At least 37 dead as tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms hit U.S.

Unusually vicious and damaging weather across the United States spawned violent tornadoes, blinding dust storms and fast-moving wildfires this weekend, leaving at least 37 people dead.

The National Weather Service said tornado watches had mostly expired, but dangerous winds were still possible in the Carolinas, east Georgia and northern Florida through Sunday evening local time.

The dynamic storm that began on Friday earned an unusual "high risk" designation from weather forecasters. Still, experts said it's not unusual to see such weather extremes in March.

At least three people, including an 82-year-old woman, were killed in central Alabama when multiple tornados swept across the state. In Troy, Alabama, parks officials said the recreation center where many residents had taken refuge had to be closed due to damage from overnight storms. No one was injured.

Scattered twisters killed at least a dozen people in Missouri, authorities said. While in Arkansas, officials confirmed three deaths.

In Mississippi, six people died and more than 200 were displaced after tornadoes sowed devastation across three counties. And in the northern part of the state, roads were inundated and some people were stranded by flood waters.

Wind-driven wildfires caused extensive damage in Texas and Oklahoma and officials warned on Sunday that parts of both states would again face an increased risk of fire danger in the coming week. More than 130 fires were reported across Oklahoma and nearly 300 homes were damaged or destroyed. Oklahoma's Department of Emergency Management said on Sunday that two people were killed as a result of the wildfires and weather.

Meanwhile, dust storms spurred by high winds claimed almost a dozen lives on Friday. Eight people died in a Kansas highway pileup involving at least 50 vehicles, according to the state highway patrol. Authorities said three people also were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle.

(Cover: A grove of pine trees was destroyed by a tornado in Tylertown, Mississippi, U.S., March 16, 2025. /VCG)