US – March 16th, 2025 – Updates

​On March 15, 2025, a powerful storm system swept across the U.S. Midwest and South, resulting in at least 35 fatalities and widespread destruction. The hardest-hit areas include:​people.com+1theguardian.com+1

• Missouri: Suffered the highest death toll with 12 fatalities. Tornadoes caused extensive damage, particularly in Ozark, Howell, Oregon, Shannon, Carter, Reynolds, Iron, Franklin, Jefferson, and St. Louis counties. ​en.wikipedia.org+1theguardian.com+1
• Kansas: A dust storm led to an eight-fatality pile-up involving over 71 vehicles on I-70. ​theguardian.com+1politico.com+1
• Mississippi: Reported six deaths, with tornadoes causing significant damage in Covington, Jeff Davis, and Walthall counties. ​theguardian.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1
• Arkansas: Confirmed three storm-related deaths and 29 injuries across eight counties, with tornadoes causing widespread damage. ​theguardian.com
• Texas: Experienced three fatalities due to car crashes during a dust storm in the Texas Panhandle, with one pileup involving an estimated 38 cars. ​en.wikipedia.org+2theguardian.com+2politico.com+2
• Alabama: Reported at least two fatalities, with damage in 52 of the state’s 67 counties. ​theguardian.com
• Oklahoma: Faced wildfires fueled by high winds, resulting in at least one fatality and approximately 170,000 acres burned. ​theguardian.com

This storm system also caused widespread power outages, with over 300,000 homes and businesses affected across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. ​theguardian.com

The National Weather Service has warned residents in affected areas to seek shelter in designated safe locations, such as basements or small, windowless rooms on the lowest floor of sturdy buildings, and to avoid seeking refuge in vehicles, under overpasses, or under trees. ​theguardian.com