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At least four people have died and others have been injured after severe storms, which may have included a tornado, hit St Louis on Friday. Meanwhile, tens of millions of Americans in various states are preparing for potential damage from high winds and severe weather this weekend.
St Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed the deaths after the storms caused roofs to be torn off buildings, pulled away brick facades, and downed trees and power lines. Residents were advised to seek cover.
According to the National Weather Service, a “very active and complex mid-May weather pattern” is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds, and unusual temperatures across the US this weekend and until at least next Tuesday.
Accuweather warned that between Friday and Saturday, up to 150 million Americans might be affected by severe weather.
The NWS has identified the primary risks as large hail (with some exceeding 2 inches in diameter), destructive wind gusts, and tornadoes.
Severe thunderstorm outbreaks are forecasted to continue from Friday through at least Sunday across the mid-Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio valleys. Some of these could develop into intense supercells, a type of thunderstorm with a deep and persistent rotating updraft.
During the evening and overnight, these supercells have the potential for producing large hail and tornadoes, the NWS warned.
The agency’s storm prediction center has issued a moderate risk warning for severe weather centered over the lower Ohio Valley, where there is a high risk of several strong tornadoes. Additionally, a slight risk of excessive rainfall has been issued for the region.
The NWS advises residents and travelers to be aware of the location of the nearest storm shelter or safe place in case severe thunderstorms occur.
Tornado watches have been issued for parts of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri until 10pm CDT Friday evening. The NWS predicts widespread hail up to the size of a tennis ball, along with wind gusts expected to reach up to 80mph (130km/h).
While the eastern parts of the country brace for thunderstorms and potential tornadoes, the NWS has also warned about an unusual early-season heatwave emerging from south Texas.
The temperatures are predicted to reach near record-breaking highs and enter the 90s, with some areas expecting triple-digit temperatures, resulting in widespread major to extreme heat risk throughout the weekend.
While triple-digit weather is typical in Texas during summers, this year’s early-season heat is unusual and has made Texas hotter than California’s Death Valley, the planet’s hottest place.
These severe weather events in the US occur against the backdrop of a growing global climate crisis, largely caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. Last year was confirmed as the hottest on record, with carbon emissions reaching an all-time high.
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p class=”dcr-16w5gq9″>Leading climate scientists recently discovered that the historical
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/16/us-extreme-weather
