At least 43 people have been killed in recent days by severe storms across parts of the southern and central United States. Tornadoes, flash floods, and snow have devastated homes and infrastructure in Texas, Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and other states. Governors in several states have declared states of emergency due to the destructive weather, including tornadoes with winds over 200 mph that destroyed hundreds of homes in Texas. The storms have caused over 1,500 flights to be canceled and downed trees and debris over large areas. Unseasonably warm weather may have contributed to the severity of the storms.