Tropical Storm Erin intensified to become the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, with Caribbean residents bracing for what forecasters warn could become a dangerous Category 3 storm as early as Sunday.
The National Hurricane Center confirmed Hurricane Erin reached sustained winds of 75 mph Friday morning, with the storm currently located approximately 460 miles east of the nearest Caribbean islands, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/hurricanes/tropical-storm-erin-expected-strengthen-first-atlantic-hurricane-2025-rcna225175" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NBC News reported</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hurricane <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Erin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Erin</a> Advisory 17: Erin Becomes the First Hurricane of the 2025 Season. Expected to Pass Near Or North of the Leeward Islands On Saturday. <a href="https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb">https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb</a>
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1956367281778253889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
According to the <a href="https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2025-08-14-tropical-storm-hurricane-erin-caribbean">Weather Channel</a>, next week, &#8220;Erin is expected to pass between North Carolina and Bermuda,&#8221; with several northern Caribbean islands likely impacted, and forecasters are noting there remains some uncertainty regarding the hurricane&#8217;s impact on the U.S. East Coast.
&#8220;Erin is turning toward the west-northwest as it strengthens. This path will take Erin toward progressively warmer waters, which, in tandem with low wind shear, should allow Erin to become a major hurricane this weekend as it makes a close brush, or travels just north of the Caribbean islands,&#8221; The Weather Channel added.
Given its current trajectory through warm water in the open ocean, the National Hurricane Center projects Hurricane Erin reaching Category 4 status as early as next week.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: Erin has been upgraded to a Category 1 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.
It is the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season.
Erin is forecast to become a Major Hurricane late weekend/early next week, topping out as a Category 4. <a href="https://t.co/FeSdBfnHWd">pic.twitter.com/FeSdBfnHWd</a>
— MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MyRadarWX/status/1956367640659734666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for several Caribbean islands, including Anguilla, Barbuda, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten, meaning tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours, Fox Weather <a href="https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/prep-file-hurricane-erin-becomes-first-hurricane-2025-atlantic-season">reported</a>.
The system is forecast to dump between two and four inches of rain in its early stages, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to six inches, potentially triggering flash/urban flooding, landslides, and mudslides across the northernmost Leeward Islands, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and southern and eastern Puerto Rico, per NBC.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=summer&amp;utm_content=editorialsummersale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">End of Summer Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
The disturbance that eventually became Hurricane Erin caused significant destruction in the African Cabo Verde islands earlier this week. Images from the island of São Vicente showed extensive flooding with muddy water rushing through streets and damaging homes, killing multiple people, per Fox Weather.
Emergency management officials in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are urging residents to review hurricane plans and secure emergency supplies despite forecasts showing the storm&#8217;s center remaining offshore.

National Hurricane Center Monitors Tropical Storm Erin

First 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Barrels Toward Caribbean, Forecasters Warn Of Rapid Intensification

Hurricane

Natural Disaster

North Carolina

Puerto Rico

Severe Weather

U.S.

Tsunami waves caused by a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Russia hit Hawaii, California, and Washington late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Maui reported waves as high as 5.7 feet, while Crescent City, California, saw waves up to 3.6 feet, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/live-updates-hawaii-tsunami-warning-hours-russia-earthquake-rcna221881">reported</a>. While the strongest tsunami surges appear to be over for Hawaii, Alaska, and much of the West Coast, <a href="https://www.tsunami.gov/">warnings</a> remain in effect for parts of Northern California, including Eureka and Crescent City.
The National Weather Service office in Eureka, California, said early Wednesday morning that &#8220;Tsunami activity is continuing to build this morning as we approach the 4 AM minor high tide.&#8221;
&#8220;Continue to avoid beaches and harbors as tsunami activity will persist,&#8221; the NWS added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Tsunami activity is continuing to build this morning as we approach the 4 AM minor high tide. Maximum confirmed heights for our coast so far:
Crescent City: 3.6 Ft Humboldt Bay: 1.2 Ft Arena Cover: 3.0 Ft
Continue to avoid beaches and harbors as tsunami activity will persist. <a href="https://t.co/ellGAUW9C7">pic.twitter.com/ellGAUW9C7</a>
&mdash; NWS Eureka (@NWSEureka) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSEureka/status/1950493912381919733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The NWS issued a strong warning for Crescent City and Humboldt Bay just after midnight local time, saying, &#8220;The first Tsunami waves are beginning to impact the coast with clear waves being recorded at the Crescent City and Humboldt Bay tide gauges. Waves will continue to build in through the night and will become more dangerous as we approach high tide. Stay away from beaches!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The first Tsunami waves are beginning to impact the coast with clear waves being recorded at the Crescent City and Humboldt Bay tide gauges. 
Waves will continue to build in through the night and will become more dangerous as we approach high tide. Stay away from beaches! <a href="https://t.co/EKR5gZukCH">pic.twitter.com/EKR5gZukCH</a>
&mdash; NWS Eureka (@NWSEureka) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSEureka/status/1950463263902204270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Northern California is especially prone to damage from tsunamis, as waves are often stronger in the area and reach higher in harbors than in other parts of the West Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/07/29/magnitude-8-7-earthquake-russia-tsunami-alert/85432493007/">reported</a>.
No deaths or severe structural damage have been reported in Alaska, Hawaii, or the West Coast as of Wednesday morning. Evacuation orders for Hawaii were <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/07/29/magnitude-8-7-earthquake-russia-tsunami-alert/85432493007/">lifted</a> hours after they were issued as the surge calmed. Emergency officials in the state said that they did not expect any widespread flooding, giving residents the all-clear to return to their homes, but adding that people should &#8220;remain cautious in or near the water. &#8230; Stay away from beaches, shorelines, and out of the ocean.&#8221;
Tsunami waves hit Washington state shortly after midnight local time, but officials said that though &#8220;strong and unusual&#8221; currents were likely, they did not expect any coastal inundation. For Oregon, officials downgraded a tsunami watch to an advisory, but still warned people to stay away from the shore.
While Alaska&#8217;s warning was also downgraded to an advisory, forecasters said that currents at beaches, inlets, and harbors could remain dangerous for days. The coast of British Columbia, Canada, also remains under a tsunami advisory.
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake off of Russia&#8217;s remote east coast was in the top 10 strongest earthquakes in recorded history, and the biggest since 2011. Japan and some Pacific islands also issued tsunami warnings and advisories after the quake. Waves reached the U.S. territory of Guam in the early morning hours, with waves reaching up to a foot high and bringing the potential of minor flooding and strong currents. As tsunami alerts went out, nearly two million people in Japan were told to evacuate. The country later <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c3r4x9yrrg4t">downgraded</a> its warnings to advisories.

