At least eight people dead after spate of tornadoes across central US

Eighteen tornadoes between Thursday and Saturday resulted in deaths in towns from Michigan to Oklahoma Communities throughout the central United States were cleaning up and trying to recover after an onslaught deadly tornadoes struck the region over the weekend. At least eight people had been confirmed dead as of Monday, with dozens more injured. The storms are only the latest reminder of how severe weather events are becoming increasingly common in the global warming era. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed 18 tornadoes between Thursday and Saturday. Eight were rated either EF2 or EF3 – a classification of tornadoes with intense winds ranging from 111 mph to 165 mph. Deaths have been reported in towns across Michigan and Oklahoma. Union City, a small town in south-west Michigan, suffered some of the most severe damage from the storms. The area was hit by winds of 160 mph, according to the NWS. Several homes were taken off their foundation and destroyed, leaving behind only cement blocks. Parked cars were crushed by falling trees, and large amounts of debris were scattered around neighborhoods. About 70 homes in the Union City area were damaged, Tim Miner, the Branch count