Severe storms claim 8 lives across U.S., floods continue from Texas to Ohio
Eight people, including a 9-year-old boy, have died due to severe weather and flooding across the central United States as of Friday night, April 4, 2025. Fatalities were reported in Tennessee, Missouri, and Indiana. Floods continue to batter much of the region, with some areas forecast to receive 254–508 mm (10–20 inches) through the weekend.
Operatives assisting flood victims in Missouri on April 4, 2025. Image credit: Missouri Division of Fire Safety
The death toll from this week’s severe weather rose to 8 on Friday night, April 4, after a 9-year-old was swept away by floodwaters on the way to a school bus stop in Frankfort, Kentucky. Five fatalities were reported in Tennessee, while one fatality was reported in Missouri and one in Indiana on Thursday, April 3.
Heavy rains continued across southeastern Missouri and the Texarkana region, including parts of Kentucky, through Friday. Flood warnings remained in effect from Texas to Kentucky, and much of the central and eastern United States was under flood watches.
Multiple Flash Flood Emergency warnings were issued across the region through Friday night. Cape Girardeau, Missouri, reported over 76 mm (3 inches) of rain in just over 90 minutes late Friday evening, with emergency managers reporting at least 10 roads submerged and ongoing water rescues.
Farther south, forecasters issued similar warnings for Texarkana, where 51–101 mm (2–4 inches) of rain fell, and water rescues remained ongoing. Officials in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, reported that 60 % of the downtown area was underwater.
Multiple Tornado Warnings were issued across the Lower Mississippi Valley and into northeastern Texas as a stalled frontal system triggered another round of severe thunderstorms and supercells.
Significant structural damage was reported around Clarksville, Texas. Spotters informed the National Weather Service office in Shreveport, Louisiana, that a bottling plant in Hawkins, Texas, was damaged by a nearby tornado.
Heavy rainfall is forecast across much of the region from Ohio to northeastern Texas through the weekend. Rainfall totals are expected to reach 254–508 mm (10–20 inches) in some areas, potentially leading to a historic flood event.
Severe river flooding is expected across the Ozarks, parts of the Lower and Middle Mississippi Valleys, and the Lower Ohio Valley. Flooding is likely to continue into early next week, even after rainfall ends.
Severe weather is forecast to continue from the ArkLaTex region to the Ohio Valley on Saturday, April 5, and across the southern Appalachians and Southeast on Sunday, April 6. Forecast hazards include damaging wind gusts, large hail, and several tornadoes.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) maintains an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) from eastern Texas to western Tennessee through Saturday. A broader Slight Risk is in effect from Texas through the Lower Ohio Valley.
On Sunday, the severe weather threat is expected to shift eastward into parts of the southern Appalachians and Southeast. The Storm Prediction Center continues to highlight a Slight Risk (level 2/5) for severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and possibly a few tornadoes.
References:
1 Short Range Forecast Discussion – NWS – April 5, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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