At Least Two Dead As Tornadoes Rip Across South

At least two people are dead and several injured after severe weather ripped through the South Saturday and early Sunday.

Homes are destroyed, trees down and roads blocked across parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Areas around Houston were especially hard hit, with one person killed and four injured in the Houston metro.

At least one person died in Adams County, Mississippi, and at least two people were injured.

Hundreds of thousands of people were left in the dark due to power outages, and emergency response was ongoing.

Here are our live updates as we continue to track the system:

(10:09 a.m. ET) Hundreds Of Flights Delayed, Canceled In North Carolina

More than 500 flights were delayed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina on Sunday morning due to the heavy rain, gusty winds and tornado threats in the Charlotte area. Nearly 30 flights were cancelled, according to FlightAware.com.

(9:50 a.m. ET) Power Outages Surge In South Carolina

More than 31,000 customers are without power in South Carolina as severe thunderstorm watches and warnings covered areas like Columbia, Sumter, Camden and Kershaw.

(9:30 a.m. ET) Storm Damage In Athens, Alabama

The line of storms caused a trail of damage across Alabama overnight. NWS Huntsville planned to survey damage in the Athens area in Limestone county, where city officials shared pictures of the damage to the downtown area.

(8:30 a.m. ET) 5 Tornadoes Confirmed In Texas

The National Weather Service in Houston confirmed 5 tornadoes on Saturday. That number could increase as teams get out and assess the damage across the Houston metro area.

(7:30 a.m. ET) Where The Storms Are Now

From weather.com meteorologist Sara Tonks:

“The line of storms is barreling through the Southeast Sunday morning, and there are tornado watches in effect for portions of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia, South Carolina, and western North Carolina.”

(6:50 a.m. ET) Death Confirmed In Mississippi

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed reports of one death in Adams County on Saturday night. WJTV News reported that a teen was killed when a tree fell on a home in the city of Natchez.

(6:00 a.m. ET) More Than 200,000 Without Power

More than 200,000 households were without power Sunday morning across five states, according to PowerOutage.us:

Mississippi: 73,899 outages

Georgia: 64,982 outages

Alabama: 47,557 outages

Louisiana: 23,639 outages

Texas: 13,272 outages

Below are our live updates as we tracked the storms on Saturday:

(8:09 p.m.ET) Latest From The Storm Prediction Center

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, which has parts of the South under the highest level of risk category, just released this update:

“An outbreak of tornadoes and severe wind gusts will continue this evening into tonight from the lower Mississippi Valley into the Central Gulf Coast states. Long-track tornadoes of greater than EF2 intensity will be likely in some areas. Wind gusts greater than 70 mph will also be possible.”

(8 p.m. ET) Roof Ripped Off Texas Elementary School

Video shared on social media shows what’s left of a heavily damaged section of Walt Disney Elementary School in Alvin, Texas. The school for third through fifth graders has about 439 students and is closed for winter break.

(7:42 p.m. ET) Power Outages Top 100,000

More than 100,000 homes, businesses and other utility customers are without electricity across the South, according to PowerOutage.us. Each power outage can represent more than one person or household on a single account, meaning multiple times that many are in the dark. The top numbers right now are:

-Louisiana, with 52,623 outages.

-Texas, with 30,347 outages.

-Mississippi, with 29,957 outages.

(7:31 p.m. ET) Linear Storms Versus Supercells

We mentioned that the severe weather is transitioning from supercells to more linear storms. But what does that mean?

Supercells are long-lasting, highly organized storms often packing hail and high winds. They’re also known to produce the most powerful and deadly tornadoes.

Linear storms, or a squall line, are a group of storms moving in a line with “squalls” of rain and wind. They tend to move more quickly over an area, but can still bring dangerous severe weather including tornadoes.

(7:14 p.m. ET) Life-Threatening Weather Continues

From weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles:

“I’m now confident in saying that we’re transitioning toward a more linear storm rather than supercells. We’ll still have a few stronger supercells for another hour or two, but we’re moving toward quicker spin up tornadoes and damaging wind gusts, which can also be dangerous and life threatening.”

(7:09 p.m. ET) The Difference Between A Tornado Warning And A Tornado Watch

Anyone from East Texas into the Carolinas needs to be on alert for severe weather through the weekend. Here’s what to know about some of the terms you may hear:

–Tornado Watch Vs. Warning, What’s The Difference?

–All Tornado Warnings Are Important, But They Aren’t All The Same

(6:51 p.m. ET) Storms Move Into Rolling Fork, Mississippi

A dispatcher in Sharkey County, Mississippi, told us via phone a few minutes ago that emergency services are in the midst of active storm response. The county includes the city of Rolling Fork, devastated by an EF4 tornado last year. About one quarter of all housing units in Rolling Fork are manufactured homes, which are especially vulnerable to severe weather.

(6:09 p.m. ET) No Active Tornadoes – For Now

From Belles:

For the first time since late this afternoon, there are no currently no confirmed tornadoes associated with these storms. But that doesn’t mean anyone should let their guard down. Tornado warnings are still in effect across parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, and the threat continues overnight when tornadoes can often be their deadliest.

(5:57 p.m. ET) Winds Top 80 MPH

Strong winds are knocking down trees and power lines across eastern Louisiana. Here are the highest speeds reported so far:

-81 mph in Fort Johnson, Vernon Parish

-72 mph in Zwolle, Sabine Parish

-64 mph in Boyce, Rapides Parish

(5:51 p.m. ET) Woman Trapped In Home

At least one person was trapped in a house in Bude, Mississippi, in Franklin County, according to reports tracked by NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. A tree fell on the home when a tornado moved through.

