A strong storm system threatened to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast on Sunday, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira warned of gusty, damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes continuing through Sunday. While there have been about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira noted that these reports remain unconfirmed until damage surveys are completed. The storms are expected to move eastward and eventually move offshore, reducing the risk of severe weather by Sunday evening.
On Saturday, one person died in the Liverpool area south of Houston, Texas, with four others sustaining injuries that were not considered critical. Officials were still investigating the extent of the damage to around 10 homes in the area. In the Houston area, National Weather Service crews planned to conduct surveys for at least five tornadoes that hit north and south of the city on Saturday. In Mississippi, one person died in Adams County and two were injured in Franklin County due to tornadoes that hit around Bude and Brandon, tearing roofs off several buildings.
At least four people were reported dead as tornadoes and severe storms tore through several southern states over the weekend. A total of six tornadoes appeared to have touched down in the Houston area, causing damage from both tornadoes and straight-line winds. In North Houston, mobile homes were destroyed in Katy and Porter Heights, with the doors of a fire station blown in. Storm damage was also reported in northern Alabama town of Athens, where a National Weather Service team was assessing the damage. Severe weather warnings were issued as the storms moved east through Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, with wind gusts of up to 60 mph expected in certain areas.
The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings across parts of the Deep South as the line of storms swept through Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Power outages affected nearly 65,000 customers in Mississippi, with thousands more without power in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. In Houston, the storm caused significant damage to homes and buildings, with reports of roofs being ripped off and trees uprooted. Residents were urged to stay indoors and take necessary precautions as the severe weather continued to move across the region.
Residents in the affected areas were left in shock as they woke up to scenes of devastation caused by the tornadoes and severe storms. While damage assessments were still ongoing, the impact on communities was significant, with homes destroyed and infrastructure damaged. Emergency management agencies were working to provide assistance to those affected by the storms, offering shelter and support to those who had lost their homes. The cleanup process would likely take days or even weeks as communities worked to recover from the destruction caused by the severe weather.
As the storm system moved offshore and the severe weather risk dwindled, residents in the affected areas could begin to assess the damage and start the process of rebuilding. The cleanup efforts would be a community-wide endeavor, with residents coming together to support each other in the aftermath of the storms. Authorities urged caution as residents navigated the damaged areas, warning of potential hazards such as downed power lines and unstable structures. Despite the devastation caused by the storms, communities remained resilient and determined to rebuild and recover from the impact of the severe weather event.
