Heavy storms swept across the middle west

More than 20 people in Kentucky and Missouri were killed after heavy storm systems, including several tornados that were swept across the middle west on Friday.

In Kentucky, around 14 people were killed by storms, and governor Andy Beshear said that the number of fatalities would probably grow.

“Kentucky, today we start with the difficult news that we have lost at least 14 of our people through the storms of the last night, but unfortunately this number is expected to grow if we receive further information. Please pray for all of our families affected,” said Beshear on Saturday in a post on the social media platform X.

The authorities in Kentucky said that there were also serious injuries after a Tornado in Laurel County was torn down late on Friday.

“The search continues in the damaged area for survivors,” said Sheriff John Root's office in a statement published on social media.

At least seven people died in Missouri and the authorities were looking for construction to the construction of people who were caught or injured for severe storms, including at least one possible tornado.

The storms were part of a storm system on Friday, which also produced Tornados in Wisconsin, left several hundred thousand customers without electricity in the Great Lakes region and brought a punishing heat wave to Texas.

The storm on Friday afternoon demolished roofs from buildings, broke out windows, tore the bricks from the sides and tore up trees and power lines. The mayor of St. Louis, Cara Spencer, said that more than 5,000 houses were affected on Friday evening and about 100,000 customers without electricity.

“This is really, really devastating,” said Spencer.

The number of injured people was not immediately known. The Barnes-Jewish Hospital received 20 to 30 patients from the storm with some in a serious state and expects the spokeswoman for the Laura High hospital to be released on Friday evening.

The St. Louis Children's Hospital received 15 patients, two of whom were expected to stay in the hospital until the weekend, she said.

In the centennial Christian Church, William Pollihan, head of the fire brigade of the city of St. Louis, told the Associated Press that three people had to be saved after part of the church collapsed.

Stacy Clark said that his mother -in -law, Patricia Penelton, died in the church. He described her as a very active volunteer of the church that had many roles, including part of the choir.

Jeffrey Simmons Sr., who lives opposite the church, heard a warning on his cell phone and then the lights went out.

“And next you know a lot of noise, heavy wind,” he said. He and his brother went into the basement. He later realized that it was worse than he thought. “Everything was torn open.”

The National Weather Service Radar stated that a tornado ended up in the St. Louis area between 2:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. in Clayton, Missouri. It received reports on damage, mainly fallen trees, said the meteorologist of the Weather Service Marshall Pfahler.

The apparent Tornado landed in the Forest Park area, where the St. Louis Zoo and the place of the World Mass and Olympic Games from 1904 were located in the same year, said Pfahler.

Christy Childs, a spokesman for Saint Louis Zoo, said in a text to the Associated Press that the zoo on Saturday would remain closed due to the trees and other damage. The children said that all animals were safe and there were no reports of significant injuries for employees, guests or animals.

“We can't definitely say whether it was a tornado or not – it was likely,” said Pfahler.

A tornado, which was hit in Scott County, about 209 kilometers south of St. Louis, killed two people, injured several others and destroyed several houses, wrote Sheriff Derick Whetley on social media.

“Our first aiders acted quickly, even when the Tornado was still active and put himself in danger to provide immediate help and care to the injured,” he said.

Radar confirmed a tornado about Venice, Illinois, around 2:50 p.m. CDT. It could be accompanied by golf ball size, said the national weather service in St. Louis. Venice is located northeast of St. Louis, directly opposite the Mississippi.

The weather service described the Tornado as “extremely dangerous” and moved east with 50 miles per hour. The tornado is part of a storm system that produced Tornados in Wisconsin to leave down trees in the region of the large lakes without electricity and brought a punishing heat wave to Texas.

Weather forecasts warned that heavy storms with hail and even hurricane winds could also limp parts of Appalachia and the middle west on Friday. Tornados were also a risk there.

The National Weather Service said that storms are likely in parts of the central Appalaches and the middle Atlantic. Inhabitants of Kentucky, Südindiana, South Illinois, parts of Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Ohio should be prepared for intensive storms that could include hail size.

The Storm Prediction Center of the Weather Service said that “strong, potentially long tornados and very large hail” can be expected. The threat to damage of winds of more than 75 miles per hour will increase this evening when storms become larger clusters.

On Friday, Appalachian Power, which serves 1 million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, presented 1,700 additional workers from neighboring pension companies on Friday evening and sent his own crews from non -affected areas to support services.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, in a contribution on the social media platform X, made the residents' attention.

“Kentucky, there is a dangerous weather system that will be moved by our state this evening. Strong winds, hail, floods and tornados are possible from 2 p.m. CT in the west of Kentucky and can reach Louisville around 5:00 p.m.,” he said.

Accommodations were opened in the Paducah area.

Faith Borden, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service Nashville Office, said on Friday that Middle Tennessee “could expect all kinds of storms. Wind up to 70 miles per hour.

In Texas there was now a braking heat. For San Antonio and Austin, heat advice with temperatures with a glossy fahrenheit of 95 degrees to 105 degrees Fahrenheit was granted. Parts of the southern east coast from Virginia to Florida fought with heat in the 90s.

The National Weather Service Office for Austin/San Antonio said on Friday that the moisture over the weekend is expected to make temperatures hotter.

“There are concerns about heat creation for people who do not take appropriate precautions outdoors,” said meteorologist Jason Runyen. He advised those affected to take breaks and stay hydrated.