Tsunami

Tsunami Waves Crash Into West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii

Alaska

California

flooding

Hawaii

National Weather Service

Oregon

Washington State

At least two people are dead after heavy rains triggered widespread flooding in the New York City area and beyond, officials confirmed on Tuesday, after more than two inches of rain fell in one hour on Monday night, the second-wettest hour ever recorded in the city.
In Plainfield, New Jersey, about 30 miles away from New York City, flooding swept away a vehicle, killing two people inside.
Subway service was delayed on multiple lines Monday night at the height of the storm, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nyc-subway-station-flooding-service-alerts/">reported</a>. The downpour flooded multiple stations in Manhattan.
&#8220;The New York City sewer system, the storm water system, accommodates about an inch and a half to an inch and three quarters an hour,&#8221; Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair and CEO Janno Lieber told CBS News. &#8220;Last night, in that one hour, we had well over 2 inches of rain. So what happens is the system backs up into the subway.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Intense rainfall over New York caused severe flooding in the city, sending water gushing into a subway train platform as authorities issued several flash flood warnings across the New York City metropolitan area <a href="https://t.co/so3YNCJWgg">pic.twitter.com/so3YNCJWgg</a>
— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1945026799135576435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The flooding left some riders stranded, while others navigated pools of water on still-functioning platforms. Subway lines restored service Monday night with delays.
New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency as multiple counties were under flash flood warnings. He attributed the storm damage to climate change, saying, &#8220;We New Jersey, we America, we the globe, are getting dragged by climate,&#8221; The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07/15/nyregion/new-york-jersey-floods">reported</a>.
Rescue crews pulled drivers from stalled cars while roads shut down. Authorities launched boats into flooded streets after a river overflowed, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/new-jersey-flash-flooding-rescues/">according</a> to CBS News.
Rafts, a giant truck, and a frontloader rescued people.
Conditions are expected to clear on Tuesday as the storm shifts southward.
The flooding comes after flash floods hit Texas, killing more than 130 people, ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/texas-flooding-live-updates/?id=123729682">reported</a>. More than 100 people remain missing.

Phil Murphy declares state of emergency amid flooding, thunderstorms in New Jersey

