ATLANTA — A line of relentless storms is charging across the Southeast, putting more than 40 million Americans under heightened threats of tornadoes, damaging winds, hail, and heavy rainfall, particularly in regions still recovering from Hurricane Helene. The severe weather system escalated on Saturday, with multiple tornadoes wreaking havoc around Houston, Texas, resulting in at least two fatalities, one of which was confirmed as a 16-year-old girl killed when her home collapsed during the violent storms.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued forecasts indicating a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms extending from the eastern Gulf Coast up to southern Virginia. This forecast encompasses more than 20 million people, affecting major urban centers including Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. Meanwhile, the broader region, stretching from North Florida to Cleveland, Ohio, falls under a Level 1 risk for severe weather.
On Sunday morning, Tornado Watches were active for parts of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, with expectations of continued severe weather throughout the night. Additional watches were established for eastern Georgia, southwestern North Carolina, and most of South Carolina until at least the afternoon.
Flight delays were significant as travelers faced disruptions due to the severe weather, particularly at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where over 500 flights were reportedly delayed by midday Sunday. The power outages are climbing, affecting nearly 190,000 customers across the Southeast, with specific outages reported from Texas to North Carolina. Damage from either wind or potential tornadoes has already been confirmed near Woosley, Georgia, requiring intervention from the National Weather Service.
Upon assessing the storm's impact, cleanup operations got underway, especially in Athens, Alabama, where thunderstorms caused extensive damage, uprooting trees and damaging traffic signals. Meteorologists predicted this weather event would deliver the most rain western North Carolina has seen since the hazardous flooding tied to Hurricane Helene last September. Rainfall estimates for the area range between 2 to 3 inches, with some localized areas bracing for 3 to 5 inches.
While the storm system progressed eastward, the momentous weather had already reported at least 40 tornado incidents from southeastern Texas to Alabama, though assessment teams would need to confirm these reports through detailed damage evaluations. Frank Pereira, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service indicated the rarity of such severe weather outbreaks so late in the year and expressed concerns about gusty winds and hail accompanying the tornado threats.
No significant weather-related deaths were recorded directly from Alabama's storms on early Sunday morning, though extensive wind damage has been reported. It was noted, particularly, across Athens, with no fatalities and only injuries reported. The scenarios were similarly grave across Texas: there was one recorded death due to storm damage. Information from local authorities described around ten homes damaged across the county.
Meanwhile, across the state lines, Mississippi Emergency Management confirmed devastating outcomes as well, stating one individual died due to severe weather as tornado activity gripped the area, leaving damage reports from around Bude and Brandon.
A sweep of tornadoes touched down across the Houston area, prompting localized emergency responses as reports emerged of mobile homes destroyed, impacts from which were severe enough to necessitate operational scans and safety assessments by weather service teams. Wind gusts heavily impacted North and Central Texas, upending not just structures but also throwing down power lines.
The National Weather Service had issued warnings throughout the Deep South as storms advanced eastward, indicating wind gust potential reaching 60 mph (97 kph) through parts of South Carolina. Power outages remained prevalent, with utility tracking sources listing significant power losses, highlighting over 65,000 customers in Mississippi initially without electricity, alongside thousands more impacted across Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas.
While the immediate threat from severe storms eventually sees mitigation as they move offshore, the day presents concerns over waterlogged areas previously affected by Helene, with state forecasts warning against the dangers of potential flooding. Meteorologists across the Southeast continue to monitor these developments closely, providing updates for residents and travelers alike.
This severe weather outbreak, though clear of its peak by late Sunday, has left indelible marks on communities across the Southern United States, and its effects will be traced and analyzed for some time to come. Residents have been urged to remain alert for conditions, and officials will continue damage assessments as safe conditions permit, ensuring necessary support to those affected.