Kentucky Tornado Leaves 27 Dead Across Midwest

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Kentucky Tornado Leaves 27 Dead Across Midwest \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ At least 27 people are dead after powerful storm systems and tornadoes swept through the Midwest and South, with Kentucky hit hardest. Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed 18 deaths in his state and warned that the toll could rise. Missouri, Virginia, and Illinois also reported fatalities and widespread destruction.

Quick Looks

Kentucky confirms 18 dead, most in Laurel County.
Veteran firefighter among victims, killed responding to the storm.
Missouri reports 7 fatalities; 2 confirmed in Virginia.
Illinois hit by a rare dust storm in Chicago.
More than 5,000 homes affected in St. Louis alone.
National Weather Service investigating possible tornadoes in several states.
Families in Kentucky sheltered in basements as storms struck.
Emergency shelters set up; search and rescue ongoing.
Governor Beshear calls for “good neighbors” to aid victims.
More severe weather forecast across Texas, Oklahoma, and Plains.

Deep Look

A massive and fast-moving storm system barreled through parts of the U.S. Midwest and South, leaving behind a path of destruction that has killed at least 27 people and injured dozens more. Kentucky, the hardest-hit state, confirmed 18 deaths on Saturday, including a longtime firefighter who was killed while responding to storm-related emergencies.

Speaking at a press conference, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called the event a “genuine catastrophe”, adding that the death toll could still rise as emergency crews continued their search for survivors.

“We need the whole world right now to be really good neighbors to this region,” Beshear pleaded.

Kentucky Tornado Tears Through Homes, Roads, and Lives

The worst devastation occurred in Laurel County, a largely rural area in southeastern Kentucky, where 17 of the state’s fatalities were reported. A single additional death occurred in Pulaski County, where Fire Department Major Roger Leslie Leatherman, a 39-year veteran, was killed in the line of duty.

Residents described scenes of horror and chaos. Kayla Patterson, who sheltered in a basement tub with her husband and five children, said the storm sounded like a freight train, ripping apart homes just beyond her backyard.

“Glass shattering everywhere, just roaring like a freight train. It was terrible,” she said.

Many homes were reduced to piles of lumber, twisted metal, and personal belongings, scattered across devastated neighborhoods. Emergency workers searched through the night for survivors, with local high schools converted into emergency shelters.

State Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson said hundreds of homes were damaged, and more than two dozen state roads were closed — some likely for several days.

Chris Cromer, a 46-year-old Laurel County resident, said his phone issued a tornado alert about 30 minutes before impact. He and his wife fled to a nearby relative’s crawlspace just in time.

“We could hear and feel the vibration of the tornado coming through,” Cromer said. His house sustained roof and window damage, but others nearby were destroyed.

“You see these things on the news and feel for people, but when it happens to you… it’s surreal,” he said. “It makes you thankful to be alive.”

The National Weather Service has yet to officially confirm the tornado, but meteorologist Philomon Geertson said damage patterns strongly suggest one touched down shortly before midnight, near the London Corbin Airport.

Missouri Also Reeling After Deadly Storm Strikes St. Louis

In Missouri, at least seven people were killed, five of them in St. Louis, where Mayor Cara Spencer said more than 5,000 homes were damaged.

“The devastation is truly heartbreaking,” Spencer said at a news conference, noting that an overnight curfew was being enforced in the hardest-hit neighborhoods.

A likely tornado touched down in Clayton, a suburb of St. Louis, around 2:30 to 2:50 p.m. Friday. The tornado struck areas including Forest Park, home to the St. Louis Zoo and the site of the 1904 World’s Fair.

The roof of the zoo’s butterfly habitat was severely damaged, though staff were able to safely gather most of the insects, later moved to a conservatory in Chesterfield.

At the Centennial Christian Church, three people were injured when part of the building collapsed. One of the victims, Patricia Penelton, was confirmed dead by her son-in-law, Stacy Clark, who described her as a passionate choir member and volunteer.

“She was always helping others. It’s a huge loss,” Clark said.

Meanwhile, museumgoers at the St. Louis Art Museum were ushered into the basement during the storm.

“Doors were flying open, tree branches flying by, people running,” said John Randle, 19. “We were all scared, but the staff acted fast.”

Dust Storms, Tornadoes, and Heat Elsewhere

In Illinois, an extremely rare dust storm warning was issued for Chicago, where strong winds from thunderstorms pushed dust and debris from dry farmland into the metro area. The National Weather Service’s Chicago office noted it was the first-ever dust storm warning for the city.

In Scott County, Missouri, about 130 miles south of St. Louis, a tornado killed two people and destroyed several homes, according to Sheriff Derick Wheetley.

Further east, two more deaths were reported in northern Virginia.

The storm system also extended into Wisconsin, triggered a heat wave in Texas, and continued to spread into parts of the central Plains, bringing dangerous weather conditions across a wide swath of the country.

Tornado Trends Are Shifting Toward the South

Historically, most deadly tornadoes have occurred in the “Tornado Alley” states like Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, but recent studies show that more destructive tornadoes are now occurring in the mid-South — including Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee — where population density and tree cover increase the danger.

The U.S. averages around 1,200 tornadoes annually, and experts say climate change may be altering both their frequency and location.