BAKERSFIELD, Mo. – At least three people are dead in Missouri following a widespread and dangerous severe weather outbreak Friday evening after numerous tornadoes were spotted across multiple states, causing significant damage.
Early Saturday morning, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the deaths of a man and woman in the Bakersfield area of Ozark County. About 140 miles to the east in Butler County, another fatality was confirmed to FOX Weather by Robbie Myers, director of the Butler County Emergency Management.
As daylight arrives, state officials anticipate discovering further damage throughout the region, pummeled by over 150 Tornado Warmings since Friday morning.
A tornado in Villa Ridge, Missouri, outside of St. Louis, was captured on camera as it caused significant damage. According to storm chasers, the tornado’s winds caused numerous power flashes, several semi-trucks to flip, and various structures to be damaged.
Tornadoes were also reported in communities such as Rolla, Hartville and areas outside St. Louis.
At least five people were injured when a tornado tore through Cave City, Arkansas, according to Mayor Jonas Anderson, who declared a state of emergency.
“There are no known fatalities. This is an absolute miracle from God,” Anderson said. “There is a lot to wrap our heads around and lots to do.”
In southwestern Indiana, a violent tornado tore through parts of Gibson County, leaving a scene of destruction. Evansville resident Jay Burden captured video footage (seen below) of the tornado’s path toward Oakland City from his home.
“I was just hoping everyone in the path had clear advanced warning to take shelter,” Burden told FOX Weather.
Gibson County Sheriff Bruce Vanoven said in a video statement there was extensive damage around the Oakland city area and the rural Francisco area. “I implore you, I beg you, please do not come out and survey the storm damage,” he said. “Give us time to do our jobs. There are trees down. There were power lines down. There are power poles down. And we do not need people to come out being looky loos causing more emergencies for an already taxed emergency service personnel.”
WATCH: TORNADO LASHES TRUCK AS MEN RIDE OUT STORM AT ROLLA, MISSOURI GAS STATION
‘We are in a tornado!’
Dramatic video out of Rolla, Missouri, showed powerful winds sweeping over a gas station where two men came face-to-face with one of the tornadoes.
“We are in a tornado!” Tad Peters could be heard yelling on video.
Heavy rain and debris lashed their truck, but not significantly enough for the pair to drive off when the coast was clear.
Emergency management encouraged residents to stay away from the storm damage until authorities could assess the situation.
“Our thoughts are with the community of Rolla tonight, as they experienced a tornado touchdown. We kindly ask everyone to avoid the area and allow first responders to carry out their essential work,” Maries County Emergency Management said after seeing the supercell sweep through.
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Several tractor-trailers were reported to have been flipped along the Interstate 44 corridor, but as of Friday evening, there were no reports of missing people first responders were searching for.
Data from Findenergy.com reported nearly a quarter of a million power outages associated with the severe weather from the Midwest through the lower Mississippi River Valley.
More than 150 million people were at heightened risk of severe weather over the two-day event. The SPC placed portions of more than half a dozen states under a ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ Tornado Watch Friday night ahead of the severe weather outbreak. A PDS Tornado Watch is issued when forecasters have high confidence that multiple violent tornadoes will occur in the watch area.
But Saturday is expected to be potentially the most dangerous day of the outbreak as the powerful storm system will continue tracking east across the central Gulf Coast states and Deep South into the Tennessee Valley.
“This will be a very scary situation for many,” said meteorologists with NWS Birmingham. “The atmosphere is so strong there isn’t a whole lot that will weaken it.”
A Level 5 out of 5 on the severe storm threat level is impacting 3.3 million people in major cities like Birmingham, Alabama, Jackson, Mississippi, Tuscaloosa and Hoover in Alabama and Hattiesburg, Mississippi.