Tornado-spawning storms leave 23 dead in two states and swaths of destruction across central US

A severe, tornado-spawning storm system ripped over the central United States, killing at least 23 people in Missouri and southeastern Kentucky as it wreaked havoc across many states.

Fourteen were dead in Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear said on X Saturday morning. "Sadly, this number is expected to grow as we receive more information," she said.

Laurel County, Kentucky Sheriff John Root reported "numerous severe injuries." He claimed a tornado hit down late Friday night and that the hunt for survivors was ongoing.

In all, significant tornadoes were reported in Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana.

Storms destroyed houses and downed power lines across the Midwest and Great Lakes, brought on by the same system that caused devastating storms and tornadoes on Thursday.

Officials in Missouri said five people were murdered in St. Louis County and two in Scott County. At least 38 people were reported injured in the city of St. Louis, Mayor Cara Spencer said in a news briefing Saturday morning. Officials expect that figure to rise.

Spencer also stated that severe weather had impacted around 5,000 structures in the city.

"Our inspectors are out there making sure that we are, first and foremost, assessing the damage to be condemning buildings, and moving through demolition and other security as we go through this," Spencer said at the briefing.

Spencer characterized the destruction around the city as "tremendous."

"I would describe this as one of the worst storms, absolutely," she said. "The devastation is truly heartbreaking, and let's not forget, people have lost their lives."

Shortly after midnight, the National Weather Service reported a "large, extremely dangerous" tornado heading east across southern Kentucky, as confirmed by radar.

Heavy damage can be observed in Somerset, a city in Pulaski County to the west of London, where emergency services have advised people to stay indoors.

“The southern side of the city has been hit by a possible tornado!” the Somerset Fire Department posted on social media around 11 p.m. Friday. "Please avoid the area, poles and power lines are down!"

A representative for both St. Louis Children's Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital stated that the hospitals had received over 60 patients in total, with the children's facility receiving 15 and Barnes-Jewish receiving 50 to 60, who were wounded as a consequence of the severe weather. Three children's hospital patients have been hospitalized, with two in serious condition, while the others have been discharged.

On Saturday, 20 million across the Southern Plains and New England are at risk of severe weather, with the strongest storms expected to affect parts of Texas and Oklahoma, where an Enhanced Risk is forecast, according to the National Weather Service. The risk region includes Dallas, Texas; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Shreveport, Louisiana; and Little Rock, Arkansas, all of which could see severe winds, huge hail, and a few tornadoes.

There is also a danger of severe weather in portions of New England on Saturday afternoon, including New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Storms in this area are expected to produce 65 mph wind gusts, quarter-sized hail, and a tornado.

Sunday's severe weather will remain across the Plains, affecting 20 million people from Nebraska to Texas.  Wichita and Topeka, Kansas; Dallas; Oklahoma City; Kansas City, Missouri; and Omaha, Nebraska will be in the risk zone, with storms capable of damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes.

This active pattern will continue into Monday, with 26 million at risk across the Plains and Midwest, including in Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Tulsa, Dallas and St. Louis.  This risk will continue to move east as the system moves, with Tuesday's impact reaching 26 million people in the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys. Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Cincinnati, Ohio are all expected to have an influence on Tuesday.

This multi-day threat will also bring heavy rain, especially over parts of the Central Plains. Localized flash flooding is anticipated over the next three days, as regions of Missouri and Arkansas might receive 4 inches or more of rain.