Rare tornadoes in December have ripped through the South, with 40 reports from Texas to Alabama claiming at least two lives over the Christmas season.
Dramatic videos captured the moment deadly tornadoes touched down in the Lone Star State and Mississippi on Saturday, destroying homes, downing power lines and bringing travel to a standstill in some areas.
National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira said more “gusting, damaging winds,” hail and tornadoes are expected to rip through the South on Sunday as the storm system moves north toward Georgia and the Carolinas.
So far, Pereira said, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, but those reports remain unconfirmed until damage surveys are completed.
“It’s not unheard of, but it is quite unusual for a severe weather outbreak of this magnitude to occur this late in the year,” he said.
The storms will continue to track eastward until they eventually move toward the coast, meaning the risk for severe weather events will diminish through Sunday evening.
The National Weather Service has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of the Deep South for Sunday.
Wind gusts of 60 mph (97 km per hour) were expected in the Spartanburg, South Carolina area. Damage to trees and power lines was expected in a number of counties, while a tornado warning was in effect in some parts of the state.
Rare tornadoes in December have ripped through the South, with 40 reports from Texas to Alabama claiming at least two lives over the Christmas season. (Pictured: A tornado crossing a field in Katy, Texas on Saturday)
Bystanders embrace as first responders try to free a victim after a tree fell on a home in Natchez, Miss., Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024
The Storm Prediction Center has raised the risk of a tornado to Level 4, with a tornado watch for parts of East Texas and storm watches in Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia.
As of 9 a.m. ET on Sunday, nearly 65,000 customers were without power in Mississippi, down from 93,000 at around 1 a.m., according to electric utility tracking website PowerOutage.us.
About 54,000 customers were without power in Georgia, 36,000 in Alabama, 20,000 in Louisiana and 13,000 in Texas.
Meanwhile, more than 15,000 flights have been affected by delays and 612 canceled in or out of the US as of Sunday morning, according to FlightAware.com.
On Saturday, one person died in the Liverpool area, south of Houston, Texas. Four people suffered injuries that were not considered critical, according to Madison Polston of the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office.
There were ‘several touchdown points’ in the county between Liverpool, Hillcrest Village and Alvin. Officials were aware of about 10 damaged homes but were working to determine the extent of the damage, Polston said.
In Mississippi, one person died in Adams County and two people were injured in Franklin County, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
A mobile home was damaged after a tornado ripped through Katy, Texas, on Saturday
Neighbors move debris from a woman’s home after strong thunderstorms move through the Greater Houston area, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Porter Heights
Severe weather is expected to increase again across the South from Texas to Alabama
According to FlightAware.com, more than 15,000 flights have been affected by delays and 612 have been canceled in or out of the U.S. as of Sunday morning
The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes hit around Bude and the city of Brandon, ripping the roofs off several buildings on Saturday.
It appeared at least six tornadoes had touched down in the Houston area, but more could be discovered as crews go out to inspect the damage.
According to Josh Lichter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, there was damage in the area from both tornadoes and straight-line winds.
North of Houston, mobile homes were damaged or destroyed in Katy and Porter Heights, where the doors of a fire station were blown off, the weather service said.
Storm damage was reported in the northern Alabama city of Athens, just northwest of Huntsville. A National Weather Service survey team was expected to begin assessing the damage Sunday morning, meteorologist Chelly Amin said.
In the West, a series of river-driven storms are bringing high wands, heavy rain and mountain snow across the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies.
Social media has shown images of tornadoes forming in parts of Texas.
A video shared by Robert Perry showed a tornado passing through his home near Brookshire, The Lone Star State.
Debris remains clinging to power lines after a tornado ripped through Katy, Texas, on Saturday
States including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were all hit by tornadoes, high winds and hail on Thursday and Friday
Saul Rodriguez uses a chainsaw to remove debris on top of a car from a woman’s home after strong thunderstorms moved through the Greater Houston area, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Porter Heights
Other social media users have reported widespread damage in Porter Heights, Texas, after a tornado ripped through the area.
It comes after Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated the state’s emergency response efforts due to the increased threat of severe weather earlier this week.
“As Texans and out-of-state visitors begin traveling after the Christmas holidays, it is critical that everyone regularly monitor road conditions, make a contingency plan, and heed guidance from state and local officials.” , Abbott said in a statement.
A ground stop earlier this week, which affected all American Airlines flights, also had a domino effect, postponing hundreds of festive travel plans.
At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the departure board was not a welcome sight for many travelers.
Elsewhere, passengers could be seen begging gate staff for answers as they waited in increasingly long lines.