At least 27 people have been killed by storms systems that swept across part of the U.S. Midwest and South, with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announcing Saturday (May 17, 2025) that 18 of the deaths came in his State and 10 others were hospitalized in critical condition.

Severe storms in Kentucky claimed 18 lives, with 17 fatalities in Laurel County alone from a tornado Friday night.

A tornado outbreak that swept through the Ohio Valley Friday night left multiple people dead and several seriously injured in Kentucky as rescue crews were frantically searching damaged cities for other victims into Saturday morning.