Severe storms and tornadoes have wreaked havoc across several states in the Midwest and South, leaving thousands of people without power and causing multiple fatalities. The affected states include Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, and Indiana.

According to poweroutage.us, nearly 400,000 people in Missouri, Arkansas, and Kentucky are currently without power due to the destructive weather. In Texas, over 46,000 people are experiencing power outages, while in Tennessee, more than 22,000 individuals are affected. Additionally, there are approximately 16,000 outages in Kansas and nearly 14,000 in Indiana.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear provided an update on Sunday afternoon, stating that although conditions had calmed to some extent, another wave of storms was expected later in the evening. Governor Beshear reported one death, with at least five counties declaring a state of emergency and an estimated 213,000 power outages across the state. He urged people to avoid flooded roads and emphasized the importance of staying away from downed power lines.

In Texas, tragic news came as two children, aged 2 and 5, along with three family members, were found deceased in a home near Valley View in Cooke County. Multiple storm-related injuries were reported in Denton County, and the full extent of these injuries is yet to be determined.

Arkansas also experienced tragic losses, with a total of five deaths reported. One 26-year-old woman was found dead outside a destroyed home in Olvey, Boone County. Another death occurred in Benton County, and two more were reported in Marion County. In Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the death of a man who was believed to have been struck by a tree during the severe weather.

Detailed information on the two deaths in Oklahoma was not immediately available.

The severe storms, which included multiple tornadoes and hail up to 2 inches in diameter, caused widespread devastation in the affected regions. Overturned 18-wheelers, destroyed homes, and downed power lines were just a few of the destructive consequences. Thankfully, no serious injuries or fatalities were reported at a truck stop in Cooke County, where numerous people sought shelter.

Search and rescue efforts were underway in Benton County, Arkansas, where multiple injuries were reported. Approximately two dozen individuals were taken to hospitals in Baxter County, including six children.

The severe weather system is pushing eastward, set to impact the Midwest and Ohio Valley, including cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. Storms are expected to affect a total of 42 million people in the region, with damaging wind gusts, tornadoes, and large hail posing significant threats.

Flash flooding is also a concern as the storms move across the country, particularly in the mid-Mississippi Valley. Around 3 million people are under flood alerts, including residents in Memphis, Tennessee, and Tupelo, Mississippi.

The storms have prompted officials at the Indianapolis 500 to advise spectators to take cover due to reported lightning strikes in the area.

The severe weather system will continue its eastward movement, with the East Coast, including Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina, expected to experience strong to severe thunderstorms on Monday. Approximately 27 million people in this region are at risk.

As the weekend progresses, rainfall totals of 1 to 2.5 inches are expected, with some areas potentially receiving over 3 inches if training storms develop.

Residents in the affected areas are urged to stay weather aware and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.