On Sunday, May 18, Kentucky, Missouri, and Virginia in the United States were inspecting the damage in their local communities after being hit by tornadoes, and clearing the debris. Prior to this, severe storms swept through parts of the Midwest and the South, resulting in the deaths of over twenty people. At the same time, people remain highly vigilant about the upcoming round of severe weather.
Kentucky was the hardest hit, with tornadoes destroying hundreds of homes, overturning vehicles, leaving many homeless, and causing at least 19 fatalities, with the majority occurring in the southeastern part of Laurel County.
The U.S. National Weather Service predicted that starting from Sunday, new dangerous weather conditions will continue in the central region of the United States, including heavy rain, thunderstorms, and possibly more tornadoes. The weather service stated that Kentucky may experience severe storms on Monday, and the situation could worsen on Tuesday.
Authorities indicated that these storms are part of a weather system that appeared last Friday, causing seven fatalities in Missouri and two in northern Virginia. The system also triggered tornadoes in Wisconsin, brought extreme heat to Texas, and temporarily enveloped parts of Illinois, including Chicago, in dust.
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer mentioned that there were 5 fatalities, 38 injuries, and over 5000 households affected in the city. Sheriff Derick Wheetley wrote on social media that a tornado struck Scott County, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) south of St. Louis, resulting in two deaths, several injuries, and significant property damage.
The National Weather Service stated that parts of Missouri and Kansas may experience severe thunderstorm weather on Monday, accompanied by golf ball-sized hail and wind gusts of up to 60 mph (97 km/h).
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear mentioned dispatching assessment teams to the affected areas to inspect the situation, so the state can apply for federal disaster aid.
Beshear announced the identity of the 19th resident who lost their life due to the storm on Sunday. He stated that ten individuals were hospitalized, with three in critical condition. He also heavily promoted fundraising campaigns on social media to assist in covering funeral expenses for the deceased and the rebuilding efforts in the affected areas.
The United States faces around 1200 tornado attacks annually, with reports of tornadoes hitting all 50 states in the country over the years. Researchers found in 2018 that deadly tornadoes occur less frequently in traditional “Tornado Alley” states like Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, and occur more frequently in more densely populated and forested areas in the central and southern regions of the country.