Severe weather kills at least 23 people in US Midwest and South

Parts of St Louis were left devastated (AP)

Storm systems sweeping across parts of the US Midwest and South have left at least 23 dead, including nine people who were killed after what appeared to be a tornado in south-east Kentucky.

In Kentucky, some 14 people were killed by severe weather, and the death toll is likely to rise, according to state governor Andy Beshear.

“Kentucky, we’re starting today with the tough news that we lost at least 14 of our people to last night’s storms, but sadly, this number is expected to grow as we receive more information. Please pray for all of our affected families,” Mr Beshear said on X.

Tornado Warning continues for Brevard NC until 5:30 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/xrEoTbqcJ7

— NWS Tornado (@NWStornado) May 17, 2025

Earlier, local authorities in Laurel County said nine people were killed after a tornado touched down in south-eastern Kentucky, causing structures to crumble and even flipping over a car on the main I-75 road.

Rescuers were “on the ground all night looking for possible survivors,” and the search was continuing into the morning, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deputy Gilbert Acciardo. An emergency shelter was set up at a local high school and donations of food and other necessities were arriving.

The National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that a tornado struck, but meteorologist Philomon Geertson said it was likely. The extreme weather ripped across the largely rural area and extended to the London Corbin Airport shortly before midnight.

St Louis was heavily affected (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

“Lives have been changed forever here tonight. This is a time we come together, and we pray for this community,” London Mayor Randall Weddle told WKYT-TV. “I have never personally witnessed what I’ve witnessed here tonight. There’s a lot of devastation.”

The storms were part of a weather system on Friday that killed seven people in Missouri and also spawned tornadoes in Wisconsin, left several hundred thousand customers without power in the Great Lakes region and brought a punishing heat wave to Texas.

St Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed five deaths in her city and said more than 5,000 homes were affected.

Plenty of active severe weather across the eastern third of the nation this afternoon including both severe thunderstorm and tornado watches and warnings. Keep in mind what your plans is for each, and check for the latest at https://t.co/VyWINDk3xP. pic.twitter.com/gZpRO6NCfn

— National Weather Service (@NWS) May 16, 2025

“This is truly, truly devastating,” Ms Spencer said, adding that the city was in the process of declaring an emergency and an overnight curfew Friday had been put into place in the areas with the most damage.

The number of people injured was not immediately known. Barnes-Jewish Hospital received 20 to 30 patients from the storm with some in serious condition and most expected to be discharged by Friday night, according to hospital spokesperson Laura High.

St Louis Children’s Hospital received 15 patients with two of them expected to remain in the hospital into the weekend, she said.

National Weather Service radar indicated a tornado touched down between 2.30pm and 2.50pm in Clayton, Missouri, in the St. Louis area. The apparent tornado touched down in the area of Forest Park, home to the St Louis Zoo and the site of the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympic Games the same year.

Storms downed trees in Missouri (AP)

At Centennial Christian Church, City of St Louis Fire Department Battalion Chief William Pollihan told The Associated Press that three people had to be rescued after part of the church crumbled. One of those people later died.

Christy Childs, a Saint Louis Zoo spokesperson, said in a text that the zoo would remain closed Saturday because of downed trees and other damage. Childs said all animals were safe and that there were no reports of significant injuries to staff, guests or animals.

“We can’t definitively say whether or not it was a tornado — it likely was,” National Weather Service meteorologist Marshall Pfahler said.

A tornado struck in Scott County, about 130 miles south of St Louis, killing two people, injuring several others and destroying multiple homes, Sheriff Derick Wheetley wrote on social media.

Forecasters say more severe weather could be on the way.

“Severe thunderstorms producing large to very large hail, damaging gusts and a couple of tornadoes are expected across the southern Plains,” the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Centre said on its website Saturday. The risk was especially high for north Texas.