Debris along the Branson, Mo., strip from a deadly tornado that touched down early Wednesday morning, Feb. 29, 2012. Photo posted on Twitter by Brandon F.
Severe storms that hammered the Ohio and Tennessee valleys Wednesday have finally dissipated across the mid-Atlantic, temporarily bringing an end to the severe threat across the region.
However, strong storms continue to rumble across the Southeast. Specifically, locations south and west of Atlanta, Ga. are being pounded early this morning.
Although not currently severe, the storms will bring heavy rain, frequent lightning, and gusty winds.
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On Tuesday night and Wednesday, numerous storms were part of a large severe weather outbreak farther north. A preliminary count of 9 tornadoes was reported. At least 12 people perished as a result of the storms.
According to AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity, one supercell thunderstorm with a history of producing tornadoes moved through Kentucky, for approximately 250 miles, over the course of four hours.
The destructive storms slammed the eastern Plains and Mississippi Valley Tuesday night. Deadly tornadoes touched down in Branson, Mo., and Harrisburg, Ill., two of the hardest-hit communities.
A state of emergency has been declared by Governor Nixon in Missouri following the dangerous storms and tornadoes that tore through the state into the early morning hours.
Chris McCloud, a spokesperson for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, told AccuWeather.com that they can only confirm 6 deaths in the Harrisburg, Ill., tornado.
RELATED:
Deadly, Destructive Tornadoes Tuesday Night, Early Wednesday
Pictures, Videos and Reports From the Destructive Tornadoes
After a reprieve from the severe weather today, thunderstorms will ignite later Thursday night from northern Louisiana to the Tennessee Valley. Some could become severe after midnight in western Tennessee and northern Arkansas.
Latest Reports From the Violent Storms:
12:05 a.m. EST Trees knocked down to the west of Interstate 40 in Cove Creek, N.C. One large tree was strewn across a lane of eastbound I-40.
8:25 p.m. EST Possible tornado damage in Gate City, Va. Trees and power lines were knocked down and a roof of a mobile home was torn off.
5:34 p.m. EST Two people were killed and numerous trees were torn down ten miles east of Monterey, Tenn. Three homes were destroyed and a tractor trailer flipped in the Rinnie Community from a possible tornado. An estimated 60 to 100 trees were torn down.
5:13 p.m. EST A funnel cloud was reported by a trained spotter 8 miles north of Sparta, Tenn.
4:50 p.m. EST: One person was killed and a structure was damaged on Arrowhead Drive near Smithville, Tenn. A possible tornado was also sighted.
4:30 p.m. EST One person has been injured 5 miles north/northeast of Rupert, W.Va. A tree fell on a truck traveling past a coal mine.
2:26 p.m. EST: City emergency management in Greensburg, Ky., reported two roads closed due to flooding. An estimated 2 inches of rain fell within 2 hours.
12:44 p.m. EST: Golf ball-sized hail slammed Redhouse, Ky.
11:18 a.m. EST: Debris and a funnel were seen in Hodgenville, Ky., confirming a tornado touch down. A house was destroyed 1 mile east of Hodgenville, while several others homes were destroyed south of Hodgenville, Ky. Quarter-sized hail also pounded the area.
10:58 a.m. EST: A woman was trapped in a damaged home in Millerstown, Ky.
10:58 a.m. EST: An unconfirmed report came out that a tornado was on the ground 3 miles northwest of Hopkinsville, Ky.
10:08 a.m. EST: Mobile homes were destroyed 2 miles southeast of Elizabethtown, Ky., while factory damage occurred nearby. Power lines and house sustained damage from the severe thunderstorm winds as well.
10:05 a.m. EST: A tornado was reported on the ground 6 miles southeast of Elizabethtown, Ky.
9:47 a.m. EST: A tornado touchdown was confirmed near Greenville, Ky., with the storm moving eastward. Roofs were blown off homes and one school in Greenville, Ky. A funnel cloud was spotted 8 miles southeast of Crofton, Ky., at 8:57 a.m. CST.
Track the Storms on Radar:
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A brief synopsis of the top five worst weather events of last summer.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
Connecticut (1794)
A violent tornado started west of the Hudson River,
then travelled on to Poughkeepsie, Waterbury,
North Haven, Milford, and Branford line into Long
Island Sound. Extensive damage; funnel looked
like an "aurora borealis." At New Milford, 28
buildings were destroyed or damaged. A barn door
was carried 9 miles from its original site.
Philadelphia, PA (1994)
Strong thunderstorm winds blew off a large section
of a hanger roof and also damaged two aircraft.
Southeast China (1932)
Hailstorm in Hunan Province killed 20 people
and injured thousands of others.
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