South faces more severe storms, flooding after Friday’s violent tornadoes

Friday featured the nation’s first EF4 tornado since November. It formed in a series of storms that claimed the lives of at least 26 people in Mississippi and Alabama. Two tornadoes swept through central Georgia early Sunday morning before the National Weather Service declared a rare “high risk” of flooding that night.

Satellite imagery shows tornado destruction in Rolling Fork, Mississippi.

A flash flood emergency was declared Monday morning for western Spalding County, Georgia — about 35 miles south of Atlanta — Over the fragile damforced evacuation.

At noon Monday, a slow-moving storm lined up along a stationary front from southern Mississippi to eastern South Carolina.

Severe thunderstorm warning with gusts up to 65 mph, hail up to 1.5 inches, and possible tornadoes in southeastern Alabama, southern and central Georgia, and southern South Carolina until 6 p.m. Monday is. Much of the Gulf Coast region is also at increased risk of flash flooding through Tuesday.

The threat of severe weather loomed over the South on Sunday. Initially advertised as a 2 out of 5 “minor risk” for bad weather, it was quickly raised to a level 4 risk. A powerful tornado and the potential for massive destructive hail were touted, with the storm sweeping east along a border across the south. The tornado threat was expected to pick up winds one mile above ground in the afternoon.

Despite the forecast, the afternoon was tornado-free, but the morning started with a disaster in Georgia. A “confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado” passed south of LaGrange in western Georgia just after 7am. This prompted the Peachtree City National Weather Service to issue a tornado warning for particularly dangerous conditions.twister destroyed many housesforced to close Interstate 85, At least one person was injured in Troup county.

The same series of storms moved east, creating a tornado in Milledgeville, Baldwin County. It hit an ambulance with a tree, damaged the roof of the hospital and emergency services building, and lifted the debris up to 8,000 feet.

Tornadoes are common in Mississippi, but rarely so deadly

Tornado advisories were issued for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia in the afternoon before a rotating supercell thunderstorm is expected. The afternoon storm did not significantly affect tornado activity due to lackluster rotation. However, as the storms coalesced, flash floods increased.

Severe flooding Sunday through Monday

The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center has upgraded flash flooding and excessive rainfall to parts of central Alabama and Georgia on Sunday night, raising it to a 4 out of 4 “high risk” level. .

Moisture accumulating along stagnant fronts was harnessed by incessant showers and thunderstorms, resulting in rainfall of up to half a foot in some areas. A flash flood warning was also issued in LaGrange, Georgia, the same location where a tornado destroyed a building earlier in the day.

Alexander City, Alabama reported 6.73 inches early Monday and measured 5.88 inches northwest of Goldwater. Augusta, Georgia had 7 inches of rain.6 inches tall further east in Sumter, South Carolina

Amid all the flooding, the bad weather continued to pulsate from Sunday night through early Monday morning.hail the size of a golf ball barely missed Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Another tornado flung debris into the air for 1.5 miles (1.6 km) between Snowter, Alabama and Tuskegee around 3 a.m. central time.

The Bureau of Meteorology received reports of approximately 35 flash floods between southern Mississippi and South Carolina in the 24 hours ending at noon Monday. Flooding has closed many roads in the area.

Severe weather continues

A few more severe thunderstorms are likely along the Gulf Coast or in the southeast starting Tuesday, but concerns are rising later in the week as storms hitting California roll into Central State.

A low pressure system will develop over the plains on Thursday. Counterclockwise winds around the low pressure pull a conveyor belt of warm, moist air northward. Cold air cascading south in a low-pressure wake cooperates with a riot of dry desert air, resulting in a battle of air masses, causing strong to violent storms.

The forecast for Thursday is highly uncertain. At most west of Interstate 35 in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, the storm’s extent is minimal. In fact, it is unknown if a storm will occur. But when it does, it can bring damage such as wind, hail, and tornadoes.

Confidence is growing in the possibility of high-end events on Friday in the Midsouth, Ozarks, and parts of the Midwest and Corn Belt. A large area, including Memphis, has a 3 out of 5 severe weather risk. Small Rock; Rockford, Illinois; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and St. Louis.

Victor Genzini, a storm researcher at Northern Illinois University, tweeted that he expects an above-average severe weather threat. “Until further notice”

Jason Samenow contributed to this report.