LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At least 23 people are dead following a devastating wave of severe weather that tore across parts of the U.S. Midwest and South, with Kentucky suffering the greatest loss of life. State officials confirmed Saturday that 14 people were killed in Kentucky, most of them in hard-hit Laurel County, where a suspected tornado ripped through rural communities and leveled entire homes.
Gov. Andy Beshear warned that the death toll could rise as search and rescue teams continue to comb the wreckage. In Laurel County alone, nine fatalities have been reported following the Friday night storm.
“It was terrible,” said Kayla Patterson, who sheltered in a basement tub with her husband and five children in London, the county seat. “You could literally hear just things ripping in the distance, glass shattering everywhere, just roaring like a freight train.” Their home was spared, but others nearby were reduced to piles of rubble.
Power tools buzzed throughout the neighborhood Saturday morning as residents began clearing debris that included collapsed roofs, twisted metal, scattered insulation, and personal belongings flung far from home sites. Items like suitcases, sofas, and packs of paper towels lay amid the wreckage. Emergency shelters have been opened at local schools, and donations of food, clothing, and supplies poured in from surrounding areas.
Though the National Weather Service had not officially confirmed a tornado touchdown in Laurel County, meteorologist Philomon Geertson said storm patterns strongly indicate one struck just before midnight, impacting areas as far as the London Corbin Airport.
Storms Hit Without Warning, Residents Describe Terrifying Moments
Chris Cromer, 46, said he received tornado alerts around 11:30 p.m.—about 30 minutes before the twister arrived. He and his wife grabbed their dog and fled to a relative’s home with a safer crawlspace.
“We could hear and feel the vibration of the tornado coming through,” Cromer said. His home suffered roof damage and broken windows, but others on his street were destroyed. “It’s surreal. You see this on the news and feel for other people. Then it happens to you.”
This is the latest in a series of deadly weather events to strike Kentucky. Just two months ago, storms claimed 24 lives as swollen creeks overtook roadways. In 2021, a historic tornado outbreak killed 81 in western Kentucky, followed by catastrophic floods in 2022 that left dozens more dead.
Missouri, Virginia Also Reeling from Fatal Tornadoes
The same storm system that swept through Kentucky left a trail of destruction in Missouri and northern Virginia. Seven people were confirmed dead in Missouri, including five in St. Louis, where more than 5,000 homes were damaged and at least 38 people injured.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer described the devastation as “truly heartbreaking” and imposed an overnight curfew in the hardest-hit areas. A likely tornado touched down between 2:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. Friday near Forest Park, home to several of the city’s landmarks, including the Saint Louis Zoo and the Art Museum.
Among the victims was Patricia Penelton, a longtime church volunteer, who died when part of Centennial Christian Church collapsed. “She was deeply involved in everything—choir, outreach—you name it,” said her son-in-law, Stacy Clark.
During the storm, about 150 visitors at the St. Louis Art Museum were rushed to the basement for shelter. “You could see the doors flying open, tree branches flying by and people running,” said 19-year-old John Randle.
At the nearby Saint Louis Zoo, falling trees severely damaged the roof of the butterfly house. Staff quickly secured the insects, which have since been relocated to a suburban conservatory for care.
Further south in Scott County, Missouri, two people were killed and several injured after another tornado destroyed multiple homes. Sheriff Derick Wheetley confirmed the fatalities via social media.
Rare Dust Storm Strikes Chicago Amid Broader Weather Crisis
As tornadoes battered the South and Midwest, strong winds stirred up dry farmland in central Illinois, triggering a rare dust storm that swept into Chicago. The National Weather Service issued its first-ever dust storm warning for the city, calling the event “something we’ve never seen before.”
More Severe Weather Forecast Across Southern Plains
The National Weather Service has warned that the threat isn’t over. On Saturday, meteorologists projected that severe thunderstorms, large hail, and multiple tornadoes could strike the southern Plains, with a particularly high risk in northern Texas.
As cleanup efforts begin in the hardest-hit states, officials across the storm zone are urging residents to remain alert and prepared for further weather threats.