WATCH: Torrential Rains Flood NYC Subways, 2 Dead in New Jersey

Floods

New Jersey

New York

Subway

President Donald Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, traveled to Central Texas on Friday, one week after sudden catastrophic flooding swept through multiple counties, killing at least 121 people and destroying homes and businesses.
The president and first lady flew into San Antonio and then <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1943722271979221181">boarded</a> Marine One, which took them 60 miles northwest to Kerrville, Texas, the small town that took the brunt of the flooding last week. Of the 120 people who have been reported dead throughout the state, 96 of them — including 36 children — were killed in Kerr County, where Kerrville is the county seat.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> arrive at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas <a href="https://t.co/bqv0xsvGTX">pic.twitter.com/bqv0xsvGTX</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1943720900508950614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
More than 170 people are still missing in the region as search teams comb the devastated area. Responders are still searching for five young girls who were attending Camp Mystic and one counselor, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-floods-missing-people-death-toll-climbs/">reported</a>.
&#8220;As a nation, we mourn for every single life that was swept away in the flood, and we pray for the families that are left behind,&#8221; Trump said at a press conference with emergency responders in Kerville, alongside Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. &#8220;It&#8217;s amazing, the incredible spirit from those families. I don&#8217;t even know they do it.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;As a nation, we mourn for every single life that was swept away in the flood and we pray for the families that were left behind.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SCN4YvuPDh">pic.twitter.com/SCN4YvuPDh</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1943761609114935592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The president said that before the press conference, he and the first lady &#8220;spent a lot of time with&#8221; the families of victims. Trump also praised the first responders who saved hundreds of lives in the flood.
Over the weekend, Trump <a href="https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20250706/president-donald-j-trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-texas">declared</a> a major disaster in Texas, allowing federal assistance to flow to the state.
“Nobody ever saw a thing like this coming,” Trump <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-plans-tour-texas-flood-damage-scope-disaster-123666823">told</a> NBC News on Thursday. &#8220;This is a once-in-every-200-year deal.”
Floodwaters rose over 30 feet in an hour in some areas along the Guadaloupe River, giving many people staying near the river over the July Fourth holiday weekend little to no chance to evacuate before the water overtook them. At Camp Mystic, a Christian girls&#8217; summer camp in Kerr County, the devastation was unfathomable, with 27 campers and counselors dying in the flooding.
In the aftermath of the flooding, the Trump administration has faced criticism for cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS), with some Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), questioning whether an understaffed NWS sent flood warnings too late for many people in the path of the disaster. The White House <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-pushes-back-nws-criticism-texas-flooding/story?id=123544699">shot back</a> at such criticism. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this week, &#8220;Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning.&#8221;
The National Weather Service Employees Organization, which represents NWS employees, also pushed back against allegations that Trump&#8217;s staffing cuts hindered the service&#8217;s ability to issue timely warnings.
“The WFOs [weather forecasting offices] had adequate staffing and resources as they issued timely forecasts and warnings leading up to the storm,” <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/national-weather-service-nws-staff-cuts-trump-budget-texas-floods-rcna217139">said</a> Tom Fahy, the president of the NWS Employee Organization.
In a statement to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-pushes-back-nws-criticism-texas-flooding/story?id=123544699">ABC News</a>, the National Weather Service added, &#8220;Flash Flood Warnings were issued on the night of July 3 and in the early morning of July 4, giving preliminary lead times of more than three hours before warning criteria were met.&#8221;

