Thunderstorms and stifling heat seen hitting the southern United States Memorial Day

(Reuters) – It was expected that sweltering heat, storms and possible tornadoes would hit the southern plains and southeastern states of the United States on Memorial Day after a series deadly tornadoes and floods in the area.

Temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) were forecast in cities ranging from Jacksonville, Florida, south-east to Macon and Savannah, Georgia, to Charleston, South Carolina, National Weather announced. Service.

"It is very hot for this time of year," said John Deese, NWS forecaster at Peachtree, Georgia, near Atlanta.

"It's a heat wave blowing over the south of the country and it's going to stay here for a while," said Deese, predicting high temperatures all week, in the 90 or 90 degrees of the region.

The risks of heavy tornadoes are moderate but remain possible all week in the Southeast Plains states, already hit by deadly tornadoes last week, forecasters said.

The latest severe tornado killed two people in El Reno, Oklahoma on Saturday night, left at least 29 injured and left hundreds homeless, officials said.

Four more people were killed in the same storm in Oklahoma, CNN reported Sunday.

Rescuers searched for survivors Sunday in the rubble left by the tornado that devastated part of the small community near Oklahoma City, officials said.

At least seven other people were killed by storms last week.

The southern plains of the United States, including Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas and parts of Ohio, will remain under surveillance and warnings all week, in the rain, wind, hail and possible tornadoes, said David Roth of the NWS Weather Prediction Center at College Park. Maryland.

For Southeast Florida to Virginia: "It will stay warm," he said. "This weather model is just parked, persistent."