ATLANTA (AP) — Destructive storms claimed two lives in Mississippi and caused significant damage in a small Oklahoma town as they moved eastward on Wednesday, triggering tornado warnings along the East Coast. Concurrently, heavy snowfall hit the Midwest while dry, windy conditions fueled wildfires in Texas.
Additionally, meteorologists predicted that a Pacific storm would bring widespread rain and snow to California and other Western regions from Wednesday through Friday. Tornado warnings were issued in the Carolinas, Florida, and Virginia on Wednesday morning. Officials in Union County, North Carolina reported storm damage in the Unionville area, with potential tornado activity being investigated by the weather service. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
In Texas, strong winds and dry vegetation led to wildfires in various parts of the state. One fire destroyed at least 20 structures in coastal San Patricio County near Corpus Christi, according to County Judge David Krebs. Critical fire weather conditions were expected to persist in south central Texas on Wednesday.
The threat of severe weather continued following stormy winds that altered Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans the day before. In Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves confirmed two fatalities due to the severe weather, with one person reportedly killed by a falling power line in Madison County and another by a falling tree in the same county.
Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service indicated that at least seven tornadoes touched down on Tuesday in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, with the potential for more severe storms stretching from Florida to New York state on Wednesday. Bill Bunting, deputy director of the agency’s Storm Prediction Center, emphasized the dual nature of these storm systems, which can produce severe thunderstorms and winter weather conditions.
Blizzard conditions struck eastern Nebraska overnight into Wednesday, bringing heavy snowfall and strong winds that limited visibility and forced road closures. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area, southern Minnesota, and much of Iowa also experienced significant snowfall from a powerful winter storm. In Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz authorized the National Guard to assist with rescuing stranded drivers amid treacherous road conditions.
In South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, firefighters battling wildfires faced challenges due to heavy winds hindering their response to flare-ups and spot fires.
The recent severe storms have caused significant disruptions, both in terms of power outages and potential safety hazards. As a result, numerous individuals in the central and southeastern regions of the United States have been left without electricity. Specifically, over 81,000 customers in Texas, around 30,000 in Tennessee, and approximately 27,000 in Alabama have been affected, according to data from PowerOutage.us.
Furthermore, the adverse weather conditions have prompted concerns for air travel, particularly in the northeast U.S. The Federal Aviation Administration has warned that gusts could result in ground stops or delays at major airports in that area. As a precaution, nearly 600 flights scheduled to operate within or to and from U.S. airports on Wednesday have been canceled, as reported by FlightAware.com, a platform that monitors flight disruptions nationwide.
It is essential for individuals to exercise caution when navigating through wooded areas where trees may have been damaged by the storms, as there is an increased risk of falling debris. The collective efforts of Associated Press journalists nationwide have contributed to the dissemination of this critical information.