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump

Trump Tours Texas Flood Zone As Death Toll Reaches 121

Disasters

Donald Trump

Executive

Melania Trump

Texas

Just days before central Texas was hit with major flooding when Tropical Storm Barry dumped 15 inches of rain over parts of Kerr County, Rainmaker Technology Corporation flew a small plane over Runge, Texas, to release silver iodide into two clouds in hopes of producing some rain for the area that was facing a drought, The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/07/10/texas-floods-cloud-seeding/">reported</a>.
Runge is 100 miles southeast of Kerr County, where at least 96 people, including 36 children, perished in the once-in-a-century flooding over the July Fourth weekend. But did Rainmaker&#8217;s weather manipulation project play any part in the deadly flood? That&#8217;s the question some Americans — and several lawmakers — are asking amid the controversy over the Texas flooding.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin addressed concerns over weather modification and geoengineering in a video posted to X on Thursday, announcing that the Trump administration is releasing everything it knows on the topics.
&#8220;EPA shares the significant reservations many Americans have when it comes to geoengineering activities,” <a href="https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-new-online-resources-giving-americans-total-transparency-issues">said</a> Zeldin.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Trump EPA is committed to total transparency. I tasked my team <a href="https://twitter.com/EPA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EPA</a> to compile everything we know about contrails and geoengineering to release to you now publicly. I want you to know EVERYTHING I know about these topics, and without ANY exception! <a href="https://t.co/izKBz0lFvr">https://t.co/izKBz0lFvr</a> <a href="https://t.co/FkOCgBm3K9">pic.twitter.com/FkOCgBm3K9</a>
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) <a href="https://twitter.com/epaleezeldin/status/1943322077152313855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) <a href="https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1941482077729255695">introduced</a> legislation over the weekend &#8220;that prohibits the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere for the express purpose of altering weather, temperature, climate, or sunlight intensity.&#8221;
&#8220;We must end the dangerous and deadly practice of weather modification and geoengineering,&#8221; Greene said.
Rainmaker CEO Augustus Doricko <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6375463972112">appeared</a> on Fox News host Will Cain&#8217;s show on Wednesday to respond to the criticism of his company&#8217;s operations in Texas and explain that Rainmaker did not add precipitation to the region of Texas slammed by flooding.
&#8220;The question is whether or not Rainmaker cloud seeding on July 2 contributed to storms that occurred on July 4,&#8221; Cain said. &#8220;Did it enhance, did it intensify what we saw some 36 to 48 hours later?&#8221;
&#8220;Unequivocally, our cloud-seeding operations on July 2 did not impact the flooding that occurred later,&#8221; Doricko replied. &#8220;And that said, my heart and prayers are still with all the people of Texas, and all of the families that have been affected. It was a tragedy.&#8221;
Doricko said that his company complies with licensing requirements put forward by Texas, requiring them to suspend operations in areas where the National Weather Service issues flash flood or severe storm warnings.
&#8220;Our meteorologists actually proactively suspended operations a day before the National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings, so we were ahead of the curve there,&#8221; Doricko added. &#8220;And even so, the precipitation that we induced, the very best operations can induce tens of millions of gallons of precipitation over hundreds of square miles. That is de minimis relative to the remnants of the tropical storm that came in and dumped trillions of gallons of precipitation.&#8221;
Some atmospheric scientists agree with Doricko, arguing that Rainmaker&#8217;s cloud-seeding operation could not have affected the flooding in Texas two days later.
“The amount of energy involved in making storms like that is astronomical compared to anything you can do with cloud seeding,” Bob Rauber, a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign atmospheric science emeritus professor, told the Post. “We’re talking about a very small increase on a natural process at best.”
<h3>How does cloud seeding work?</h3>
Researchers in the United States first began experimenting with cloud seeding in the 1940s. The rain-inducing weather manipulation tactic works by sending an airplane or drones into clouds armed with small amounts of silver iodide, a chemical compound that helps form ice crystals in clouds that eventually lead to the clouds producing snow and rain. Cloud seeding can also be done through ground generators that release silver iodide into the atmosphere.
The United States military used cloud seeding during the Vietnam War, hoping to prolong the monsoon season, which would slow down the enemy&#8217;s supply lines by saturating roads and washing out river crossings.
<h3>Is cloud seeding effective?</h3>
A <a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-107328#:~:text=Cloud%20seeding%20may%20increase%20water,from%200%20to%2020%20percent.">report</a> published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 2024 said that cloud seeding &#8220;may increase water availability and result in economic, environmental, and human health benefits,&#8221; but it admits that &#8220;it is difficult to evaluate the effects of cloud seeding due to limitations of effectiveness research.&#8221;
Long-term <a href="https://www.dri.edu/cloud-seeding-program/what-is-cloud-seeding/">projects</a> over the Nevada mountains have shown that cloud seeding can increase snowpack by 10% or more each year, and a 10-year cloud-seeding project in the Sierra Madre Range in Wyoming showed a 15% increase in snowpack. The benefits of cloud seeding include supplementing the water supply and fighting off droughts and wildfires, especially in the Western United States.
&#8220;My intention is to serve God,&#8221; Doricko told Cain when asked if his cloud-seeding technology is getting too close to trying to play God.
&#8220;I think that in Genesis 1:26-28 and then throughout the Psalms and the rest of the Bible, God tells us to take dominion over and steward creation for our sake, creation itself, and then to honor him. And so if there are droughts and we have the tools to mitigate the damage done by them&#8230;then we should deploy those for the sake of tending to and stewarding the world.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Cain: Are you playing god? Are you messing with things you should not be messing with when it comes to the weather? <a href="https://t.co/13fpcX6RcI">pic.twitter.com/13fpcX6RcI</a>
&mdash; Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1943051093736608076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h3>Are there risks to cloud seeding?</h3>
Some scientists have expressed <a href="https://thebulletin.org/2022/08/dodging-silver-bullets-how-cloud-seeding-could-go-wrong/">concern</a> that cloud seeding, if implemented at a large scale, could be used by governments for nefarious purposes. Along with cloud seeding being used to induce rain, it can also divert rainfall from certain areas, as was done by the Chinese government to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/08/olympics20081">clear skies</a> for major events during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
In 2009, an unusually massive blizzard slammed China in the country&#8217;s dry northern region, and the government-run media pointed to China&#8217;s weather modification as likely playing a part in the storm, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125814710015847539">reported</a>. China&#8217;s Weather Modification Office, however, denied involvement in the blizzard.
The silver iodide used in cloud seeding has also been the subject of debate, since silver iodide is a toxic chemical. Proponents of cloud seeding argue that the amount of silver iodide used for the practice is so small that it has no measurable effect on humans or the environment, but some studies have pointed to potential risks for aquatic life from silver iodide in an area that gets repeated exposure.

Texas rain

Controversy Erupts Over Weather Modification Following Texas Flooding

Weather

Just days after flash floods ravaged central Texas — leaving at least 100 people killed and more than 160 still missing — a similar warning went out along New Mexico&#8217;s Ruidoso River as it rose rapidly on Tuesday.
The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque posted a warning as the river began to rise, warning residents to avoid the area and not to make any effort to drive through the floodwaters.
&#8220;A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO! A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY remains in effect! Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW! Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!&#8221; the initial post read.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO! A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY remains in effect! Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW! Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nmwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nmwx</a>
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSAlbuquerque/status/1942690477632893088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Additional warnings came out a short time later, showing just how quickly the river was rising.
&#8220;The flood wave on the Rio Ruidoso has reached the Hollywood gage. Stay away from the river! This is a look at the change in the river depth in just 30 minutes, courtesy of the USGS!,&#8221; the post read. Side by side photos showed the change over 30 minutes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Another 30 minutes later and it&#8217;s hard to tell where the riverbed is. The river is now in major flood stage at over 15 feet. Stay away from the river! Seek higher ground NOW! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nmwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nmwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/gd3ecndelG">pic.twitter.com/gd3ecndelG</a>
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSAlbuquerque/status/1942706313244361145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A follow-up post showed a photo taken after another 30 minutes, and the river bed was even higher: &#8220;Another 30 minutes later and it&#8217;s hard to tell where the riverbed is. The river is now in major flood stage at over 15 feet. Stay away from the river! Seek higher ground NOW!&#8221; the NWS warned.
The latest update showed data indicating that the river&#8217;s 20.24 foot provisional crest on Tuesday was a full five feet higher than last year&#8217;s 15.86 foot crest on July 20, 2024.
&#8220;The Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood reached a provisional crest of 20.24 feet this afternoon while significant flash flooding was occurring. If this is confirmed, it would be a record high crest (compared to last year&#8217;s crest of 15.86 feet on July 20th),&#8221; the NWS announced.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood reached a provisional crest of 20.24 feet this afternoon while significant flash flooding was occurring . If this is confirmed, it would be a record high crest (compared to last year&#8217;s crest of 15.86 feet on July 20th). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NMwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NMwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/QHtTrXLf3H">pic.twitter.com/QHtTrXLf3H</a>
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSAlbuquerque/status/1942733999396286668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ANOTHER Catastrophic Flood event unfolding NOW this Tuesday evening in New Mexico. The Ruidoso River in NM rose by 20 feet+ in less than an hour shattering a record. Videos coming in now breaking of homes floating down the Ruidoso River. Several inches of rain has fallen on burn… <a href="https://t.co/7yZufCdejH">pic.twitter.com/7yZufCdejH</a>
— Noah Bergren (@NbergWX) <a href="https://twitter.com/NbergWX/status/1942721251954332091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Flooding in Ruidoso

