Deadly Tornado Outbreak Continues: Severe Storm System Moves Eastward, Threatens Millions in Midwest and South

The severe tornado-producing storm system continues its path from Missouri through Texas on Sunday, with further twister warnings issued for communities in Nebraska and Iowa that have already experienced destruction caused by the previous night’s outbreak of large and extremely dangerous tornadoes across Oklahoma. The National Weather Service reported multiple simultaneous giant and deadly twister sightings overnight in the state, resulting in urgent calls to seek shelter.
The severe weather threat now affects nearly 47 million people from east Texas northward into the upper Mississippi River Valley, with cities including Dallas and Austin in Texas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa in Oklahoma, Wichita and Topeka in Kansas, and the Kansas City metropolitan area all at risk of experiencing strong tornadoes as storms move rapidly towards the east. Over nine million individuals have been included within ongoing severe weather warnings running almost 800 miles from Texas to southern Wisconsin; these alerts are due for expiration between 3 a.m. And 4 a.m. CT on Sunday morning.
Storm clouds carrying torrential downpours are causing an intense and hazardous situation, with the National Weather Service warning of potentially catastrophic flash flooding as severe weather continues across the midsection of America into Monday. The agency added that in addition to tornadoes, “intense rainfall rates” will accompany these thunderstorms at times during this period.
In Nebraska and Iowa, dozens of reported twister sightings have been confirmed by authorities following storm activity on Friday and Saturday; images from both states show the destruction left behind after communities were flattened or suffered significant damage to homes as roof tiles disappeared alongside entire trees. Reports outlining extreme events throughout these affected regions reveal tornadoes reaching winds in excess of 135mph – categorized by meteorologists as EF-3 level storms, with a further twister sighted close to Omaha’s airport having an apparent rating equivalent to that seen during the second most severe category (EF2).
The Nebraska Emergency Operations Center has been activated in response to this escalating situation. Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma called on residents within his state to remain weather-aware and prepared for further storm impacts, urging them to seek shelter immediately if they encounter any potential threats from the severe weather system’s aftermath across the area as it moves through both Nebraska and Iowa overnight into Sunday morning.