A powerful storm system sweeping over the U.S. South over the weekend killed at least four people, leaving a trail of destruction behind it with several tornadoes touching down across multiple states. The storms continue into the central-southern Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast, where officials say assessments are ongoing.
These storms have been most destructive in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas, which reported dozens of tornadoes. The weather also fouled up holiday travel: significant delays and cancellations were reported at airports across the affected regions.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves confirmed two fatalities in the state, one each in Adams County and Lowndes County, both attributed to the extreme weather. The state authorities are also reviewing other cases of injuries and damages statewide. A man lost his life due to storm-related accidents in Iredell County, North Carolina, while one more fatality and a number of injuries have been reported from the Liverpool area of Texas, south of Houston. The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office said a man died and four others were injured in a suspected tornado.
North of Houston, Montgomery County Emergency Management reported an EF-3 tornado with more than 300 structures damaged and several people with minor injuries. The National Weather Service also confirmed EF-1 tornado damage in Athens, Ala., where winds were estimated at 100 mph, with a path width of 160 yards.
A National Storm Prediction Center’s “moderate risk” — the second highest on its scale, was issued early in the day for much of Mississippi and Louisiana, indicating a significant threat. A “Particularly Dangerous Situation” tornado watch was issued later Saturday for southeastern Arkansas, southwestern Mississippi, and parts of Texas.
Climate change might have something to do with amplifying conditions that lead up to the tornado outbreaks, given how more frequent and strong such phenomena are getting. Accordingly, studies indicate that in conditions of rising temperatures, unstable atmospheric conditions are developed. If combined with less wind shear, these create quite an ideal setting for events of larger and more destructive storming.
