Terrifying tornadoes erupted in the mid-South yesterday in a powerful spring storm system that dumped rain and spawned strong winds.
Locals in parts of Lake City, Arkansas, are waking up to severe damage after a massive twister razed the area, tossing cars and trucks and blowing homes down. The National Weather Service had issues its highest warning for the area — a tornado emergency. Some debris got tossed 30,000 feet in the air — as high as commercial airlines fly, NBC’s Kathy Park reported.
This storm system front is stalled from Pennsylvania to Texas with more afternoon and evening storms likely, NBC’s Al Roker forecast.
Today into tonight tornadoes are likely, with a few of them being strong, along with risk of damaging hail up to two inches in diameter, and wind gusts up to 60 mph possible. There’s also a risk of EF-2 tornadoes from Texarkana up to Little Rock and Memphis.
Tomorrow the storm will move to the east and another round of severe storms will develop from Illinois down into Texas, with another risk of strong tornadoes, tennis ball-sized hail and damaging winds.
Roker warned that this multiple day storm event may lead to life-threatening, historically bad flooding with up to 15 inches of rain possible through Saturday from Evansville, Indiana, down to Little Rock.
Storms are receding from some in the Nashville metro area, but flooding remains a risk through the morning, the National Weather Service said.
Hotel guests at Nashville’s famed Gaylord Opryland Resort took shelter in the basement overnight due to a tornado warning.
Mike Hockett, who said he was stranded in Nashville for a third night, shared video on X showing guests sitting and standing in the basement waiting out the warning around 3 a.m. Thursday morning. He said the guests were given the all clear around 5 a.m. local time.
A third death was confirmed in Tennessee due to a tornado, Justin Lewis, director of the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency said.
A tornado passed through the southeast corner of the county and lifted a house trailer, home to a family of five, off of the ground, he said
As a result, one person died, two were left in critical condition and two in stable condition, Lewis said.
In Jeffersontown, Kentucky, police urged drivers to use caution on the road due to zero lighting and low visibility conditions.
The local police department warned that widespread power outages have led to “multiple vehicles vs downed trees.”
Jeffersontown is about 15 miles south east of Louisville.
Tornado watches are in place in 17 counties of Kentucky, and in 25 counties in Tennessee through 9 a.m. ET.
Wind advisories are also in effect for parts of southeastern Texas, southwestern Louisiana and Alabama.
In Texas, a wind advisory is in effect for multiple counties — including the cities of Houston, Rosenberg, Galveston — through 5 p.m. CT (6 p.m. ET) with south winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 30 mph expected.
Officials warn that gusty winds will blow unsecured objects around, could result in downed tree limbs and power outages, and difficult driving conditions.
In Louisiana, the advisory is in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) with wind gusts up to 35 mph forecast. In Alabama, a wind advisory is in effect through 7 a.m. CT (8 a.m. ET).
A high wind warning is also in effect through 11 a.m. ET in the mountainous areas of Tennessee with south winds of 20 to 40 mph forecast and gusts up to 70 mp. The National Weather Service warned “widespread power outages” and difficult travel conditions are expected.
See a list of NWS warnings here.
As it says at every major flooding event, the National Weather Service has reminded people not to attempt to drive through flood waters, especially at night. This represents one of the biggest hazards in flooded areas, and the likelihood of cars’ engines failing and people becoming trapped is high.
“If your area is experiencing flooding, it’s best to stay put, but if you must be on the road, drive cautiously and NEVER drive through floodwaters,” it said on X.
Authorities in Tennessee confirmed two people died overnight as the state battles extreme weather. One death was in McNairy County, the other in Obion County. No further details were released.
One death was announced overnight in Missouri.
Tornado warnings and flash flood warnings are in place across west and central Tennessee on Thursday. Residents are urged to follow official channels and local media for updates.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee declared a state of emergency on Wednesday across the state, including a request for federal assistance in removing debris and protective measures.
Millions are waking to scenes of devastation across large swathes of the United States as forecasters warn that historic flash flooding, severe weather, and the risk of tornadoes will continue into Thursday.
At least one person was killed and 10 injured, one critically, as tornadoes and severe weather conditions hit a huge portion of the Mid-West to the Mid-South on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service said this “powerful Spring storm system will continue to bring the threat of life-threatening flash flooding and significant severe weather focused on the Ohio Valley west-southwest through the Middle Mississippi Valley, Mid-South, and ArkLaTex.”
Areas already hit hard on Wednesday can expect more of the same on Thursday. The NWS is warning of a high risk of extreme rainfall from southwestern Kentucky into western Tennessee and northeastern Arkansas—this could reach between 10 and 15 inches through the weekend.
These areas should be braced for “the greatest threat for numerous instances of life-threatening flash flooding,” the NWS said, with ongoing effects likely to be felt for days to come.
Reporting from MEMPHIS, Tennessee
A powerful spring storm system is threatening millions with dangerous weather from northeast Texas to Michigan. Reported tornadoes have already shredded roofs off of homes and businesses in Missouri. In Memphis, the city is filling up sandbags as they brace for at least 10 inches of rain.
