Apocalyptic storms have torn through numerous U.S. states, leaving at least 17 people dead as tornadoes, wildfires, and dust storms wreak havoc across the country. Missouri reported over a dozen deaths from Friday night tornadoes, with additional fatalities in Texas and Arkansas. Winds reaching hurricane strength triggered severe thunderstorms, caused fatal dust storms, and fueled over 100 wildfires,

damaging homes, overturning vehicles, and injuring many. The National Weather Service warned that more than 138 million people could be impacted by the extreme weather, stretching from the Canadian border to Texas, with gusts up to 100 mph and tornado warnings in states like Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Blizzard-like conditions are expected in colder northern areas, while the Deep South braces for potentially violent, long-track tornadoes.

Texas and Oklahoma have experienced especially harsh conditions, with Amarillo County reporting three deaths in a 38-car pileup due to a dust storm. Oklahoma saw over 130 fires and significant wind damage, leading to evacuations. Forecasters warned that destructive winds and tornadoes will continue into the weekend,

threatening cities like Jackson, Birmingham, and Hattiesburg. Fires in Roberts County, Texas, rapidly expanded to over 32 square miles, and nearly 300,000 households lost power across multiple states. Officials say the storm system’s massive scale and intensity make it unusually devastating for March, with impacts expected to continue across the central Gulf Coast, Tennessee Valley, and parts of the East Coast.