From April 2 to 7, 2025, a slow-moving weather system and stationary front caused a significant tornado outbreak and historic flash flooding across the Southern and Midwestern United States. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) had been monitoring the Mississippi Valley and surrounding regions since March 28 for potential severe weather. By April 2, the SPC elevated the risk level to “high,” marking the second such alert in recent weeks following a previous severe outbreak in similar areas.
On April 2, a tornado struck Owasso, Oklahoma, damaging homes. Another significant tornado hit Nevada, Missouri, removing roofs from residences and injuring at least one person. An EF2 tornado impacted Pilot Grove, Missouri, destroying a manufactured home and tossing vehicles; notably, tornado sirens in the town failed to sound due to a malfunction, though no injuries were reported. A large, multiple-vortex tornado of at least EF3 intensity moved through Lake City, Arkansas, prompting a tornado emergency declaration. In the early hours of April 3, an EF3 tornado struck Selmer, Tennessee, causing substantial damage. Another significant tornado near Slayden, Mississippi, led to a tornado emergency. Near La Grange, Tennessee, a tornado resulted in six fatalities and 21 injuries when it destroyed a mobile home. In total, 126 tornadoes were confirmed during this period, with surveys ongoing.
The slow movement of the weather system also led to days of heavy rainfall, causing catastrophic flash flooding, particularly in Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee. Rainfall totals exceeded 6 inches in many areas, with Benton, Kentucky, recording over 15 inches. Major rivers overflowed, nearing record crest levels and causing widespread damage in adjacent communities. In Kentucky alone, approximately 540 roadways were closed due to flooding, and around 1,100 residents were without water services. The Kentucky River in Frankfort crested at 48.27 feet on April 7, just shy of the record set in 1978.
The combined effects of the tornadoes and flooding resulted in at least 25 fatalities—eight from tornadoes and 17 from flooding—and over 14 injuries. More than 318,000 power outages were reported across the affected regions. Relief efforts were initiated promptly, with organizations like The Y’all Squad, led by weather presenter Ryan Hall, deploying aid trucks to Tennessee and Arkansas, delivering essential supplies to impacted communities.
The National Weather Service (NWS) faced challenges in responding to the disaster due to staffing cuts. The NWS office in Louisville, Kentucky, announced delays in conducting tornado damage surveys, attributing the postponement to recent staff reductions. Additionally, reports emerged that various NWS websites and systems crucial for delivering warnings were at risk of being shut down due to contract terminations and directives to cut IT-related spending by 50%. These developments raised concerns about the NWS’s capacity to effectively respond to such severe weather events