Tornado-Spawning Storms Losing Strength

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
Mar 11, 2010; 3:00 AM ET
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Severe storms, some producing destructive tornadoes, struck areas from the southern Plains to the lower Mississippi Valley late Wednesday. Storms will be losing strength as they continue to move east of the Mississippi during the morning hours. Some locally damaging storms could impact areas from southern Illinois to Florida during the day today.

A tornado that touched down Wednesday night seriously injured three people in Pearson, Ark. Houses in the path of the twister were seriously damaged. Another person was injured by an unconfirmed tornado in Center Hill, Ark., that also damaged at least nine homes.

A supercell moving through Arkansas earlier Wednesday evening spawned a confirmed tornado near Ozan, snapping trees and causing minor structural damage.

KFSM News reported a tornado on the ground near West Little Rock early Wednesday evening.

While most have lost strength, some storms will continue to bring strong, gusty winds, blinding downpours, hail, and cloud-to-ground lightning strikes.

If you live in or are traveling through this area, be prepared for delays as the thunderstorms roll through.

If severe weather approaches your location, seek shelter immediately.

Remember to stay away from windows in your home, school or office. Do not attempt to drive through flooded roadways.

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Daily U.S. Extremes

past 24 hours

  Extreme Location
High 113° Death Valley, CA
Low 30° Bellemont, AZ
Precip 9.70" Miami, FL

WeatherWhys®

A large, horrific tornado struck the city of Joplin, Mo., last year on this date. The twister cut a deadly path across the south side of the city, leaving over 159 dead and at least 1,150 injured. The Joplin tornado currently ranks as the 7th deadliest tornado in U.S. history.

This Day In Weather History

New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.

Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).

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5/23/2012 10:06:50 AM /news-entry.asp 8 .75.112 (accuweather)-- [new]