via REUTERS
Kerry Walker checks the storm damage of his home after a fatal overnight tornado hit the area in the Alpine community near Plantersville, Alabama, U.S. March 16, 2025. Mickey Welsh/USA Today Network via REUTERS. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
On March 13, 2025, severe storms hit several central states, causing multiple wildfires to break out and evacuation orders to be sent out. 3 people were reported to be involved in fatal car accidents, and 24 separate car crashes occurred that same weekend due to the storm’s low visibility in Texas.
The following Monday, Americans were issued a tornado watch spanning across eight states in the Midwest and South. At the same time, devastation rained down on Missouri, Texas, and Arkansas. 11 deaths were reported in counties across Missouri, 3 deaths in one county in Arkansas, and 4 deaths reported by officials in Texas.
On Sunday of the same weekend in Transylvania County, North Carolina, two boys, aged 11 and 13, were tragically trapped under a fallen tree and passed away. The rest of the family evacuated safely. On X, formerly Twitter, Governor Josh Stein of North Carolina wrote, “I am heartbroken to learn that two children were killed over the weekend due to severe weather. May their memories be a blessing.”
As the storm moved farther east on Monday morning, NBC News reported that, according to PowerOutage.US, at least 120,000 customers were experiencing power outages in Pennsylvania, Missouri, New York, West Virginia, and North Carolina.
Closer to home, a tornado passed through Pico Rivera in southeast Los Angeles on March 13. The tornado was 80 yards wide and reached wind speeds of 85 miles per hour. Trees were uprooted, and multiple cars were damaged. Fortunately, no serious injuries occurred. Three hours later, an avalanche warning closed Echo Summit in South Lake Tahoe. In the Bay Area, citizens were warned of winds reaching up to 55 miles per hour in higher elevations.
As of March 21, there are at least 42 recorded deaths across the country due to storm conditions. These tragic circumstances are a cruel reminder of nature’s capabilities and how it can impact people no matter where they live.
Sources:
NBC News
Storm Prediction Center
ABC News
CBS News
The Desert Sun