Debris also blocked nearby roadways.

(5:43 p.m. ET) Where Storms Are Most Likely Right Now

From Belles:

The best conditions for severe weather are currently over southern Louisiana where the atmosphere is relatively untouched. Strong tornadoes and damaging wind gusts are most likely there.

Further north, thunderstorms have already taken a toll on the atmosphere. Severe thunderstorms will remain possible, but they may be weaker than storms to the south.

(5:41 p.m. ET) More Than 1,000 Flights Canceled Or Delayed In Dallas

Hundreds of flights are canceled or delayed at Texas airports, on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Here are the latest numbers, according to airline tracker FlightAware.

-Dallas-Fort Worth International, 1,087 flights affected

-Dallas Love Field, 222 flights affected

-Houston Bush Intercontinental, 604 flights affected

(5:28 p.m. ET) Power Outages Rise As Storms Trek East

More than 30% of all utility customers in Franklin County, Mississippi, are without power, according to PowerOutage.us. The county is home to the community of Bude, where damage and injuries are being reported.

More than 45,000 power outages are being reported in Texas and about 21,000 in Louisiana.

(5:20 p.m. ET) Damage, Injuries Reported In Mississippi

Damage and injuries are being reported near Bude, Mississippi, a rural community about 60 miles southwest of Jackson. Photos and video show piles of debris from what appear to have been at least one home.

(5:14 p.m. ET) Death Happened In Liverpool, Texas

The death reported earlier in Brazoria County, Texas, happened near the community of Liverpool, about 30 miles south of Houston.

Four people were also injured there, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Madison Polston told The Associated Press.

(4:36 p.m. ET) Drone Footage Shows Damage In Porter Heights, Texas

(4:21 p.m. ET) Tens Of Thousands Without Power In Texas, Louisiana

About 40,000 power outages are being reported in Texas, according to PowerOutage.us. Most are in the Houston area and to the east. More than 16,000 outages are being reported across the state line in Louisiana.

(4:13 p.m. ET) Mayor Confirms Death In Houston Area

At least one person is dead in Brazoria County, Texas, south of Houston.

“I’ve received confirmation that tragically, one life was lost due to the … storm coming through Brazoria County,” Manvel Mayor Dan Davis wrote in a Facebook update about an hour ago. “Please join me in praying for all those impacted!”

The mayor said the death didn’t happen in his town, but no further details were immediately available.

(4:02 p.m. ET) The Latest Forecast Update

Here’s where we’re at at right now, from Belles:

-We’ve seen a steady stream of tornado warnings for a couple of hours, mainly in southeast Texas and Louisiana, but recently also in southern Mississippi.

-There are multiple spots with damage in Texas. Most notably around the Houston metro in Katy, Porter Heights and Alvin.

-Activity is expected to increase over the next couple of hours.

-Several long-track, long-duration tornadoes are likely through mid to late evening. Destructive wind gusts are also possible.

See the latest forecast here.

(3:53 p.m. ET) Why You Should Never Shelter Under An Overpass

From Belles:

If you must find shelter in the middle of severe weather, seek out a sturdy building such as a store or gas station rather than taking up temporary residence under an overpass. Winds often accelerate through these gaps and can cause serious injury to you. Parking under an overpass also blocks any traffic behind you from getting to a shelter themselves.

MORE: 7 Things You Should Never Forget When Tornadoes Strike

(3:20 p.m. ET) Particularly Dangerous Situation

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch as the threat for intense, life-threatening tornadoes escalates. This urgent alert reflects a sharp increase in severe weather potential, with communities urged to prepare immediately. The watch includes portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

From Belles:

“A Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) tornado watch is issued when volatile conditions are expected to lead to many tornadoes, including multiple strong (EF2+) tornadoes, widespread destructive wind gusts and very large hail. The tornadoes that form in these areas will be capable of traveling long distances and for long periods.”

(2:31 p.m. ET) Search And Rescue Underway

A confirmed tornado has left significant damage in Porter Heights, Texas, where at least five homes were heavily impacted. Emergency crews are actively conducting search and rescue operations in the area. Residents are urged to stay clear of damaged properties as recovery efforts continue.

(2:23 p.m. ET) Texas: Homes Destroyed In Liverpool, School Hit in Alvin

A radar-confirmed tornado struck near Liverpool and Alvin, Texas, located 30 miles south of Houston. At least one school was damaged near Alvin, Texas, where damage and debris were strewn across its parking lot.

In Liverpool, emergency officials report multiple homes were completely destroyed. Photos show at least one car was flipped upside down and sent crashing into a structure. Emergency services are assessing the damage and assisting residents affected by the destruction.

(1:40 p.m. ET) Texas Tornado Sighted

A powerful storm system tore through residential areas outside of Houston, intensifying as it moved north from Katy through the cities of Waller, Porter Heights and Splendora. The destructive cell spawned at least one tornado, as reports of scattered debris mounted.

In Waller, Texas, a mobile home park was upended, with flipped cars and damage reported. Eyewitnesses filmed some of the destruction in nearby Porter Heights, where roofs were ripped from homes and the fire department sustained significant damage:

MORE ON WEATHER.COM

– 10 Tornado Myths Busted

– Here’s How Many Tornadoes Your State Sees In A Year

– Severe Weather Tips That Could Save Your Life

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