AP – The threat of tornadoes moved east in the United States (US) into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South yesterday, a day after a massive storm system moving across the country unleashed winds that damaged buildings, whipped up dust storms that caused deadly crashes and fanned more than 100 wildfires in several central states.
Multiple tornadoes were reported in Missouri, just some of the extreme weather that was forecast to affect an area home to more than 100 million people. Winds gusting up to 130 kilometres per hour (kph) were predicted from the Canadian border to Texas, threatening blizzard conditions in colder northern areas and wildfire risk in warmer, drier areas to the south.
Three people were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo County in the Texas Panhandle, according to Sergeant Cindy Barkley of the state’s department of public safety.
One pileup involved an estimated 38 cars. “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” Barkley said, calling the near-zero visibility a nightmare. “We couldn’t tell that they were all together until the dust kind of settled.”
Evacuations were ordered in some Oklahoma communities as more than 130 fires were reported across the state. The State Patrol said winds were so strong that they toppled several tractor-trailers.
“This is terrible out here,” said Charles Daniel, a truck driver hauling a 14.6-metre trailer along Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma. “There’s a lot of sand and dirt in the air. I’m not pushing it over 88kph. I’m scared it will blow over if I do.”
Forecasters said the severe storm threat would continue with a high chance of tornadoes and damaging winds.
