At least 32 killed as tornadoes move through eight states

At least 32 killed as tornadoes move through eight states

At least 32 killed as tornadoes move through eight states

tornadic-funnel-swirls-across-the-field-in-wapello-county

A large storm system moved through the South and Midwest on Friday, spawning deadly tornadoes in Arkansas and Illinois.  At least 32 people have been killed as storms moved through eight states in the Midwest and the South.

At least one person was killed and more than two dozen were hurt in Little Rock, Arkansas. Meanwhile, officials reported two dead in the town of Wynne in northeastern Arkansas. Nearly 90,000 people in Arkansas were without power Friday night.

Authorities said the roof of the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, Illinois collapsed, killing one person and injuring 28. The collapse occurred as a heavy storm rolled through the area just before 8 p.m. Initial assessments indicated that a tornado had caused the damage. The theatre is located about 70 miles northwest of Chicago, and the collapse happened during a concert. An estimated 260 people were in the building at the time.   Officials said four people were killed in structural collapses in Illinois.

More than 109,000 customers in Illinois lost power in the state as of Friday night.

Authorities in Covington, Tennessee, said that the city was impassable due to down power lines and felled trees when the storm passed through. A tornado also appeared to have touched down north of Memphis in Tipton County, severely damaging several homes and structures.

Tornadoes were also reported in parts of eastern Iowa, causing sporadic damage in the region, and in Indiana; where the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado south of Indianapolis. Sullivan County in southwest Indiana was also badly hit, damaging several area homes. Search and rescue operations were still underway as of Saturday morning.

The high winds kicked-up by the storms sparked wildfires in Oklahoma. People were urged to evacuate in far northeast Oklahoma City, and portions of Interstate 35 were shut down as wind gusts reached 60mph.

The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center had forecast a large outbreak of thunderstorms with the potential to cause hail, damaging wind gusts and strong tornadoes that could move for long distances over the ground. Experts saying that these types of intense, supercell thunderstorms are likely to become more common, especially in Southern states, as global temperatures rise.

The weather service is forecasting another round of strong storms next Tuesday.

[Photo Credit: Reuters]

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