What happened
Powerful storms swept across the southern and central U.S. over the Memorial Day weekend, leaving at least 23 people dead in Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Virginia. The extreme weather left tens of thousands without power and disrupted travel for millions of Americans trying to fly home after the holiday weekend.
Who said what
"Jill and I are praying for those who tragically lost their lives as a result of devastating tornadoes" that tore through the South, President Joe Biden said Monday. The federal government is "on the ground" and "ready to provide support as needed."
Persistent warm, moist air has fed a "grim month of tornadoes and severe weather," including tornadoes that killed five people in Iowa last week and storms that left eight dead in Houston, the Associated Press said. "April had the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country."
What next?
"With more severe weather expected across the region, we urge residents to remain vigilant and heed the warnings of local officials," Biden said. Forecasters expect an extraordinary hurricane season in coming months.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 Post Office-approved cartoons about mail-in votingCartoons Artists take on reverse logic, Putin's election advice, and more
-
The battle of the weight-loss drugsTalking Point Can Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly regain their former stock market glory? A lot is riding on next year's pills
-
Sudoku medium: August 24, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
This Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be above averageUnder the radar Prepare for strong storms in the coming months
-
Why the weather keeps getting 'stuck'In the Spotlight Record hot and dry spring caused by 'blocked' area of high pressure above the UK
-
Severe storms kill dozens across central USSpeed Read At least 40 people were killed over the weekend by tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms
-
Earth's climate is in the era of 'global weirding'The Explainer Weather is harder to predict and more extreme
-
Biden cancels Italy trip as raging LA fires spreadSpeed Read The majority of the fires remain 0% contained
-
Fast-spreading Los Angeles wildfires spark panicSpeed Read About 30,000 people were under an evacuation order as the inferno spread
-
2024: the year of extreme hurricanesIn the Spotlight An eagle eye at a deadly hurricane season
-
Hundreds feared dead in French Mayotte cycloneSpeed Read Cyclone Chido slammed into Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean
