Severe Midwest Storms Leave Deaths, Power Outages \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ At least four people were killed and more injured after violent storms, including likely tornadoes, swept through St. Louis. Winds tore roofs off buildings, damaged churches, and knocked out power across the Midwest. Dangerous weather also impacted Appalachia, while Texas endured an extreme heat wave.
Quick Looks
- At least 4 killed in St. Louis-area storms.
- Part of a church collapsed; one person died.
- Likely tornado touched down in Clayton, Missouri.
- Radar also confirmed a tornado over Venice, Illinois.
- St. Louis Zoo closed due to extreme weather.
- Winds tore off roofs, downed trees, damaged buildings.
- NWS described the tornado as “extremely dangerous.”
- Warnings issued for Appalachia, Midwest, and southern states.
- Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee on high tornado alert.
- Over 230,000 lost power in Michigan alone.
- Severe heat scorched Texas with temps above 105°F.
- Beyoncé concert in Chicago delayed by severe storms.
Deep Look
A deadly wave of severe weather swept across the Midwest on Friday, leaving at least four people dead, multiple others injured, and a trail of damage in cities like St. Louis, while millions across the central U.S. braced for more storms, power outages, and extreme heat.
In St. Louis, a powerful system believed to include a tornado touched down around 2:30 to 2:50 p.m. in Clayton, Missouri, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The storm tore roofs from buildings, ripped bricks from walls, and downed numerous trees and power lines, causing widespread panic and destruction.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed the fatalities late Friday. Among the hardest-hit areas was Centennial Christian Church, where part of the building collapsed. City of St. Louis Fire Department Battalion Chief William Pollihan told the Associated Press that three people were trapped in the rubble. While two were rescued, one person died at the scene.
The apparent tornado also affected Forest Park, a central landmark home to the St. Louis Zoo, and the site of the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympics. The zoo announced its closure for the rest of the day due to the storms, though damage reports were not immediately available. A spokesperson was unreachable for comment.
St. Louis police issued a warning on social media, urging people to avoid all travel as emergency responders worked across several neighborhoods impacted by the storm.
“If you do not have to travel, PLEASE STAY HOME,” the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Shortly after the storm hit Missouri, radar confirmed a tornado over Venice, Illinois, northeast of St. Louis and just across the Mississippi River. The tornado, described by the NWS as “extremely dangerous,” was accompanied by golf ball-size hail and moved rapidly eastward at 50 mph.
This deadly weather is part of a larger and expanding system impacting states across the Midwest, Appalachia, and the South, with forecasters warning of long-track tornadoes, hurricane-force winds, and massive hail.
The NWS Storm Prediction Center warned that Friday’s system could generate baseball-sized hail, winds exceeding 75 mph, and dangerous tornadoes in states such as Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Ohio. As the storms evolve into large clusters, the risk for high-impact wind damage increases into Friday night.
Widespread Power Outages and Midwest Devastation
The effects of the storm extended well beyond Missouri. In Michigan, over 230,000 customers were left without electricity. Indiana reported 60,000 outages, with an additional 27,000 outages in Illinois and Kentucky combined.
Overnight Thursday, powerful thunderstorms struck parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, northern Indiana, and Michigan, accompanied by booming thunder, vivid lightning, and high-speed winds. Tornadoes touched down in central Wisconsin, with damage assessments underway.
“We’re still gathering reports,” said Timm Uhlmann, an NWS meteorologist in Green Bay. “There was a lot of large hail — in Eau Claire, we had reports of softball-sized hail.”
So far, no injuries were reported in Wisconsin or Michigan, but officials were continuing to survey storm damage and review videos and photographs submitted by residents.
Storms Extend Into Appalachia and the South
The violent weather system pushed southeast into the Appalachian region, prompting emergency preparations across West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. Utility provider Appalachian Power, which serves over 1 million customers in those states, requested 1,700 additional workers from neighboring utilities to assist with storm recovery and power restoration.
In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear took to social media to issue a statewide warning:
“There is a dangerous weather system moving through our state… Strong winds, hail, flooding, and tornadoes are possible starting at 2 p.m. CT in Western Kentucky and reaching Louisville around 5 p.m. ET.”
Shelters were opened in cities like Paducah, and local governments urged residents to seek shelter, charge devices, and prepare for outages and flash floods.
In Tennessee, NWS Nashville meteorologist Faith Borden said the region was likely to face “all types of severe weather,” including winds up to 70 mph and hail reaching up to 3 inches in diameter—considered extreme for the area.
Texas Swelters Under Record Heat
While the central and northern states braced for storms, Texas endured a brutal heat wave, with temperatures reaching between 95°F and 105°F (35°C to 40.5°C) across Austin, San Antonio, and parts of the southern East Coast. The NWS Austin/San Antonio office said weekend humidity would raise heat indexes even further.
Meteorologist Jason Runyen warned of the rising danger of heat exhaustion:
“There are concerns of heat exhaustion for people that aren’t taking proper precautions when they’re outdoors. Stay hydrated and take breaks.”
Heat advisories were also issued for Virginia, the Carolinas, and Florida, where highs remained in the mid-to-upper 90s.
Even Entertainment Disrupted
Even cultural events weren’t spared from the chaos. In Chicago, Thursday night’s Beyoncé concert at Soldier Field was delayed for nearly two hours due to the storm threat. Fans were told to shelter inside the stadium until weather officials gave the all-clear.
Severe Midwest Storms
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