Powerful storms in Central US leave 9 dead in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas

Severe weather wreaked havoc across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, leaving at least nine people dead and a trail of destruction in its wake. The powerful storms obliterated homes, destroyed a truck stop, and caused widespread damage in the central U.S.

Five of the deaths occurred in Texas near the Oklahoma border, where a tornado tore through a rural area near a mobile home park. In Oklahoma, guests at an outdoor wedding were injured, and tens of thousands of residents were left without power. The devastation was described as severe by Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington.

Multiple people were transported to hospitals in Denton County, Texas, with the full extent of injuries still unknown. Three family members were found dead in one home near Valley View. In Arkansas, at least two people were reported killed, with emergency workers still responding to calls for help.

The destruction continued a grim month of deadly severe weather in the central U.S., with tornadoes in Iowa claiming five lives earlier in the week. The storms have been part of a historically bad tornado season, exacerbated by climate change.

As the storms moved east over the Memorial Day weekend, more severe weather was expected in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky. The risk of severe weather was forecasted to move into North Carolina and Virginia on Monday.

The aftermath of the storms revealed overturned cars, collapsed garages, and damaged homes, with residents assessing the damage and emergency crews responding to calls for help. The community faces a long road to recovery as they begin to rebuild and support those affected by the devastating weather.