Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather: Significant tornado threat Monday after weekend storms ravage heartland

Top weather news for Monday, May 19, 2025: Intense tornadoes are possible Monday as another round of severe weather takes aim at the Plains and Mississippi Valley. This comes after weekend storms left at least 26 people dead across Kentucky and Missouri.

Welcome to the Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather. It's Monday, May 19, 2025. Start your day with everything you need to know about today's weather. You can also get a quick briefing of national, regional and local weather whenever you like with the FOX Weather Update podcast.

Damage reported after Kansas town takes ‘direct hit’ during rare Tornado Emergency

Significant damage was reported in western Kansas early Monday morning after powerful storms produced tornadoes that damaged numerous homes and brought down trees and power lines amid a rare Tornado Emergency.

One of the hardest-hit areas appeared to be the city of Plevna, Kansas. The National Weather Service office in Wichita had issued a Tornado Emergency for Plevna, Sylvia and Abbyville early Monday morning.

Damage assessments continue in Kentucky, Missouri in wake of deadly tornado outbreak

First responders are continuing their heroic recovery efforts to search and clear the countless piles of destroyed homes and businesses in Kentucky and Missouri, days after a disastrous tornado outbreak tore across those states, leaving dozens of people dead.

Kentucky suffered widespread damage, especially in London and Somerset. Gov. Andy Beshear said at least 19 people were killed in his state, although Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers believes that number could be closer to two dozen. At least seven others were also killed in Missouri.

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LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 18: Debris floats in a pool near a severely damaged house on May 18, 2025 in the community of Sunshine Hills outside of London, Kentucky. A tornado struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills just after midnight on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky.   (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images) ( )

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LONDON, KENTUCKY - MAY 18: Debris floats in a pool near a severely damaged house on May 18, 2025 in the community of Sunshine Hills outside of London, Kentucky. A tornado struck the neighborhood of Sunshine Hills just after midnight on May 17, 2025 in London, Kentucky.   (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images) ( )

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Debris is seen around and on the trunk of a tree after a tornado hit in London, Kentucky on May 17, 2025. Severe storms that swept through the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia left more than 25 people dead, laying waste to local communities and cutting off electricity to nearly 200,000, authorities said on May 17. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on X at least 18 people had died in the storms Friday night, while local officials in Missouri said another seven were dead there. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

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Tornado-damaged Centennial Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. (Katie Byrne)

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Tornado damage in London, Kentucky as seen on May 17, 2025. (London Mayor Randall Weddle)

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Tornado damage in London, Kentucky as seen on May 17, 2025. (London Mayor Randall Weddle)

Central US on high alert Monday for dangerous tornadoes, giant hail and destructive winds

The central U.S. will remain under a heightened risk of severe weather on Monday, including parts of tornado-ravaged Missouri, where at least seven people were killed during Friday's outbreak.

The FOX Forecast Center warns that a wide region from Kansas and Oklahoma extending into parts of Missouri and Arkansas is expected to experience severe thunderstorms. A concerning Level 4 out of 5 severe weather threat includes major cities like Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and Broken Arrow in Oklahoma, as well as Fort Smith, Arkansas. 

Watch this: Tornado seen spinning outside of Denver

While all eyes were on Oklahoma and Kansas on Sunday for severe weather, several tornadoes were also reported in eastern Colorado.

A massive tornado stopped people in their tracks outside of Denver, just as the twister descended from the clouds. 

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