Severe storms and flash flooding persisted in certain areas of the U.S. on Thursday following a powerful line of storms that swept across multiple states, causing heavy rain and tornadoes. The aftermath of these storms resulted in significant damage and tragically claimed the life of at least one individual.
On Thursday, a tornado was confirmed near St. Johns, Florida. Intense thunderstorms were sweeping across the state, leading to a tornado watch in effect for parts of central Florida until 3 p.m.
Storms have the potential to generate not only tornadoes but also destructive wind gusts, heavy rainfall leading to flooding, and small hail.
30 million people in Central Florida and the Ohio Valley could potentially experience severe storms on Thursday. The cities at risk include Orlando, Florida; Cincinnati and Cleveland in Ohio; and Charleston, West Virginia.
Around 17 million individuals are currently under flood watches in a wide area spanning from Indiana through Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, extending into certain regions of northern Maine.
The area will experience excessive runoff as it gets hit with multiple rounds of showers and storms. This could potentially cause flooding in rivers, creeks, streams, and urban areas.
Wednesday’s storm impact
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On Wednesday, Lake Charles, Louisiana experienced the devastating impact of an EF-2 tornado. With winds reaching 115 mph, the tornado caused significant damage by ripping off roofs and bringing down power lines. Similarly, in Port Arthur, Texas, another EF-2 twister touched down, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The National Weather Service reported these incidents, highlighting the sheer force and intensity of these tornadoes.
Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi revealed on Wednesday that his state had experienced one weather-related fatality in Scott County and one injury in Grenada County.
Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee stated that the storm was responsible for the unfortunate death of 64-year-old Shirley Wilson. Tragically, her oxygen machine shut down when her home lost power. Despite her grandchild’s prompt call to 911, emergency responders were unable to reach her for approximately 20 minutes. Regrettably, she was pronounced dead.
According to Reeves, a total of 72 homes in Grenada, Hinds, Marshall, Scott, Warren, and Yazoo counties were either damaged or destroyed.
Intense rain transformed the streets of New Orleans into rivers. Officials from the National Weather Service reported damage in Slidell and Saint Francisville, indicating the presence of at least an EF-1 tornado on Wednesday. However, further assessment is required to confirm these findings.
On Wednesday, there were also flash flood emergencies.
In Kirbyville, Texas, the area experienced heavy rainfall, resulting in Pin Oak Creek rising 10 feet in less than six hours. This rapid increase in water levels prompted a disaster declaration for Jasper County, as the city was reported to be “under water” according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. The region received an estimated 15 to 17 inches of rainfall, leading to these alarming conditions.
New Orleans experienced an astonishing downpour, with a staggering 5.95 inches of rain pouring down in less than six hours. The storm totals for Wednesday reached a record-breaking 6.24 inches. Similarly, Tallahassee was drenched with a remarkable 7 inches of rainfall in just eight hours. These cities received an extraordinary amount of rain, surpassing their average monthly rainfall within a matter of hours.
Thursday night’s forecast
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee issued an early warning on Thursday, alerting residents about the flash flood emergency. They cautioned that many roads in the city were impassable and homes were experiencing water intrusion. The advisory urged people to stay indoors and avoid driving through flooded roads.
According to PowerOutage.us, as of 4:30 p.m. ET, there were over 115,000 customers experiencing power outages across the country. Louisiana had almost 58,000 customers without power, while Mississippi had over 25,000, Georgia had more than 15,000, and Florida had more than 17,000.
Heavy rain and the occasional rumble of thunder will impact the Great Lakes, interior northeast, and the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston from Thursday night into Friday.
Peak wind gusts of 36 mph are expected in Atlanta, 40 mph in Chicago, 43 mph in Detroit, 40 mph in Boston, and 39 mph in New York as the deluge continues. These strong winds will accompany the heavy rainfall throughout Friday.
Kathryn Prociv, a senior meteorologist and producer for NBC News, brings her expertise to the field of weather forecasting.