A powerful storm system sweeping across the central and eastern United States has left a trail of destruction, with multiple tornadoes, golf ball-sized hail, and widespread power outages.
The severe weather has claimed at least two lives and continues to threaten millions of residents as it moves eastward.
In Valparaiso, Indiana, a semi-truck driver was killed early Sunday when strong winds toppled his vehicle.
In Oklahoma’s Cherokee County, a man lost his life when a falling tree crushed his trailer during a violent thunderstorm. Wind gusts in the area neared 50 mph.
Tornadoes were reported in Arkansas, Missouri, and Michigan, with damage recorded in McEwen, Tennessee. A possible tornado tore the roof off a home, trapping its occupants inside, though they escaped unharmed. Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, massive hailstones pelted the region, some nearly the size of golf balls.
As of Monday morning, over 500,000 homes and businesses were without power, with Michigan experiencing the most outages. Ice accumulation on power lines and trees has worsened the situation, particularly in northern Michigan, where up to half an inch of ice has built up.
The storm continues its eastward march, threatening states from the Carolinas to the Northeast. New Orleans to Boston are in the danger zone, with tornadoes, hail, and strong winds expected. The Northeast’s primary threat will be damaging wind gusts.
March 2025 has already seen an extraordinary number of tornadoes, continuing a trend of increasingly active spring storm seasons. Forecasters warn of another round of severe weather midweek, urging residents to stay alert as the extreme conditions persist.
