April 3, 2025
This isn’t routine. This is a rare, high-impact, and potentially devastating event.
The National Weather Service office in Memphis, Tennessee. Major flooding and strong tornadoes have been hitting the central U.S., with at least five deaths reported and more than 330,000 people without power across 11 states as of Thursday morning.
Why It Matters: Meteorologists are referring to the current flurry of spring storms in the central U.S. as a “once-in-a-lifetime” flooding event. Between now and Sunday, up to 15 inches of rain is forecasted to hit areas in the Mississippi and Ohio valleys.
- On Wednesday, Arkansas issued a tornado emergency — the highest possible warning. The Kentucky governor also declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm.
- Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri reported dozens of tornadoes on Wednesday. Some areas continue to be at risk for hail and tornadoes, from central Texas to southern Pennsylvania.
- Baseball-sized hail was reported in Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee, and tennis ball–sized hail was reported in Missouri.
Read More: Powerful storm roars into central US, threatens ‘generational’ rainfall (USA Today)
Destructive tornadoes rake across central US, once-in-a-lifetime flooding possible today (CNN)
Image Credit: National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center / X
by Emily Hooker, based in Texas
