Important Takeaways:

• Cleanup and recovery operations are underway across the central and eastern U.S. in the wake of a powerful storm system that swept across the nation, producing violent tornadoes, a dust storm, wildfires and blizzard conditions that have left at least 40 people dead.
• The multiday severe weather outbreak began to unfold Friday and lasted through the weekend, pounding communities with thunderstorms that packed hurricane-force wind gusts, torrential rain and lightning that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of utility customers.
• In total, NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) said more than 1,000 storm reports were received during the multiday severe weather outbreak.
• The FOX Forecast Center has confirmed at least 56 tornadoes in 10 states so far, including EF-3 and EF-4 tornadoes, and storm survey teams from the National Weather Service will be out in full force to inspect damage and determine the intensity and path of additional twisters.
• President Donald Trump released a statement on Sunday saying he was monitoring the situation and said his administration stands ready to assist as recovery operations begin.
• Trump said the National Guard has been deployed to Arkansas, and his administration “is ready to assist state and local officials, as they help their communities to try and recover from the damage.”
• He asked people to join him and First Lady Melania Trump in praying for those impacted by the deadly storms.
• One of the deadliest crashes was reported along Interstate 70 near the Kansas-Colorado state line, where a dust storm, which is believed to have dropped visibility to nearly zero, is being eyed as a contributor to the fatal crash. Troopers said at least 71 vehicles were involved in the incident, and at least eight people were killed as a result.
• To the south, in Texas and Oklahoma, a similar situation unfolded.
• Four people were killed and multiple people were injured in crashes across Oklahoma and Texas as a powerful dust storm fueled by 60-85 mph wind gusts dropped visibility to nearly zero along highways and interstates on Friday afternoon.
• While many parts of the U.S. were preparing for severe weather, to the north, winter weather was a concern.
• Residents across the northern Plains and parts of the Midwest faced the powerful winter storm that unleashed strong winds, blowing snow and plummeting temperatures, creating near-blizzard conditions and hazardous travel.
• The FOX Forecast Center said wind gusts up to 50-60 mph were expected from the Rockies and High Plains to the western Great Lakes.

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