storm system continues to move eastward, forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate that the threats of heavy rainfall and flash flooding will persist throughout the Southeastern U.S. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and stay updated on weather alerts as conditions evolve.
