Tornado threat looms over Central US as storm system affects 62 million people

A powerful storm system that spawned dozens of tornadoes across the Central US on Monday is still threatening millions of people with severe weather on Tuesday.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), over 62 million people are at some risk of severe thunderstorms, hail, damaging winds and more tornadoes today.

The storm system has already caused widespread damage and disruption in several states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois.

On Monday, at least 25 tornadoes were reported across these states, some large and destructive. The NWS confirmed that an EF-3 tornado with winds up to 140 mph hit the town of Monett, Missouri, destroying several buildings and injuring at least four people, reports CNN.

The storm system also brought heavy rain and flash flooding to parts of the region, prompting water rescues and road closures.

A state trooper in Arkansas was killed when floodwaters swept away his patrol car. The NWS issued flash flood warnings for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana on Tuesday morning.

The storm system is expected to move eastward today, bringing the threat of severe weather to parts of the Mississippi Valley and the Southeast.

The NWS said that some of the storms could produce tornadoes, some of which could be strong and long-lived. The areas at greatest risk include Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.

The NWS urged people in the affected areas to stay alert and follow the instructions of local authorities. It also advised people to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and to seek shelter immediately if a tornado is approaching.

The NWS said that this storm system is one of the most significant severe weather events of the year so far and could have life-threatening impacts for millions of people.