Tornado warnings, falling trees, and more storm threats ahead have millions on edge from Texas to South Carolina
A wild and deadly weekend across the southern U.S. has left at least two people dead, homes damaged, and nearly 150,000 residents waking up without electricity. Georgia and Mississippi both reported fatalities after trees, weakened by the storm’s relentless winds, toppled onto vehicles. And more severe weather is on the way.
One man lost his life in Banks County, Georgia, on Saturday night, crushed inside a vehicle by a falling tree. In neighboring Mississippi, a similar tragedy unfolded in Lafayette County. As grim as the news already is, forecasters warn this could be just the start.
A night of chaos and mourning
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp broke the news late Saturday, confirming that one Georgian had died as severe storms tore through the state. “Join us in praying for the loved ones of a Georgian tragically lost tonight due to the severe storms,” Kemp posted on social media.
His message, simple but heavy, captured the mood across a state still reeling.
The fatality happened in Banks County, located northeast of Atlanta. According to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, a tree crashed down onto a vehicle during the peak of Saturday’s storms, killing the person inside.
One sentence. That’s all it takes to shake a family’s world.
Meanwhile, in Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves shared that another person was killed under nearly identical circumstances in Lafayette County. Winds gusting and visibility poor, the storm left a trail of snapped trunks and tangled lines behind it.
Power grids stretched, trees snapped like matchsticks
The bigger picture? Widespread damage from Texas to the Carolinas, and that includes power lines. According to PowerOutage.us, nearly 150,000 homes and businesses were without power by Sunday morning.
By midday, workers in bucket trucks were still racing to clear debris and restore electricity, but the sheer scale of outages had power companies warning of extended delays.
A brief summary of what went down across the region:
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Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama were hammered hardest.
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Fallen trees caused most of the infrastructure damage.
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Strong wind gusts, some up to 90 miles per hour, tore roofs and flattened smaller structures.
Many residents woke up to streets blocked by fallen limbs or downed power poles. Some reported hail as large as golf balls pelting cars and windows.
Tornado hits Van Buren, Arkansas — more storms on the way
While much of the destruction came from straight-line winds, a confirmed tornado did touch down in Arkansas. The National Weather Service said an EF-1 tornado hit Van Buren, in the western part of the state, on Friday.
Winds reached up to 110 mph.
The tornado ripped into homes, sent pieces of siding flying, and injured at least one person. Photos circulating online showed trees split in half, roofs peeled back like cans, and residents gathering what little they could from the wreckage.
And here’s where it gets worse.
The National Weather Service says another round of storms is coming. Oklahoma and northern Texas are in the crosshairs for Sunday night into Monday. The forecast includes:
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Wind gusts potentially hitting 100 miles per hour
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Hail up to five inches in diameter — think baseballs, not golf balls
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Tornadoes possible, particularly in the Red River Valley
One sentence: things could get ugly again — fast.
Storm damage and forecasts by region
Here’s a regional breakdown of impact so far and what to expect over the next 48 hours:
| State | Fatalities | Current Power Outages | Severe Weather Expected? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 1 | 28,000+ | Yes |
| Mississippi | 1 | 35,000+ | Yes |
| Arkansas | 0 | 17,000+ | No |
| Texas | 0 | 41,000+ | Yes |
| South Carolina | 0 | 12,000+ | Slight Risk |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 8,000+ | High Risk |
Storm season getting nastier, earlier
While summer storms aren’t new to the South, this one hit with uncommon intensity — and a bit earlier than some meteorologists expected. Typically, storm surges like this are seen a few weeks deeper into June.
Experts suggest shifting climate patterns might be playing a role in this. Warmer Gulf waters, moist air in the upper levels, and stronger wind shear are all ingredients for violent storms. And when they come together over heavily wooded areas and crowded roadways, the results can be tragic.
One sentence again: a tree on a car changes everything.
Residents brace for what’s next
In Oklahoma and northern Texas, residents were taking warnings seriously by Sunday afternoon. Schools issued alerts, local governments pre-positioned emergency services, and grocery store aisles were quickly cleaned out of batteries and bottled water.
Even those spared on Saturday aren’t relaxing. The way these storms are moving, it’s a waiting game — one full of anxious scrolling through radar apps and listening for sirens.
One resident in Denton, Texas, summed it up in a few words: “We’re just hoping the next one misses us.”
