Severe weather has been battering the central U.S. for days, with a scourge of tornadoes, heavy rains and floods bringing devastation to communities across the region. The National Weather Service is predicting more intense weather on Friday, with a potential for tornadoes in Texas, western Oklahoma and southern Kansas.
A violent tornado in Missouri’s capital of Jefferson City caused widespread destruction overnight on Wednesday and a separate tornado near Golden City left three people dead. According to The Associated Press, the storms have left seven people dead across the central U.S.
The severe weather is expected to continue through the Memorial Day weekend in the Central and Southern Plains, the Great Lakes region and the Northeast, the NWS said.
The persistent and extreme weather has created dramatic conditions in some areas. Here’s a look at some of the scenes from the affected areas this week:
Barges Break Free In Oklahoma
In Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, two “uncontrolled” barges hit a dam on Thursday before capsizing and sinking into the Arkasas River, the Army Corps of Engineers said. The officials said it is unclear how much debris passed through the dam. However, there is minimal structural damage to the dam.
The Associated Press reported that the barges were carrying 3,800 pounds of phosphate fertilizer.
KFOR reported that all residents of Webbers Falls were asked to evacuate the town on Wednesday.
Homes Fall Into River
In Crescent, Oklahoma, located about 34 miles north of Oklahoma City, between four to five homes have fallen into the swollen Cimarron River, according to KFOR.
Destruction in Jefferson City, Missouri
The tornado that touched down overnight on Wednesday in Jefferson City was rated as an EF3, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS said the estimated peak wind of the tornado was 160 miles per hour.
The tornado caused severe damage in the city, even to some state buildings. Images showed structures with damaged roofs, completely flattened homes, fallen trees and semi-trucks turned over on their side.
Many residents in the city are still without power in Jefferson City. Ameren Missouri said it expects restoration efforts to continue through Saturday and by Friday evening, power is expected to be restored to 70 percent of the city.
Woman Rescued From Flooded Home
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol posted a video of a woman being rescued from a flooded home who had to climb out of a window to get to safety. The rescue took place in the Skiatook, Oklahoma area. Officials said troopers are on standby in northeast Oklahoma and could be doing more rescues in the coming days.
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