Severe storms in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma leave at least 11 dead

Severe storms tore across three states over the weekend, leaving at least 11 dead along a wide trail of destruction.  

Officials said seven deaths were reported in Cooke County, Texas, near the Oklahoma border after a tornado ripped through the area Saturday night, The Associated Press (AP) reported. The storm caused “significant damage to numerous homes and businesses,” according to a statement from Cooke County Emergency Management. 

“It’s just a trail of debris left. The devastation is pretty severe,” Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington told the AP.  

He also said the death toll included two children, ages 2 and 5.  

The news service also reported that two more people were killed in Arkansas during the storms, including a 26-year-old woman in Boone County and another person in Benton County. The AP reported that two people were also killed in Mayes County, Okla., according to local officials.  

The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast that severe thunderstorms with possible tornadoes were expected to affect parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and central Texas over the holiday weekend.  

The most recent storms come on the heels of a deadly tornado season in the U.S. so far this year. Officials said last week that five people died and another 35 were injured in Iowa as dangerous tornadoes ripped through the state.

April had the second-highest tornadoes recorded ever in the month with about 384 preliminary tornado reports. In 2024, there has been 547 total preliminary tornado reports through April.

The Associated Press contributed.