Memphis, TN — A powerful and fast-moving tornado outbreak swept across the Southern and Midwestern United States late Thursday into Friday morning, leaving at least four people dead and dozens injured. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, power lines downed, and emergency services overwhelmed as multiple tornadoes carved through communities from Texas to Kentucky.
The National Weather Service confirmed that more than 30 tornadoes touched down across seven states, with the hardest-hit areas including Selmer, Tennessee, and parts of northern Mississippi and southern Missouri. Selmer, a small town in southwest Tennessee, was devastated by what meteorologists are calling an EF-4 tornado, with winds reaching up to 170 miles per hour.
“I’ve lived here all my life, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Geraldine Clark, 68, whose home was reduced to rubble in Selmer. “It came out of nowhere, and within seconds, everything was gone.”
Local officials in McNairy County confirmed one fatality in Selmer and multiple critical injuries. Entire blocks were leveled, and emergency shelters have been set up in schools, churches, and community centers to house displaced residents.
In Kentucky, the town of Mayfield — still recovering from a deadly tornado in 2021 — once again found itself in nature’s path. Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency and deployed the National Guard to assist with search-and-rescue efforts.
“We are doing everything in our power to help those affected,” said Governor Beshear. “But the scale of this event is unprecedented.”
Meteorologists warned earlier in the week of conditions ripe for tornado formation, including high instability, warm Gulf moisture, and powerful upper-level winds. The Storm Prediction Center had issued a rare “high risk” alert across parts of the Deep South — a warning that tragically proved accurate.
President Donald J. Trump addressed the nation from the White House, expressing condolences and pledging federal aid. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction,” he said. “FEMA is already on the ground, and we will not rest until every community is back on its feet.”
More severe weather is forecast in the coming days as the storm system moves eastward. Flash flooding, damaging winds, and additional tornadoes remain possible in parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Virginia.
Officials are urging residents in high-risk areas to stay tuned to local weather alerts, prepare emergency kits, and seek shelter at the first sign of danger.
As rescue crews work tirelessly to clear debris and locate survivors, the nation is once again reminded of the sheer power and unpredictability of nature — and the resilience of the communities in its path.