Severe Storms and Tornadoes Claim Lives Across U.S. Midwest and South on March 15-16, 2025

A series of severe storms and tornadoes swept through the U.S. Midwest and South over the weekend of March 15-16, 2025, resulting in at least 40 fatalities. The storms, accompanied by wildfires and widespread power outages affecting over 360,000 customers, impacted more than two dozen states. Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi were among the hardest-hit, with reports of entire towns leveled. The event, described as one of the most destructive outbreaks in recent memory, prompted federal and state authorities to mobilize resources for recovery efforts. Meteorologists attribute the outbreak to a clash of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and a cold front.