Daijiworld Media Network – Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Apr 21: Severe storms swept through central parts of the United States over the weekend, leaving at least three people dead, including a mother and her 12-year-old son, and causing widespread destruction across several states, officials confirmed.
In a tragic incident in Moore, Oklahoma just 10 miles south of Oklahoma City floodwaters washed away a vehicle carrying a woman and her child. Local police confirmed their deaths, calling the event a "historical weather incident" that led to dozens of high-water rescues across the city.
“This was a historical weather event that impacted roads and resulted in dozens of high-water incidents across the city,” Moore Police said in an official statement.
Meanwhile, in Spaulding, Hughes County, Oklahoma, one person lost their life when a tornado struck on Saturday night. According to county officials, multiple homes and buildings were destroyed, and several county roads suffered extensive damage due to washouts.
The deadly weather system, which moved across the central US, triggered multiple tornado warnings on April 20, affecting states including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Louisiana. The National Weather Service and AccuWeather had warned of high risks for severe thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds, especially across Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois.
As night fell, tornado sightings were reported in both Arkansas and Montana. In Illinois, a tornado was detected near East Moline in the Quad Cities region. Although no injuries were immediately reported there, forecasters warned of continuing threats.
The Storm Prediction Center said the violent weather was expected to persist into parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas overnight, extending through the Ozarks and mid-Mississippi Valley.
On Monday, forecasters predicted more showers and thunderstorms stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast. While the overall threat of severe weather is expected to decline, forecasters cautioned that localized flooding due to heavy rainfall remains a concern.
Emergency teams are continuing their rescue and recovery efforts across the affected regions as assessments of the damage continue.