‘Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW’: Dramatic Ruidoso River Rise Sets Off Flash Floods In New Mexico

'Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW': Dramatic Ruidoso River Rise Sets Off Flash Floods In New Mexico

New Mexico

Camp Mystic, the Christian summer camp for young girls at the center of the catastrophic flooding in Central Texas, said on Monday that the death toll of campers and counselors has risen to 27.
The camp posted an <a href="https://www.campmystic.com/">update</a> on its website Monday morning, revealing the current death toll and adding, &#8220;Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.&#8221;
&#8220;We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,&#8221; Camp Mystic added. &#8220;We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level.&#8221;
The record-breaking torrent from the Guadalupe River reaped <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/search-for-missing-texas-flood-victims-intensifies-as-death-toll-rises?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Search+For+Missing+Texas+Flood+Victims+Intensifies+As+Death+Toll+Rises">destruction</a> over the July Fourth weekend, with Camp Mystic and the surrounding area of Kerrville facing the brunt of the devastation. People in the camp had little time to flee as the river rose more than 30 feet in an hour in some spots during the middle of the night.
Throughout Central Texas, at least 82 people have been killed in the flooding. In Kerr County alone, where the camp is located, 68 people have been confirmed dead, 28 of whom were children. It&#8217;s unclear if Camp Mystic&#8217;s update adds to the total death toll or if the 27 campers and counselors were already included. It&#8217;s also unclear if any campers are still missing.
Some of the young girls who were killed in the flooding have been identified, including 8-year-old Renee Smajstrla, 9-year-old Lila Bonner, 8-year-old Eloise Peck, 9-year-old Janie Hunt, and Sarah Marsh, who was about to start third grade.
The camp&#8217;s director, Richard &#8220;Dick&#8221; Eastland, died while trying to rescue campers from the floodwaters.
&#8220;He died doing what he’d done for 50 years—protecting the girls of Camp Mystic,&#8221; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ryanwolftvnews/posts/1260843148735770?ref=embed_post">wrote</a> FOX San Antonio anchor Ryan Wolf. &#8220;Richard &#8216;Dick&#8217; Eastland, beloved camp director and co-owner, was swept away in the Hill Country floods while trying to reach campers in danger. His final act was one of courage, devotion, and love.&#8221;
Counselor Chloe Childress, who had just graduated from high school, was also identified as a victim who &#8220;lost her life upholding this selfless and fierce commitment to others.&#8221;
“Chloe Childress lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, unending grace, and abiding faith. Returning as a counselor to the place she loved so dearly, Chloe was looking forward to dedicating her summer days to loving and mentoring young girls at Camp Mystic,” the Childress family said in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmandaHTV/posts/%EF%B8%8Frest-in-peace-chloe-childress%EF%B8%8F-the-camp-mystic-counselor-is-being-honored-by-he/1151242190156476/">statement</a>. “Our family was shocked to hear of the horrific tragic flooding in the hill country, and we were devastated to learn that our precious Chloe was among the victims. While we know that her joy is now eternal and her faith has become sight, our hearts are shattered by this loss and the similar heartbreak of other families like ours.”

US-FLOOD-WEATHER

‘Unimaginable Tragedy’: Camp Mystic Says 27 Campers And Counselors Killed In Sudden Flash Floods

