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Tornado outbreak live updates: 40 dead in cross-country storm system

A new tornado watch was issued Sunday for parts of West Virginia, Ohio and PA.

Last Updated: March 16, 2025, 8:34 PM EDT

Millions of Americans across the country are on alert for a severe weather outbreak as violent, long-track tornadoes with damaging winds of up to 80 mph and large hail are expected across the Midwest and South with the cross-country storm moving east.

The same storm system delivered raging winds to the Plains states earlier, leading to wildfires and severe dust storms that left more than a dozen people dead in Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

Overall, at least 40 deaths have been recorded from the cross-country storm system.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Mar 15, 2025, 4:33 PM EDT

Damage consistent with winds of 165 mph found in Arkansas, NWS says

Tornado damage consistent with winds of 165 mph have been recorded in Cave City, Arkansas, according to the National Weather Service's tornado survey team.

People work through the debris of the Cave City Auto Parts store on March 15, 2025, after a severe weather storm Friday night in Cave City, Ark.
Staci Vandagriff/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP

"This is the very top of the EF3 scale," the NWS of Little Rock said in a post on X.

Additional surveys will continue over the coming days, the NWS said.

Mar 15, 2025, 4:23 PM EDT

Major tornado outbreak continues across the South

A line of severe thunderstorms continues to sweep across parts of the South and has already triggered multiple confirmed tornadoes in Mississippi, with damage over the past few hours.

There have been over 30 reported tornadoes across 6 states -- Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois and Indiana -- in the last 24 hours.

PHOTO: Justin Stievenart, right, uses his son, Jayson, 11, for balance while switching shoes outside of his destroyed home in Harmony Hills trailer park on March 15, 2025, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Justin Stievenart, right, uses his son, Jayson, 11, for balance while switching shoes outside of his destroyed home in Harmony Hills trailer park on March 15, 2025, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Justin was alone at home when the tornado came through and only suffered bumps and bruises.
Brad Vest/Getty Images

A "particularly dangerous situation tornado watch" remains in effect across much of Mississippi and parts of eastern Louisiana until 6 p.m. CT. Another is in effect across much Alabama, until 8 p.m. CT, including cities such as Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville and Montgomery.

Anthony Hudson, left, helps his sister, Kelsey Webb, right, search through her destroyed home inside of Harmony Hills trailer park on March 15, 2025, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Brad Vest/Getty Images

A line of severe storms is sweeping east across the region bringing the threat of strong tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, and large hail. Any stronger, slow-moving storms bringing torrential rain could also trigger areas of dangerous flash flooding in the coming hours.

The most dangerous tornado threat is now through the evening hours. The strong storms will continue to sweep across eastern Alabama and into Georgia Saturday night.

-ABC News' Daniel Peck

Mar 15, 2025, 4:13 PM EDT

Huckabee Sanders spoke with Trump

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke to President Donald Trump on the phone Saturday afternoon following Friday night’s tornados in the state, she said in a post on X.

Huckabee Sanders served as Trump's press secretary during his first term.

"He said to tell the people of Arkansas he loves them and he and his administration are here to help with whatever we need following last night’s tornadoes," she said.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh

Mar 15, 2025, 2:10 PM EDT

Multiple confirmed tornadoes in Mississippi, NWS says

Multiple tornadoes are currently on the ground in Mississippi with two "particularly dangerous situation" tornado watches currently in effect.

A large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Mendenhall, in central Mississippi, moving northeast at 45 mph. A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located 7 miles west of Tylertown, in south-central Mississippi, moving northeast at 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

PHOTO: PDS tornado watch graphic
ABC News

A third confirmed tornado was located near Okolona, in northeastern Mississippi, moving northeast at 40 mph

Another particularly dangerous situation tornado watch has just been issued across much Alabama, until 8 p.m. CT. This includes cities such as Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville and Montgomery.

This new watch is east of the existing watch across much of Mississippi and parts of eastern Louisiana until 6 p.m. CT.

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