Tornado live updates: At least 5 dead in Missouri as storms tear across US

(NEW YORK) — Communities across the United States — from small towns to big cities — were on alert for tornadoes on Wednesday, as a major storm system sweeps through areas still reeling from devastating twisters.

There were an unspecified number of injuries and fatalities confirmed in Missouri’s Bollinger County after a tornado hit the Glenallen area, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

At least nine other tornadoes had already been reported across Iowa and Illinois, including a “large and extremely dangerous tornado” that touched down near Canton, Illinois, on Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

On Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The cities of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Detroit were included in the watch areas, where forecasters said conditions will be favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. People were warned to seek shelter.

As the storm continues to move east, severe weather is in the forecast for a vast area — from western Texas to western New York. Cities in the bull’s-eye for damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes on Wednesday include Memphis, Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland, according to the latest forecast.

The forecast comes just days after a powerful storm system unleashed violent tornadoes and severe thunderstorms across the country, killing at least 32 people and leaving thousands without power.

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least 81 tornadoes touched down in 14 states on March 31 and April 1. It was the largest single tornado outbreak to hit the U.S. in a year, since the one that spawned 140 twisters in southeastern states — from Texas to Maryland — on April 12-13, 2020.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

Apr 05, 6:39 PM EDT
More than 80 structures damaged in Bollinger County, governor says

Dozens of structures have been damaged in a tornado in Bollinger County, Missouri, on Wednesday morning, according to officials.

At least 87 structures were damaged, 12 of them “totally destroyed,” Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF2 tornado with 130 mph winds touched down in Bollinger County. At least 11 tornadoes have been reported to have occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the NWS.

Debris and wreckage are seen after a tornado touched down, April 5, 2023 in Glenallen, Missouri.
Five people in Missouri died in the storm and another five were injured, Parson said.

All residents in Bollinger County have been accounted for following the tornado, Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Clark Parrott told ABC News.

-ABC News’ Darren Reynolds

Apr 05, 3:44 PM EDT
At least 11 tornadoes reported in last 24 hours

There have been at least 11 tornadoes reported across Iowa, Illinois and Missouri since an outbreak of severe storms began on Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Two tornadoes have been confirmed, including an EF2 with 130 mph winds in Bollinger County, Missouri, where five people were killed, and another in Henry County, Illinois, with winds of up to 85 mph.

Overall, there were more than 230 reports of tornadoes, damaging winds and hail across America’s Heartland, according to the NWS.

Severe storms are expected to continue into the evening in regions surrounding Cleveland, Cincinnati, Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee, forecasts show.

Apr 05, 1:30 PM EDT
At least 5 confirmed dead in Bollinger County, Missouri

At least five people have died in Bollinger County, according to local Sheriff Casey Graham.

“Several of our communities in Bollinger County, specifically the Grassy and Glenallen areas, were hit with what appears to be a significant tornado early this morning,” Graham said in statement posted on Facebook.

Images show that the village of Glenallen sustained heavy damage. It sits just 4 miles from Marble Hill, the county seat.

Search and rescue efforts remain ongoing, Sgt. Clark Parrott of the Missouri Highway Patrol, told ABC News on Wednesday morning.

-ABC News’ Will McDuffie

Apr 05, 11:01 AM EDT
Tornado watch issued for Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for several regions under threat of severe storms on Wednesday.

Included in the advisory are central and southern Indiana, north-central Kentucky and southwest Ohio. The formation of tornadoes could be “likely” in cities like Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville, according to the NWS.

The threats include “widespread” damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, the advisory states.

The tornado watch is in effect until 5 p.m. ET.

Apr 05, 10:54 AM EDT
Multiple fatalities reported in Missouri’s Bollinger County

An unspecified number of injuries and fatalities have been confirmed in Missouri’s Bollinger County after a tornado hit the Glenallen area, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

At least nine other tornadoes had already been reported across Iowa and Illinois, including a “large and extremely dangerous tornado” that touched down near Canton, Illinois, on Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced he will visit hard-hit Bollinger County.

Parson will “assess damage and learn what resources will be needed during recovery” in the rural county in the state’s southeast, he said in a tweet.

“We appreciate the work of our first responders and the many neighbors who reached out to help their neighbors, and our prayers are with the loved ones of those who were killed in the storms,” the governor said.

Apr 05, 10:54 AM EDT
Parts of 8 states on alert for tornadoes

Parts of eight states — Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio — are on alert for tornadoes Wednesday as a major storm sweeps through areas already reeling from devastating twisters.

As the storm continues to move east, severe weather is in the forecast for a vast area from western Texas to western New York.

The forecast comes just days after a powerful storm system unleashed violent tornadoes and severe thunderstorms across the country, killing at least 32 people and leaving thousands without power.

The National Weather Service confirmed at least 81 tornadoes touched down in 14 states on March 31 and April 1. It was the largest single tornado outbreak to hit the U.S. in a year, since the one that spawned 140 twisters in southeastern states — from Texas to Maryland — on April 12-13, 2020.