Death

At least 82 people have been found dead from the catastrophic flooding that hit Central Texas over the July Fourth holiday, and the search continues for missing victims.
Among the missing are 10 girls who were attending Camp Mystic, a Christian girls&#8217; camp in Kerrville, the small town that took the brunt of the record-breaking flash flooding, FOX 26 Houston <a href="https://www.fox26houston.com/news/live-updates-texas-flooding-more-than-80-people-dead-10-girls-still-missing">reported</a>. Rescuers intensified their search efforts on Monday as the region faced more rain and possible flooding into the early morning hours.
Most of the deaths reported have come from Kerr County, where at least 68 people have died after the Guadalupe River rose more than 30 feet in an hour in some areas. Of the 68 deaths there, 28 were children, including two sisters whose bodies were found 15 miles from where the flood waters washed them away from a cabin near the river, according to the <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/sisters-found-hands-locked-together-following-20630269.php">Houston Chronicle</a>. Blair and Brooke Harber, ages 11 and 13, were found clinging to each other while holding rosaries, their aunt said. The aunt, Jennifer Harber, said that Brooke sent a final text to her family at 3:30 a.m., saying, &#8220;I love you.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“Blair and Brooke Harber clung to each other as they were swept away by ravaging floods in Kerr County early Friday with rescuers discovering the bodies of the 11- and 13-year-old sisters from Dallas with rosaries and hands locked together” <a href="https://t.co/afEj0trvvc">https://t.co/afEj0trvvc</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1942043307552501959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The girls&#8217; parents, RJ and Annie, were staying in a different cabin slightly farther from the river, the WSJ <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/a-texas-dad-tried-to-kayak-to-his-daughters-the-girls-texted-i-love-you-99eaaaaf?mod=article_inline">reported</a>. When RJ woke up to pounding rain and flood waters pouring into the cabin, he borrowed a kayak, a life vest, and a flashlight to help alert other sleeping families to the flooding and attempt to reach his daughters. But the water was moving too rapidly, and debris, including floating vehicles and other cabins, was piling up.
“There were cars floating at me and trees floating at me. I knew if I took even one stroke further, it was gonna be a death sentence,” RJ said.
Authorities also confirmed on Sunday that the dead body of a Camp Mystic counselor who had just graduated from high school was found. Chloe Childress &#8220;lost her life upholding this selfless and fierce commitment to others,&#8221; according to the Kinkaid School, where Childress had attended.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chloe Childress, a counselor at Camp Mystic, was killed during the devastating flooding in Hunt, Texas, over the holiday weekend, according to a representative of her high school.
Read more: <a href="https://t.co/tW5rujrFKn">https://t.co/tW5rujrFKn</a> <a href="https://t.co/WKNUjMkxs6">pic.twitter.com/WKNUjMkxs6</a>
— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1942037657183195237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Chloe Childress lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, unending grace, and abiding faith. Returning as a counselor to the place she loved so dearly, Chloe was looking forward to dedicating her summer days to loving and mentoring young girls at Camp Mystic,&#8221; the Childress family said in a statement. &#8220;Our family was shocked to hear of the horrific tragic flooding in the hill country, and we were devastated to learn that our precious Chloe was among the victims. While we know that her joy is now eternal and her faith has become sight, our hearts are shattered by this loss and the similar heartbreak of other families like ours.&#8221;
The flooding has also devastated other counties in Central Texas. In Travis County, five deaths have been reported, three people have died in Burnet County, two more deaths were confirmed in Williamson County, and Kendall and Tom Green Counties each reported one death due to the flooding.
Authorities have rescued more than 850 people trapped by floodwaters. One U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/an-american-hero-kristi-noem-praises-coast-guard-rescue-swimmer-for-braving-texas-floodwaters">credited</a> with saving the lives of 165 flood victims.
“This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene,&#8221; said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. &#8220;Scott Ruskan is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG.”
President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/god-bless-texas-trump-issues-disaster-declaration-as-texas-reels-amid-devastating-floods?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=%E2%80%98GOD+BLESS+TEXAS%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+Issues+Disaster+Declaration+As+Texas+Reels+Amid+Devastating+Floods">signed</a> a disaster declaration for Kerr County on Sunday, directing federal resources to support the area&#8217;s recovery. Trump also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-shares-plan-to-visit-site-of-texas-flood-damage?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Trump+Shares+Plan+To+Visit+Site+Of+Texas+Flood+Damage">said</a> that he expects to visit the devastated region on Friday.
“We wanted to leave a little time. I would’ve done it today, but we’d just be in their way,” the president said.

Death Toll Rises After Flash Floods In Texas Hill Country

Search For Missing Texas Flood Victims Intensifies As Death Toll Rises

President Donald Trump issued a disaster declaration for Kerr County, Texas, on Sunday after flooding devastated communities along the Guadalupe River in the central part of the state.
Trump&#8217;s declaration, first posted to his Truth Social platform came after reports confirmed that 69 people — at least 15 of them children — had been killed in the flash floods when the Guadalupe River rose more than 20 feet in less than forty-five minutes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/T1NtzlKPeb">pic.twitter.com/T1NtzlKPeb</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1941875029932658927?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I just signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County, Texas, to ensure that our Brave First Responders immediately have the resources they need. These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing,&#8221; Trump posted. &#8220;The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was on the ground yesterday with Governor Greg Abbott, who is working hard to help the people of his Great State. Our incredible U.S. Coast Guard, together with State First Responders, have saved more than 850 lives. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!&#8221;
Trump also sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) informing him that the disaster declaration had been issued, opening up federal resources to the areas in Texas who were impacted by the floods.
Underneath the typed text of the letter — which detailed what federal funding would be made available and how it was to be distributed — the president included a handwritten note to Abbott, saying, &#8220;Our wonderful Sec. Kristy Noem is available at all times.&#8221;
According to the most recent reports, the death toll has risen to 69 — and there are still eleven campers and one counselor missing from Camp Mystic. Additional flash flood warnings were issued on Sunday for parts of Tarrant and Johnson Counties, some 150 miles from the initial flooding.

