A dystopian “dust wall” is poised to engulf
Chicago
Following intense storms that swept across the Midwest, resulting in at least 23 fatalities and leaving millions without electricity.
A frightening dust storm hit the Chicago region, with residents struggling due to being choked and blinded by a 100-mile-long band of dust stretching from southwestern Chicago to the north.
Indiana
.
The unusual occurrence stunned meteorologists and residents alike when a dust storm alert was released by the National Weather Service, marking just the second such warning ever recorded in history.
‘Ideas this storm appears threatening at first glance, yet upon closer inspection, one realizes it isn’t your ordinary thunderstorm; it’s primarily composed of dust—nothing but dust,’ stated local resident Thomas Jean-Mastej.
CBS News.
Following multiple events caused by significant poor visibility, NWS advised inhabitants to remain inside and venture out solely when “utterly essential.”
The swirling dust and debris lifted from parched agricultural land by winds nearing 70 mph were captured in an image by photographer Brian Siegel, who mentioned this spectacle was unlike anything he had witnessed before.
“In case you were curious about how a dust storm appears in Chicago, let me clarify: this isn’t fog,” he explained.
Metro
‘The sun has disappeared, and just five minutes after recording this clip, I’m experiencing zero visibility.’
The footage depicted an unsettling plume advancing towards a tranquil neighborhood, with trees starting to sway violently due to the powerful gusts.
‘In the backdrop of Lake Michigan lies Lincoln Park, and my aim was to spot the John Hancock Center towards the end,’ he explained.
‘Sand fills my mouth and stings my eyes. I’ve never encountered this before.’
A timelapse capturing the threatening cloud engulfing the gusty metropolis displayed the sun vanishing within seconds as visibility became almost entirely blocked.
Satellite footage revealed how the enormous dust cloud sweeping across the area was visible from space, meanwhile fierce storms whipped across the Midwest.
On Friday night,
Kentucky
saw a tornado twisting through the southeast of the state killing at least 14 people and severely injuring several others.
‘The search is continuing in the damaged area for survivors,’ Laurel County Sheriff John Root said in a statement on social media.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear wrote on
X
Kentucky, we’re beginning today with the somber news that at least 14 of our community members were lost due to last night’s storms. Unfortunately, this figure is anticipated to rise as we gather further details.
In Virginia, at least two individuals lost their lives on Friday night when storms caused trees to fall, resulting in two distinct accidents.
Fox Weather
reported.
In
Missouri
At minimum seven individuals have been reported deceased as rescue teams keep searching for potential survivors caught under collapsed structures due to extreme weather conditions.
On Friday afternoon, the storm wreaked havoc in the region, tearing off rooftops and uprooting trees.
The mayor of St. Louis, Cara Spencer, reported five fatalities due to the conditions, adding that over 5,000 residences were impacted by the severe weather.
Approximately 10,000 individuals remained without power on Friday evening.
NPR
reported.
Spencer characterized the event as ‘devastating’ and also mentioned that the city was in the midst of declaring a state of emergency.
Barnes-Jewish Hospital admitted between 20 to 30 patients, as stated by their spokesperson Laura High to Associated Press, while an additional 15 individuals were treated at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Stacy Clark informed NPR that her mother-in-law, Patricia Pendleton, passed away following the collapse of the Centennial Christian Church during the intense storms. According to Clark, Patricia was an enthusiastic church volunteer and a dedicated member of the choir.
A companion of Pendleton posted on Facebook stating that ‘her departure has created a profound emptiness in the hearts of numerous people.’
In Missouri, at least seven individuals have been confirmed deceased as authorities persist in searching for potential survivors caught within damaged structures due to extreme weather conditions.
Jeffrey Simmons Sr., residing opposite the church, mentioned that he got a notification on his phone prior to the power outage occurring.
He explained that suddenly there was a great deal of commotion with strong winds, so he and his brother went down to the basement. When they came back upstairs, they discovered everything had been destroyed.
Even though the extensive damage caused by the intense storm still lingers, National Weather Service meteorologist Marshal Pfahler stated that they “cannot conclusively determine if it was a tornado, but it probably was.”
In Scott County, Sheriff Derick Wheetley shared this update: “Earlier today, our county faced a catastrophic tornado in the southern part of the area, resulting in considerable destruction across multiple rural regions.”
“The tornado originated from the eastern section of the county, causing extensive damage as it passed through, resulting in numerous houses being entirely destroyed and regions rendered almost unidentifiable,” Wheetley went on to say.
At that point, he mentioned that the initial tornado had resulted in fatalities for at least two individuals from the county.
“Our initial emergency personnel responded rapidly, continuing their efforts as the tornado remained active, exposing themselves to danger to offer prompt aid and support to those who were hurt,” Wheetley noted additionally.
In Illinois, video recordings depicted some of the frightening weather conditions confronting inhabitants in the Midwest.
The footage showed a threatening vortex of ominous clouds rotating above Marion, Illinois, with trees being tossed about by the gusts.
Meteorologists have verified that the tornado in Marion poses a severe threat to life.
There have been no reports of injuries in the region as teams keep searching through the wreckage.
The Midwest and Appalachia remain under weather alerts as experts anticipate potential tornadoes, hail, and gusts strong enough to be classified as hurricane-force winds.
Faith Borden, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Nashville, stated that middle Tennessee might experience “a variety of weather conditions.” She warned about winds reaching speeds of up to 70 mph and mentioned they were anticipating extremely large hailstones measuring up to 3 inches, which is considered significant for their area.
On Friday evening, a dust storm alert was announced for the region surrounding Chicago, while people living in areas such as Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, portions of Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Ohio were advised to prepare themselves for additional severe weather conditions.
The National Weather Service additionally cautioned about hail as large as baseballs.
Prior to the arrival of the storms on Friday evening, Appalachian Power, which serves 1 million customers throughout West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee, stated they requested an additional 1,700 workers to assist with restoring services, according to an Associated Press report.
In the meantime, Texas issued a heat advisory for San Antonio and Austin due to temperatures ranging from 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. On the East Coast, extending from Virginia to Florida, temperatures soared into the 90s.
The National Weather Service Office for Austin and San Antonio cautioned on Friday that humidity would cause the temperatures to feel even warmer.
“There are worries about heat exhaustion among individuals who aren’t taking adequate precautions while outside,” stated meteorologist Jason Runyen.
Multiple tornadoes struck Wisconsin on Thursday. According to Timm Uhlmann, a meteorologist with NWS in Green Bay, at the time, “We’re currently collecting reports. We’re evaluating some of the damage and are still receiving videos and images.”
The extent of the damage we’ve experienced is quite extensive. We had a significant amount of large hail. Reports indicated that in Eau Claire, hail as big as softballs was observed.
Mayor Rob Boelk of Mayville stated on Thursday evening: “A possible tornado has caused considerable harm to the southern part of the city. Both residential houses and industrial facilities have experienced major devastation.”
On Friday evening, approximately 190,000 customers in Michigan remained without power, according to NPR.
The storms in the region caused a delay of two hours for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour performance, affecting thousands of attendees on Thursday evening at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
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