Storm unleashes massive tornadoes, flooding south

JACKSON, Mississippi (AP) — Residents of several towns in Louisiana and Mississippi were evacuated after tornado sirens blared late Tuesday. Weather forecasters have warned of a powerful Twister threat that can track long distances as a severe weather outbreak hits the ground. deep south.

There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries as multiple tornado warnings were issued Tuesday afternoon into the night as severe thunderstorms swept across eastern Texas to Georgia and north into Indiana.National Weather Service Confirmed A tornado hit the ground in Mississippi on Tuesday night, while Alabama was on the forecasted path of the storm overnight.

More than 25 million people were endangered as a system of giant storms.The National Storm Prediction Center said in it storm outlook Affected cities may include New Orleans. Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. and Birmingham, Alabama.

NWS has received reports of people trapped in a grocery store in Caledonia, Mississippi. Lowndes County Emergency Management Director Cindy Lawrence said shortly after 6 p.m. WTVA-TV People inside the grocery store successfully made it. Lawrence also said a family trapped in a house about a mile (1.6 km) away from the store had escaped.

Additional reports of property damage near Columbus have been received by the NWS, according to NWS forecaster Lance Perrilloux.

Heavy rain and hail the size of a tennis ball are also possible, with weather forecasters expecting the weather outbreak to continue until Wednesday.

Craig Ceecee, a meteorologist at Mississippi State University, stared into an “incredibly black” sky from the door of a tornado shelter in Starkville. He estimated that about 100 people had already arrived as a thunderstorm was continuing outside.

The Oktibbeja County Emergency Management Department operates a shelter approximately three miles from the university campus. Ceecee said it is a dome-shaped multi-purpose facility capable of withstanding 250 mph (400 kph) winds.

Before Tuesday’s storm, Ceecee built a database of tornado shelters in Mississippi. He said there are some empty towns.

“I had to go through the event without[shelter]. Trust me, they were scary,” Ceecee said.

In the small town of Chula, Mississippi, hail crashed into the city hall windows as the mayor and other residents evacuated during a tornado warning. After the storm passed, Mayor Ann Polk said, “It was hitting the window. It turned out to be just the right size ball.

Federal forecasters rarely warn of large tornadoes that can cause damage over long distances, like Tuesday’s forecast. Tornado monitoring, which covers much of Louisiana and Mississippi, was announced because of “especially dangerous conditions,” NWS said.

“A supercell is expected to develop this afternoon and move northeast through much of northeastern Louisiana and central Mississippi,” the Bureau of Meteorology said. “The parameters appear to be suitable for a strong and prolonged tornado this afternoon and evening.”

The storm’s strongest wave was predicted to pass through Mississippi between 5pm and 8pm, said Sarah Sickles, an NWS forecaster in the state capital, Jackson.

The Storm Prediction Center, based in Norman, Oklahoma, said: “Several severe thunderstorms are possible in the lower Mississippi region and parts of the south central region this afternoon through tonight.

Tornadoes rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale can generate gusts of up to 165 mph (266 kph).

All remaining classes at Mississippi State University’s main campus in Starkville were switched to distance learning on Tuesday due to the weather. A Mississippi women’s basketball game against the University of Louisiana at Monroe was scheduled to be played on campus, but the venue was closed to spectators. Alcorn State University and the University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg closed early.

Some public schools in Mississippi also closed early.

Flood warnings have been issued for parts of southeastern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama because 8 to 13 cm of rain can cause flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

Meanwhile, heavy snow was disrupting traffic in parts of the Midwest.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that the runway was closed due to rapid snowfall and reduced visibility. Or several arriving planes were shown to bypass. The National Weather Service reported that by noon, about four inches (10) of snow had fallen on the ground at the airport.

Jill Breed of Little Rock, Arkansas. Michael Goldberg of Jackson, Mississippi. Sarah Klein of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His Steve Karnowski of Minneapolis contributed to this report.