Bad weather swept Texas, Louisiana and Alabama on Wednesday, leaving tens of thousands of residents without power, and a “major outbreak of bad weather” is expected to remain a risk for the next two days.
The National Weather Service warned of possible night floods and tornadoes and asked residents to make security plans well in advance of warnings.
The tornado threat is especially great in the stretch between southeastern Arkansas and northeastern Louisiana, through Mississippi and Alabama, where Governor Kay Ivey announced a state of emergency.
“A significant outbreak of a tornado is expected, with several strong tornadoes and some potentially violent long-term tornadoes,” warned the Weather Service.
Almost all of Mississippi was under surveillance of tornadoes on Wednesday night, as well as parts of southeastern Louisiana, northern and eastern Arkansas and western Tennessee.
Local residents suspect that the roof of this house along Cotten Lane in the Woolworth community in northeastern Lincoln County, Mississippi, may have been destroyed by a tornado on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Meteorologists believe that a harsher climate is expected on Wednesday, with the potential for big tornadoes, torrential rain and tennis ball-sized hail. (Brett Campbell / The Daily Leader)
(AP)
In all, the weather service issued more than 50 tornado warnings in Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma. Tornado watches included pieces from seven states.
AMU’s RV repair and service on Old Greensboro Road was hit by a tornado that destroyed several recreational vehicles owned by the customer, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Moundville, Alabama. The tornado also ripped the roof off the workshop with people inside, who survived. A wave of storms is hitting the Deep South, leaving a trail of shattered trees and damaged buildings. And forecasters said even more severe weather was on the way on Wednesday, with the potential for huge tornadoes, torrential rain and tennis ball-sized hail. (AP Photo / Vasha Hunt)
Meteorologists also warned of the potential for hailstones the size of a tennis ball.
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The bad prediction caused dozens of school districts to cancel classes or return to remote education, and thousands of people saw their appointments to vaccinate against coronavirus canceled.
A utility worker tries to repair lines with the Kelley Electric roof hanging from the lines after downtown Moundville was hit by severe weather on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Moundville, Alabama. Possible tornadoes knocked down trees, knocked out power lines and damaged homes in rural Chilton County and in the communities of Burnsville and Moundville in Alabama, where power was cut off and trees blocked a major highway. (AP Photo / Vasha Hunt)
(AP)
Flood clocks have been issued in much of Missouri, southeastern Tennessee and northwest Georgia.
The climate has already hit several communities in Alabama, cutting down trees and power lines and blocking roads.
The photographs show overturned power lines, flattened houses, broken windows and overturned RVs.
A tree was felled along the railroad tracks in northeastern Lincoln County, Mississippi, after a mid-morning severe weather attack, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Meteorologists believe a more severe climate is expected for Wednesday, with the potential for massive tornadoes and torrential rains. and scream the size of tennis balls. (Brett Campbell / The Daily Leader)
(AP)
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Chuck Folts, a trailer mechanic in Moundville, Alabama, told the Associated Press that he crouched in his workshop while a tornado ripped through the roof above him.
Severe weather is expected to hit eastern Georgia and the Carolinas on Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.