At Least 34 Killed in Christmas Season Storms, Tornadoes Hitting US

Storms hit southern and central U.S. states over the Christmas holiday unleashing floods and tornadoes that killed at least 34 people, toppled buildings and snarled transportation for millions during a busy travel time.

At least 11 people were killed in the Dallas area over the weekend by tornadoes, including one packing winds of up to 200 miles per hour (322 km per hour). The twister hit the city of Garland, killing eight people and blowing vehicles off highways.

“A tornado of that strength is very rare in a metropolitan area,” National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Bishop said in a telephone interview. Powerful tornadoes are a staple of spring and summer in central states and occur less frequently during winter, according to U.S. weather data . . .

In Illinois, three adults and two children drowned when floodwaters swept away their car on Saturday night near the village of Patoka, about 85 miles (137 km) east of St. Louis, according to officials and local media.

The storms came on the heels of tornadoes that hit two days before Christmas, killing at least 18 people, including 10 in Mississippi. (Read more from “At Least 34 Killed in Christmas Season Storms, Tornadoes Hitting US” HERE)

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