CNN
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Tornado-packed storms ripped through parts of the central United States, injuring several people, damaging homes, leaving thousands in darkness and prompting calls for overnight evacuations in North Texas and Oklahoma, authorities said.
A multi-day storm system disrupted the Memorial Day weekend, with more than 77 million people across a wide swath of the U.S. facing the threat of large hail, damaging winds and violent tornadoes on Sunday, from the central and southern plains to the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys.
The storm is expected to strengthen through Sunday and move east into the Mississippi Valley, with the Storm Prediction Center warning of “severe tornadoes, extreme hail and widespread wind damage corridors.”
A suspected tornado touched down in northern Denton County, Texas, on Saturday night, leaving an unknown number of injured, damaging several homes, overturning an 18-wheeler truck, downing trees and downing power lines, authorities said early Sunday. Police responded to multiple locations, including “homes and an RV trailer park,” county spokeswoman Dawn Cobb said in a news release.
Storm damage was reported at Ray Roberts Marina in Sanger, and the marina issued a social media warning to residents to evacuate the pier immediately.
Denton fire officials said “multiple casualties” were reported in Ray Roberts last night who may be trapped as severe weather rolled in, adding that medical personnel and other supplies were being sent to the scene.
Damage to several homes was also reported in the neighboring city of Celina, where officials said the city suffered “probable tornado activity” on Saturday.
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth issued tornado warnings for several North Texas cities late Saturday night and told residents to evacuate immediately after a tornado was seen moving east between Valley View and Sanger around 10:40 p.m.
Across the state line, damage was also reported throughout Rogers County, Oklahoma, as possible tornadoes ripped through the area, downing power lines and trees and damaging homes. In the city of Claremore, officials said there was “significant damage” and that much of the city would be without power for an “extended period of time.”
More than 200,000 homes and businesses lost power across the Plains and Missouri early Sunday morning due to severe weather, with 96,244 people without power in Missouri, 48,309 in Kansas, 30,948 in Texas and 20,678 in Oklahoma, according to poweroutage.us.
Tornado watches and warnings were issued for parts of Oklahoma and Kansas early on Sunday, with severe thunderstorm watches also in effect for parts of the east, affecting millions of people.
Denton Fire Department
The Denton Fire Department released photos early Sunday of buildings that were severely damaged by severe weather in the area.
Severe thunderstorms will continue across parts of the Mississippi River Basin through Sunday morning, then gradually weaken, but new destructive storms are expected to move in shortly thereafter.
Thunderstorms will develop across parts of the Midwest by Sunday afternoon, spreading further south and eastward during the evening and overnight. Powerful storms may eventually extend from the Great Lakes into the South on Sunday night.
The Storm Prediction Center warned of a risk of severe thunderstorms of level 4 out of 5 for parts of the Central and Southern Plains through Sunday morning, saying “an increased threat of EF2 to EF5 tornadoes and hail of 2 inches or more will be present in this area.”
Severe thunderstorms could also produce wind gusts of more than 74 mph in parts of Kansas, western Missouri and northern Oklahoma on Sunday.
Travel hubs such as Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Nashville could have to deal with destructive storms, which could lead to flight delays and cancellations.
A level 3 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms is expected to remain in effect through Monday morning for parts of the Mid-Mississippi and Ohio River basins, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The storms could bring frequent lightning, severe thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail and tornadoes.
The Storm Prediction Center noted an increased potential threat of EF2 to EF5 tornadoes, hail greater than 2 inches high and severe thunderstorm wind gusts of more than 74 mph in parts of the region.
Heavy rain is possible across parts of the Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley, mid-Mississippi Valley and the central Appalachians. These areas were at a slight risk of heavy rainfall, level 2 (out of 4), until Monday morning.
Cities under the Level 3 threat include Louisville, Kentucky, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Nashville, Tennessee, and Indianapolis. The severe weather could affect the Indianapolis 500 race, scheduled for noon ET on Sunday.
The National Weather Service in Indianapolis predicts showers and thunderstorms are expected in Speedway, Indiana, centered around 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, with an 80 percent chance of rain and maximum winds of 25 mph.
The last time the Indy 500 race was shortened due to rain was in 2007, after 166 laps, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The unofficial start of summer is bringing sweltering heat that could see some parts of the U.S. reach record high temperatures as of Monday.
Houston, New Orleans, Miami, Mobile, Alabama, Tampa, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina are among the places where warm weather over the holiday weekend felt more like July than late May.
A subtropical high pressure system over Mexico is expected to cause extreme heat watches and advisories for South Texas through Monday, according to the Storm Prediction Center. “This ridge of high pressure will produce a dangerous early spring heat wave in South Texas and South Florida,” the center said.
The Storm Prediction Center said daily maximum temperatures and heat index values could exceed 115 in some areas.
Anyone spending time outdoors or dealing with a power outage should drink plenty of water, wear light clothing, and find cooling facilities if necessary.
CNN meteorologist Elisa Raffa contributed to this report.
