
At least four people died and others were hurt after severe storms including a possible tornado swept through St Louis on Friday, as tens of millions of Americans in multiple states braced for possible damage from expected high winds and severe weather this weekend.
St Louis mayor Cara Spencer confirmed the deaths after storms tore roofs off some buildings, ripped away brick facades and downed trees and power lines as residents were urged to take cover.
According to the National Weather Service, a “very active and complex mid-May weather pattern” is set to bring about heavy rain, high winds and anomalous temperatures throughout the US this weekend and until at least next Tuesday.
Accuweather warned that from Friday to Saturday, some 150 million Americans could potentially be affected by severe weather.
The NWS has cited primary risks to be large hail, with some being more than 2in in diameter, damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.