King Willem-Alexander Of The Netherlands And Queen Maxima Invite Heads Of State And Government To A Dinner During The NATO Summit

‘GOD BLESS TEXAS’: Trump Issues Disaster Declaration As Texas Reels Amid Devastating Floods

'GOD BLESS TEXAS': Trump Issues Disaster Declaration As Texas Reels Amid Devastating Floods

Politics

Multiple people are reportedly dead in Central Texas after a flash flood raised the Guadalupe River to its second-highest recorded level in history on Friday morning.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Guadalupe River has now reached its 2nd highest flood stage ever.
Kerr County leaders are calling this &#8220;catastrophic flooding.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ra5isDAO8F">pic.twitter.com/ra5isDAO8F</a>
— Gage Goulding &#8211; KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) <a href="https://twitter.com/GageGoulding/status/1941131636479041889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Life-threatening flood on the Guadalupe River this morning. 2nd highest river height exceeding 1987 flood. This video from Kerrville.
🎥 Shelley Parker<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/txwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#txwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/natwxdesk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@natwxdesk</a> <a href="https://t.co/8n6vFwqpzN">pic.twitter.com/8n6vFwqpzN</a>
— Chris Suchan (@ChrisSuchanWOAI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisSuchanWOAI/status/1941113976567570706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“This is a very dangerous and life-threatening flood event along the Guadalupe River! Move to higher ground! The National Weather Service in Austin and San Antonio stated. “More than 14 inches of rain have fallen in portions of San Angelo in the last 24 hours,” FOX West Texas <a href="https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/weather/san-angelo-flooding-rain-totals/504-b17e9d18-1660-49a6-85d1-0e41ca62a7bd">reported</a> at 9 a.m. Friday.
“This is a catastrophic flooding event in Kerr County,” the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office <a href="applewebdata://9A0671C6-77CE-4126-9533-C71B6B14BAB7/v">posted</a> on Facebook. “We can confirm fatalities but will not release further information until next of kin are notified. Our Office is working with a wide variety of local and state agencies to respond to calls and rescues. The entire county is an extremely active scene. Residents are encouraged to shelter in place and not attempt travel. Those near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River should immediately move to higher ground.”
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-2388">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
The Guadalupe River reached a level where it crested its banks and even surpassed the level of the famous 1987 flood. “Hundreds of other people along the Guadalupe River and its tributaries that night and morning had to be evacuated. The 1987 Guadalupe Flood is unfortunately known for the tragic loss of 10 teenagers&#8217; lives and 33 other injuries when a bus and van leaving a church camp encountered the flood waters,” the National Weather Service <a href="https://www.weather.gov/ewx/wxevent-19870717">recalled</a>.
“The police in Kerrville, Texas, about 58 miles northwest of San Antonio, <a href="https://archive.is/o/ANCpA/https:/www.facebook.com/KerrvillePD/posts/1176907247811389?ref=embed_post">said on social media</a> that they were working with the Kerrville Fire Department to evacuate residents, noting that ‘many roads and streets are flooding in town,’” The New York Times <a href="applewebdata://9A0671C6-77CE-4126-9533-C71B6B14BAB7/v">reported</a>.
The city of Kerrville issued a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1173857168105654&amp;set=a.249339563890757">disaster declaration</a>.
“Our crews are actively working to restore power in areas that are accessible and safe to enter,” AEP Texas stated. “We understand the inconvenience extended outages may cause and apologize to those who may be affected. However, the safety of the public and our personnel remains our top priority.”

Texas flooding

Flooding In Texas Causes Multiple Fatalities As Guadalupe River Surges To Record Levels

