Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Tornado-spawning thunderstorms ravaged the Southern Plains and the Ozark Mountains over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, killing at least 21 people across four US states and destroying hundreds of buildings. As of Monday afternoon, the death toll included eight fatalities in Arkansas, seven in Texas, four in Kentucky, and two in Oklahoma, according to state emergency authorities. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania until Monday evening, affecting over 30 million people in the Northeast as the storms moved towards the East Coast.

A severe thunderstorm watch was also issued for the Atlanta area, other parts of Georgia, and several western South Carolina counties until Monday afternoon. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency on Monday, reporting that devastating storms had impacted nearly the entire state, damaging 100 state highways and roads. “It was a tough night for our people,” Beshear posted on social media.

At least 160,000 customers in Kentucky were without power, with restoration efforts expected to take days. In North Texas, a powerful tornado on Saturday night killed seven people, including a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, and injured nearly 100. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders reported at least eight deaths in her state, including a resident who died due to lack of oxygen when the power went out.

President Joe Biden expressed condole.