The Midwest and South have been hit by a series of deadly storms over the past few days, and the threat for tornadoes is expected to continue on Thursday.
In the last 24 hours, seven states have reported a total of 17 tornadoes. Since Monday, there have been nearly 100 confirmed or reported tornadoes across 18 states.
Severe weather is expected to impact over 30 million Americans, spanning from Texas to South Carolina, on Thursday night into early Friday. While the tornado threat is relatively lower compared to the ongoing multiday outbreak, the primary concerns will be damaging winds and large hail. However, there is still a chance for a few tornadoes to form during this time.
A cluster of thunderstorms, known to have produced tornadoes, is expected to move through southern Georgia, bringing with it the potential for damaging winds of up to 70 mph, scattered hail, and a few tornadoes. This severe weather will continue to move south and east throughout the evening.
A tornado watch has been issued for the states of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida until 9 p.m. ET Thursday. The cities of Jacksonville, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina, are included in this tornado watch.
In Texas, we can anticipate a series of storms to develop on Thursday afternoon and evening, moving westward across the Gulf Coast states throughout the night. These storms bring with them the potential for powerful wind gusts reaching up to 85 mph and the possibility of large hail stones measuring up to 4 inches. While the likelihood is low, there is also a small chance of encountering a tornado or two.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Texas, including Dallas, Waco, and Abilene, until 9 p.m. CT on Thursday.
After three people lost their lives in storms on Wednesday, the latest severe weather threat has emerged.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health, one individual tragically lost their life in Claiborne County. Additionally, Maury Regional Health reported that another person succumbed to the storms in Maury County, Tennessee, with four others sustaining injuries.
According to The Associated Press, another fatality has been reported in North Carolina.
According to the National Weather Service, the tornado that wreaked havoc in Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee, on Wednesday was classified as an EF3, packing winds of up to 140 mph. Authorities reported that approximately 40 homes in the county were either severely damaged or completely destroyed as a result of the storm.
Overnight into Thursday, a tornado emergency was declared near Huntsville, Alabama, as reports of a tornado causing damage emerged.
A flash flood emergency has been declared in the northern part of Nashville, Tennessee, as heavy rainfall of over 8 inches within a few hours has caused significant flooding. Overnight, there have been reports of water rescues in the affected areas.