Deadly tornadoes and violent storms tore through the South and Midwest on Thursday, killing at least six people in a “generational flooding” forecasted to continue to devastate the region in the days to come.
Violent winds and tornadoes killed at least six people when storms began late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, with tornadoes in Arkansas launching debris nearly 5 miles above the ground.
A Tennessee man and his 16-year-old daughter were killed after a tornado tore through their modular home, according to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
The storm has left half a million customers without power across nine states early Thursday, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/deadly-storms-rip-through-the-south-and-midwest">according</a> to PowerOutage.us.
National Weather Service meteorologists <a href="https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd">warned</a> of a “life-threatening, catastrophic, and potentially historic flash flood event” through Saturday, calling it an <a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=ARZ016&amp;warncounty=ARC063&amp;firewxzone=ARZ016&amp;local_place1=Newark%20AR&amp;product1=Flood+Watch&amp;lat=35.7017&amp;lon=-91.4415">event</a> that &#8220;happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime.&#8221;
Up to 15 inches of rain is forecast for parts of Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana over the next week, with the Oklahoma-based Storm Prediction Center reporting that 90 million Americans were at risk of being directly impacted by the severe weather.
Nashville has also experienced severe flooding.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Heavy flooding due to extreme rainfall in Nashville of Tennessee, USA 🇺🇲 <a href="https://t.co/XWBzNSf7Up">pic.twitter.com/XWBzNSf7Up</a>
&mdash; Disaster News (@Top_Disaster) <a href="https://twitter.com/Top_Disaster/status/1907819101021454738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The severe weather outbreak ravaging the heartland has already put an unprecedented strain on local emergency services in multiple states, with volunteers and first responders working through dire conditions to save lives, AP News <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-weather-flash-flooding-tornadoes-7d078f3549048935fe760aacf494c96b">reported</a>.
In Jeffersontown, Kentucky, aerial photos showed a trailer sitting atop a semi-truck along with smashed vehicles under collapsed warehouse walls.
In Owasso, Oklahoma, a tornado damaged the roofs of homes and knocked down power lines, trees, and fences.
In Lake City, Arkansas, a tornado tore off roofs, destroyed homes, and even threw cars into trees.
In western Kentucky, four people were injured while taking shelter in a vehicle under a church carport, with multiple buildings and homes badly damaged.
Emergency crews in Brownsburg, Indiana, worked for hours to free a worker trapped when a roof collapsed at a distribution center.
Five semis were blown over on Interstate 65 near Lowell, Indiana, state police reported, <a href="https://wsbt.com/news/local/semis-roll-over-toppled-blown-gusty-wind-strong-crash-accident-police-investigation-i-65-lowell-lake-county-indiana">according</a> to WSBT.
Two workers were injured on Wednesday when the roof and a wall collapsed at a Sur La Table distribution center in Brownsburg, Indiana, per <a href="https://www.wtae.com/article/violent-storms-tornadoes-south-midwest/64373221">WTAE</a>.
A man and his daughter were killed as strong winds tore through his home in Moscow, TN, FOX 13 <a href="https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/storm-and-tornado-damage-across-the-mid-south/article_152c7c0a-6823-430d-aadc-ddc6a8dd3bb5.html">reported</a>.
Chief Garry Moore of the Whitewater Fire Protection District died in the storm while on duty, said Clark Parrot of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, although the exact cause of death has yet to be determined, per <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/floods/live-blog/severe-weather-live-updates-life-threatening-catastrophic-flash-floodi-rcna199446">NBC News</a>.
Water rescue teams are being staged as the Federal Emergency Management Agency prepares supplies for affected regions, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/severe-storms-south-midwest-deadly/">reported</a>.
National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Chenard warned that tornadoes are in the forecast every day through Saturday for a dozen states in the Midwest and South.

Nashville Flooding

‘Catastrophic:’ Six Dead, Half A Million Without Power As Tornadoes And Floods Hit U.S.

Tornado

At least forty people were killed as fierce winds and tornadoes ripped across the country over the weekend, slamming the Midwest and the South. 
Twenty-four of the deaths were attributed to tornadoes, while wind-fueled dust storms and fires resulted in another 16 deaths. At least 12 people <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/tornado-outbreak-live-updates-18-dead-dozens-injured/?id=119832914" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were</a> killed in Missouri, three in Alabama, eight in Kansas, six in Mississippi, four in Texas, three in Arkansas, and four in Oklahoma. 
Tens of thousands of customers are still out of power after the storms raced across the country up into Pennsylvania and New York. More than 25,000 customers are without electricity in Missouri, 56,000 in Pennsylvania, and 23,000 in New York, <a href="https://poweroutage.us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to PowerOutage.us. 
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he had activated the National Guard in response to the storms. 
“We are actively monitoring the severe tornadoes and storms that have impacted many States across the South and Midwest — 36 innocent lives have been lost, and many more devastated,” he <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114174243289152293">posted</a> on Truth Social on Sunday. “The National Guard have been deployed to Arkansas, and my Administration is ready to assist State and Local Officials, as they help their communities to try and recover from the damage. Please join Melania and me in praying for everyone impacted by these terrible storms!”
<div id="attachment_892677" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-892677" class="size-full wp-image-892677" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205026292.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="1024" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205026292.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205026292-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205026292-576x576.jpg 576w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205026292-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2205026292-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Credit: Photo by Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images.</div>
In Kansas, a wind-fueled dust storm <a href="https://www.ksn.com/news/state-regional/dust-settles-on-71-vehicle-pileup-8-fatalities-near-goodland/">caused</a> a 70-car pileup on Interstate 70 that killed eight people near Goodland on Friday. 
“I’ve seen it before, but this is probably the worst I’ve ever seen,” Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Hileman told KSNW. 
Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama were all slammed by tornadoes, as at least 56 developed across 10 different states, <a href="https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/severe-weather-tornadoes-dust-storm-blizzard-midwest-plains-southeast-east-coast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Fox Forecast Center. Southeast Missouri was hit particularly hard after storms ripped through Wayne, Ozark, Butler, and Jefferson counties. 
Videos posted online also showed widespread tornado damage in Mississippi.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
FOX Weather exclusive video shows the extensive damages in Tylertown, Mississippi after a tornado ripped through the area this weekend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mississippi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mississippi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tornado?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tornado</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Farm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Farm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FoxWeather?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FoxWeather</a> <a href="https://t.co/bwwXZqbCM9">pic.twitter.com/bwwXZqbCM9</a>
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) <a href="https://twitter.com/foxweather/status/1901393041736228951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Alabama Republican Governor Kay Ivey said on Sunday that most of her state had been impacted by the storms. 
“We have reports of damage in 52 of our 67 counties. Our damage assessment continues. The sun has risen in Alabama, though. We pray for those lives we lost, as well as those who were injured. And we pray for our first responders, emergency management officials and linemen who are doing incredible work on the ground right now,” she said.

Menu