Tornadoestore through the Upper Midwest and the Mideast U.S. on May 16 killing at least 21 and leaving many damaged homes and downed power lines. A day after severaltornadoes reportedly touched downand caused "significant damage" in western and central Wisconsin, at least 14 are reported dead in Kentucky wheretornadoes and severe stormsravaged the region on May 16. Seven more deaths were reported in Missouri. Forecasts of severe weather continue throughout the weekend with about 50 million people from Texas to New York at risk for tornadoes and thunderstorms on May 17 and 18, according toAccuWeather. The National Weather Service reported at least half a dozen tornadoes touching down in Missouri and neighboring Illinois. Five people were killed when a tornado struck St. Louis; as many as 5,000 properties were damaged, officials said. "Our city is grieving tonight," St. Louis, Missouri, Mayor Cara Spencer said in a May 16 news conference when she announced five people died in the city. Two more deaths were reported when a tornado hit rural parts of Scott County, Missouri about 130 miles to the south. St. Louis resident Joan Miller had a narrow escape when a tornado struck her historic 1912 brick home and ripped away the walls. "The wind started, the tree out front was shaking so violently," she told Reuters. "And suddenly all the doors shut, the windows flew out from the bedroom ... the entire back of my house ... you can see straight into the alley now." At least14 people have diedand others were injured in storms that struck Kentucky overnight, Gov. Andy Beshear reported. Nine of those deaths were reported in eastern Kentucky by the Laurel County Sheriff's Office. Additional injuries were reported in Louisville. The same storm systemthat hit the St. Louis area also led to tornadoes in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. The Clear Creek Post Office was hit as were several other buildings. Transformers and power lines were strewn in the street in Bloomington, Indiana and a nearby post office was destroyed by a tornado. Cleanup efforts continued in Wisconsin after at leastseven tornadoes were reportedon May 15. Then, on May 16, wind gusts reached 58 miles per hour. Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas and Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY; Carol Kugler, The Herald-Times; Stephanie Kuzydym, the Louisville Courier Journal; and Frank Vaisvilas, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Reuters. Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him atmikegsnider&@mikegsnider.bsky.social&@mikesnider& msnider@usatoday.com What's everyone talking about?Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tornadoes' path of destruction in US: See photos of damage
