Tornado Alert: 14 Confirmed Twisters From Texas to Florida Amid Storm Threat
This week, five states ranging from Texas to Florida saw severe weather and tornado outbreaks, resulting in widespread damage. From late Tuesday night to Thursday evening, 14 tornadoes were verified in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
In addition to tornadoes, the storm system caused multiple flash floods in eastern Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Tallahassee, Florida. The most recent tornado was confirmed Thursday near Bakersville, Florida, at 11:37 a.m. local time. Details about the tornado’s power and damage have not been revealed.
The Ohio Valley is expected to see tornadoes and floods Thursday afternoon and evening. While severe winds and a few tornadoes remain the most likely threats, scattered hail is also possible. A tornado watch has been issued for sections of Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania until 9 p.m. ET Thursday evening.
On Wednesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) verified that Lake Charles, Louisiana, had an EF-2 tornado with maximum winds of 115 mph. The tornado damaged multiple residences as well as a local hospital.
Two tornadoes classified EF-1 with maximum speeds of 100 mph struck Cameron Parish, Louisiana, near Lake Charles on Wednesday. One tornado had enough force to flip a mobile home, while the other primarily caused tree damage. According to the National Weather Service, EF stands for Enhanced Fujita, a scale used to assign a “rating” to a tornado based on projected wind speeds and associated damage.
According to the National Weather Service, an EF-2 tornado with maximum speeds of 120 mph touched down near Port Arthur, Texas, for four minutes, with a 300-yard width and a 2.7-mile course.
Wednesday also saw a short tornado strike Georgetown, Alabama, causing little damage. The tornado was rated as EF-1, with maximum speeds of 100 mph.
On Wednesday, one of the confirmed tornadoes smashed into Slidell, Louisiana, which is roughly 30 miles from New Orleans. According to officials, the tornado caused damage to buildings and felled power lines as rain fell on the town.
The extent and power of the tornado near Slidell have yet to be announced.
Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal said at a press conference Wednesday evening that there were no deaths or serious injuries as a result of the tornado. Another tornado was confirmed in St. Francisville, Louisiana, though the survey to determine the tornado’s strength and scale is still ongoing.
In Mississippi, an EF-0 tornado with maximum speeds of 85 mph hit the Lake Camden region on Wednesday, following an EF-1 tornado that struck Learned on Tuesday.
Elsewhere in the state, one person was killed in Scott County, Mississippi, according to Mississippi Emergency Management officials, who stated that at least 72 residences across the state had been destroyed.
On Tuesday, an EF-1 tornado hit Katy, Texas, with maximum speeds of 90 mph. The National Weather Service reported that the brief tornado struck the area at about 2:45 a.m., with a 300-yard width and a path of 1.67 miles.