The death toll increased to 43 as a result of bad weather in the US.
Storms hit the U.S. South, Southwest and Midwest over the Christmas holiday weekend, unleashing floods and tornadoes .

The bad weather, or the threat of it, prompted the governors of Missouri and New Mexico to declare a state of emergency .

Flash floods killed at least 13 people in Missouri and Illinois.

Nixon declared a state of emergency, saying continued rains would make already widespread flooding conditions worse.

Four districts are declared a natural disaster zone.