Severe weather and a tornado outbreak have caused extensive damage in five states spanning from Texas to Florida this week.
From late Tuesday night until Thursday evening, a total of 14 tornadoes have been confirmed across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
The storm system not only caused tornadoes but also resulted in multiple flash flood emergencies across eastern Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Tallahassee, Florida.
A tornado was confirmed in Bakersville, Florida, at 11:37 a.m. on Thursday. However, there is no information available yet regarding the intensity of the tornado or the extent of the damage it caused.
The Ohio Valley is at risk of experiencing tornadoes and floods on Thursday, lasting through the evening. Although the primary concern is the potential for damaging winds and a few tornadoes, there is also a chance of scattered hail occurring.
A tornado watch has been issued for certain areas in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania until 9 p.m. ET Thursday evening.
On Wednesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that a tornado of EF-2 intensity struck Lake Charles, Louisiana, with maximum winds reaching 115 mph. This powerful twister caused significant damage to numerous homes and even a local hospital.
Two tornadoes struck Cameron Parish in Louisiana on Wednesday, causing significant damage. These tornadoes were classified as EF-1, with maximum wind speeds of 100 mph. One of the tornadoes was so powerful that it managed to flip a mobile home, while the other primarily resulted in tree damage.
The NWS explains that EF is an abbreviation for Enhanced Fujita, which is a scale that assigns a tornado a “rating” based on estimated wind speeds and the resulting damage.
In Port Arthur, Texas, a powerful EF-2 tornado struck on Wednesday. The tornado had maximum winds of 120 mph, lasted for four minutes, and left a path of destruction that stretched 2.7 miles long and 300 yards wide, as reported by NWS.
On Wednesday, Georgetown, Alabama experienced a brief tornado that resulted in minor damage. The tornado was classified as an EF-1, with maximum winds reaching 100 mph.
A tornado, which has been verified, tore through Slidell, Louisiana, on Wednesday, just 30 miles away from New Orleans. As rain poured down on the town, the tornado wreaked havoc on buildings and caused power lines to fall, officials reported.
Authorities have yet to release any information regarding the magnitude and intensity of the tornado that struck Slidell.
During a press conference on Wednesday evening, Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal provided confirmation that the tornado did not result in any fatalities or significant injuries.
A tornado has been confirmed in St. Francisville, Louisiana. However, the survey to determine the strength and scale of the tornado is still in progress.
On Wednesday, the Lake Camden area in Mississippi experienced an EF-0 tornado with powerful winds reaching speeds of up to 85 mph. This came right after a Tuesday EF-1 tornado had already affected Learned, Mississippi.
According to officials from Mississippi Emergency Management, there has been one reported death in Scott County, Mississippi. They also mentioned that at least 72 homes have been damaged throughout the state.
On Tuesday, a brief tornado with maximum winds of 90 mph struck Katy, Texas. The National Weather Service has confirmed that the tornado hit the area at 2:45 a.m., with a width of 300 yards and a path spanning 1.67 miles.
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