Weekend storms kill at least 40 people across the south

The weakened storm system on Monday morning headed into the U.S. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. The deadly storm over the weekend spawned tornadoes, stirred up dust storms, fueled wildfires, and brought flooding across the South and Midwest. Dozens of deaths resulted from weather-related incidents:

• Officials in Missouri reported at least 12 deaths over the weekend, the most of any state. Tornados damaged hundreds of homes, schools, and businesses across 27 counties, Gov. Mike Kehoe said Sunday. More than 100 roads were closed because of damage and flooding.

• Authorities in southern Mississippi reported six deaths.

• The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management counted three deaths after a storm.

• Local media in Texas reported on car accidents that killed four people.

• State officials in Kansas said a dust storm there caused a 50-car pileup crash that killed eight people.

• Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said three people died in Alabama from the storms.

• In Oklahoma, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed that four people died due to wildfires or high winds. Fires destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in Oklahoma, including Gov. Kevin Stitt’s ranch.

What is the forecast for Monday? States along the East Coast were forecast to receive tornadoes, hail, and heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service. Fire conditions were expected to persist through Tuesday in the Central and Southern Plains as wildfires continued to burn throughout the region. Meanwhile, a Pacific storm was forecasted to move through the western part of the country Monday and Tuesday, bringing mountain snow, strong winds, and some rain.

Dig deeper: Read Grace Snell’s report in WORLD Magazine about how a lack of flood insurance left homeowners vulnerable in North Carolina.