Deadly String of Storms Claims Lives Over the Weekend

Posted: June 27, 2023 11:00 am

It was a deadly weekend for extreme weather events, taking the lives of a few Americans as heat and severe storms have gripped much of the nation.

There were over 400 thunderstorm warnings issued on Sunday, marking the highest number in the month of June since 2008. Here is a recap at some of the events over the past few days.

Tornado Kills at Least Two in Indiana

A string of storms on Sunday across the country’s heartland spawned a few tornadoes, including one that killed one person in Indiana. The tornado was part of an outbreak of severe weather that delivered damaging winds and large hail.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC), there were over 400 reports of severe weather on Sunday alone. The weather damaged dozens of homes and left thousands of Americans without power.

The deadly tornado spun up in Martin County, Indiana, located about 100 miles south of Indianapolis. In addition to the fatality, at least one person was injured as a tornado tore through a home. The man was pronounced dead inside the home while a woman was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

Also in Indiana, a tornado outside of Indianapolis in Johnson County destroyed several homes on Sunday afternoon. The town of Bagersville reported moderate to severe damage to at least 75 homes. In addition to the tornadoes, the state of Indiana recorded numerous reports of large hail measuring as large as baseballs.

The second fatality due to storms over the weekend was reported in Atlanta on Sunday evening. A 55-year-old man lost his life after a tree fell on him while he was walking his dog outside.

There were two more injuries reported in Jones County, Mississippi, located southeast of the capital city of Jackson. A tree fell on a mobile home during a string of storms in the region.

Hail the size of tennis balls was reported in Webster County in the western part of Kentucky on Sunday as well.

Man Killed by Lightning Strike in Nebraska

A 27-year-old man was killed by a lightning strike in western Nebraska last week, bringing the total number of lightning fatalities this year up to 2023 in the U.S. All of the fatalities this year have been men. The man was killed by the strike when he was out checking on cattle in Garden County, Nebraska on June 21.

The average number of deaths attributed to lightning through June is six, putting this year’s numbers right on track.

Man and Stepson Die in Texas Heat While Hiking

It was excessive heat responsible for the deaths of two people in Texas on Friday. A man and his two stepsons were hiking the Marufo Vega trail in Big Bend National Park when the temperatures were hovering at near 120 degrees.

According to a press release from the National Park Service (NPS), the man and one of his stepsons died because of the soaring temperatures.

The trail is known as being at the center of the hottest parts of the park, located in southwest Texas. A lack of shade and water makes this trail particularly strenuous to hike during times of great heat.

The tragedy happened when a 14-year-old boy became ill while out on the trail with his stepfather and brother. The 31-year-old stepfather left the area to try to find help while the 21-year-old brother attempted to carry the sick teen back to the trailhead after he lost consciousness.

The Big Bend National Park’s Communications Center said that it fielded a request for help at about 6 pm. It was about 90 minutes later that park rangers and agents with the U.S. Border Patrol reached the scene and found the youngest boy deceased.

The stepfather was found about 30 minutes later dead on the scene after his vehicle had crashed at the Boquilllas Overlook. Investigators are continuing to look into the incident.

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