Wild Tornadoes and Heavy Rains Sweep Across Central and Southern U.S.! 🌪️☔
Hey everyone! Did you hear about the big storms hitting the central and southern parts of the United States? On Wednesday, powerful tornadoes and heavy rains caused a lot of trouble in several states. Let’s find out what happened!
What Are Tornadoes? 🌪️
A tornado is a spinning column of air that reaches from a storm cloud down to the ground. They can cause a lot of damage because they have very strong winds. Imagine a super-fast spinning top, but much bigger!
Which Areas Were Affected?
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported at least 15 tornadoes in states like Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, and more. In Kentucky’s Ballard County, one person was seriously injured. In total, eight people were hurt across Kentucky and Arkansas.
Lots of Rain and Flooding ☔
The storms didn’t just bring tornadoes—they also brought heavy rains and hail! Some areas might get up to 15 inches (that’s about 38 centimeters) of rain by the weekend. That’s a lot of water!
Power Outages and Damage
Over 400,000 homes and businesses lost power because of the storms. In Nevada, Missouri, a tornado caused major damage to several businesses and even flipped empty train cars over!
Staying Safe During Storms
When big storms like these happen, it’s important to stay safe. Here are some tips:
- Stay indoors and away from windows.
- If there’s a tornado warning, go to a basement or an inside room without windows.
- Listen to weather updates from trusted sources like the National Weather Service.
What’s Next?
The weather experts say that these storms might continue for a few more days. They are calling it a “generational flood event,” which means it’s a really big deal and doesn’t happen often. Rivers might overflow, causing more flooding.
Helping Each Other 🤝
During times like these, it’s important for communities to come together and help one another. If you live in a safe area, you might consider ways to support those who have been affected.
Stay Informed and Stay Safe!
Keep an eye on the weather reports and make sure you and your family have a plan in case of emergencies. Nature can be powerful, but when we’re prepared, we can stay safe.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
