Dozens of deadly tornadoes and powerful storms ravaged the Midwest and South late Friday and into the wee hours of Saturday, including one that collapsed the roof of an Illinois concert hall where hundreds were gathered for a performance.

At least five people were killed and dozens injured in the violent weather, which tore through several states just a week after 26 people were killed in the South by tornadoes and storms. Nearly two dozen tornadoes were reported late Friday and early Saturday in Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Mississippi.

Near Ollie, IA today. Will publish video a bit later. Saw a few different tornadoes including 2 at the same time. pic.twitter.com/4S5ai5luAh

— Darin Brunin (@Tornaduhs) March 31, 2023

In Belvidere, Illinois, more than 200 people were gathered inside the Apollo Theatre Friday night for a performance by bands Revocation, Morbid Angel, and Skeletal Remains. The concert had been underway for a half hour when the building’s roof collapsed, leaving one person dead and 28 injured, according to the city’s fire chief. The collapse was apparently caused by powerful winds and hail, according to the National Weather Service.

🚨#BREAKING: An Extremely dangerous and life threatening tornado outbreak will likely take place today⁰⁰📌#Unitedstates | #USA⁰⁰The Storm Prediction Center has issued a historic Rare double High Risk for Numbers Long track and extremely violent dangerous tornados that covers… pic.twitter.com/8eMqZ9AJlz

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 31, 2023

“We ask anyone who is still traveling to the venue to please seek shelter and stay safe,” Morbid Angel said in a statement posted on social media. “We are currently sheltering in place, and want to extend our support and hope that everyone at the show tonight is safe. Right now our focus is on making sure everyone in the venue tonight is ok and gets home.”

Three people were reported killed in Arkansas, including two in Wynne and one in North Little Rock. Another two were killed in Indiana late Friday by a powerful storm that wrecked homes and a volunteer fire department near Sullivan.

(Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

At least a dozen tornadoes were reported in Arkansas alone, where the small city of Wynne was “basically cut in half by damage from east to west,” Mayor Jennifer Hobbs told CNN Friday evening. Homes in the town of 8,000 were leveled, and debris was strewn on fields and streets.

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Just one week ago, a spate of deadly storms ripped through Arkansas and Mississippi killing more than two dozen people. The town of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, was devastated by the storms, which packed 170-mph winds.

More tornadoes were expected Saturday in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

Well, folks, don’t look now, but the “risk of a nuclear weapon being used is currently higher than at any time since the depths of the cold war,” according to the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu.

The war in Ukraine — obviously — is what is driving that risk. Based on reports made during the UN’s security council on Friday, that war isn’t ending any time soon — as if there were any doubt of that. Americans should know it is not going to end any time soon, our commander-in-chief has said that our tax dollars and equipment will be supporting Ukraine in its battle against Russia for “as long as it takes” — whatever that means. The Swamp wants this war to continue — and so it will.

While Biden has been banging the war drums, Putin has been chatting with its neighbors and new BFF Belarus. Now, reports indicate that Russia will be stationing non-strategic nuclear weapons within Belarus territory. According to the UN, those will be in place for aerial use by July.

For its part, Russia denies such accusations.

“We are pursuing cooperation with Belarus without violating obligations,” Russian ambassador and Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia said on Friday. “We are not transferring nuclear weapons. We are talking about the retrofitting of airplanes and training teams in the construction of a storage facility on the territory of Belarus.”

Yet he did make sure to note that Russia would respond to any “provocative measures” as it saw fit, while adding, “A nuclear war cannot be won.”

As has been the case for much of the war, Russia and the West aren’t exactly on speaking terms, to put it lightly. Both sides say that the other needs to leave Ukraine in order for the fighting to end, and both sides say that isn’t going to happen.

So, the war will persist at an essential stalemate, possibly inching closer and closer to World War III.

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Now, Ukraine has been fortifying troops and conducting practices along its border with Belarus. That has Belarus worried that Ukraine might try to invade Russia through its territory.

How did Belarusian leaders respond? Well, they first offered a proposal for an immediate ceasefire — which was rejected by Ukrainian leaders. Then Belarus essentially threatened to nuke the West if it tried entering its territory.

What does the U.S. have to say about all of this?

On Friday, Robert Wood, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, told Russia, “Any use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine would have severe consequences and would fundamentally change the nature of this war.” He also called Russia’s accusations “ludicrous.”

Meanwhile, Nakamitsu from the UN was practically begging the two sides to come to the table and craft a peace plan.

“When it comes to issues related to nuclear weapons, all States must avoid taking any actions that could lead to escalation, mistake or miscalculation,” she said. “They should return to dialogue to de-escalate tensions urgently and find ways to develop and implement transparency and confidence-building measures.”

Yet again, dialogue isn’t on the table for Biden or Putin. So, the war will go on for the foreseeable future. If both sides don’t start talking soon, well, then maybe it really is the closest we’ve been to a nuclear war.

The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Related: It Sure Sounds Like Biden Wants World War Over Ukraine