For ongoing live updates of the severe weather outbreak and blizzard, click here.
he National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation for a confirmed large tornado that was approaching Lawrence, Mississippi, just before 8 a.m. local time, Wednesday morning. The large twister was located near Forest, Mississippi, which is just east of Jackson, and was moving east at 35 mph. The warning from the NWS states that “flying debris may be deadly” to those without shelter, “mobile homes will be destroyed”, “considerable damage” to homes, businesses and vehicles is likely and “complete destruction is possible.” The NWS urges people to seek shelter immediately.
As bands of heavy snow continue to track across Minnesota, thundersnow was reported at the Duluth International Airport early Wednesday morning
The process for thundersnow is very similar to the process for the typical summertime thunderstorm. As ice crystals clash together in turbulent updrafts charged particles are generated. When the charge builds up, the energy is released in a bolt of lightning accompanied by a clap of thunder. Thundersnow is unusual, but typically happens a few times each year during strong snowstorms.
“Thunderstorms during the warm season have a much easier time developing strong updrafts because there is more warmth and moisture to feed on and more instability aloft,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Jordan Root explained. Within the intense winter storm that is delivering snow to the northern Plains, strong updrafts have been able to create thunder and lightning across Minnesota.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed a second fatality in the Pecan Farms area of Keithville, Louisiana, early Wednesday. Hours after a young boy was confirmed dead in a wooded area near where his home had been destroyed by a reported tornado, first responders found the body of his mother who had been reported missing after the storm ripped through the area. Her body was discovered about 2:30 a.m. local time Wednesday under debris caused by the twister about one street over from where her home had been located. First responders continue to search the area for unknown victims, but there have been no other reports of missing people, the sheriff’s office said. Keithville is located about 20 minutes southwest of Shreveport.
As a blizzard buried the northern Plains on Tuesday, snow piled up quickly. Totals topped 20 inches in multiple locations in South Dakota. Even in Nebraska, Merritt Reservoir received 22 inches.
Snow will continue to fall on Wednesday, before slowly winding down on Thursday.
Storms in the southern Plains have produced significant rainfall in several locations throughout Oklahoma and Texas this week. Over the past 36 hours, the top rainfall report was in Lake Thunderbird, Oklahoma, where 2.28 inches of rain fell. Norman, Oklahoma, the state’s second most populous city, received 2.22 inches of rainfall. There were reports of cars stalled in floodwaters in Norman and Lawton, Oklahoma.
While tornadoes have been rampaging across the southern United States, blizzard conditions have infiltrated more northern areas, causing travel nightmares for many residents of the Plains Tuesday. Blizzard conditions were confirmed Tuesday afternoon east of Denver, in the cities of Burlington and Wray, Colorado as well as Saint Francis and Goodland, Kansas. A blizzard is defined as a storm that brings sustained winds or wind gusts of 35 mph or greater, and a visibility less than one-quarter of a mile for three consecutive hours. Blizzard conditions also forced closures of interstates in Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.
Authorities have confirmed the first fatality as a result of Tuesday's day of destructive weather in the southern United States. Just before midnight, local time, Caddo Parish Sheriff Stephen Prator confirmed a child was killed Tuesday after a tornado tore through the southwestern portion of the parish.
This latest development comes as one woman remains hospitalized and two other people remain missing near Four Forks, Louisiana. Caddo sheriff's deputies continued to complete door-to-door welfare checks on other residents in the affected area Tuesday night, according to KSLA, a local news agency.
In addition, a helicopter crew was dispatched to the area with a spotlight to aid rescuers, AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell reported
The National Weather Service Fort Worth office confirmed five out of the 12 possible tornadoes in North Texas as of Tuesday evening. The confirmed tornadoes included one in Wise County, one west of Paris, Texas, and three in Tarrant County, where five people were injured. Storm surveys rated the tornado that had tracked through Wise County Tuesday morning as an EF2 tornado with winds of up to 125 mph. Three of the damage tracks in Tarrant County were attributed to two EF0 twisters and one EF1 tornado.
Much of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest have been dealing with a blizzard. Even where snow is not falling, wintry precipitation has still been an issue. Parts of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota have dealt with freezing rain. Since ice adds additional weight to trees and power lines, the accumulation of ice combined with strong winds could result in power outages. Residents are advised to avoid any unnecessary travel due to icy roads.
Search and rescue operations continued Tuesday evening in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, after a dangerous tornado left one woman injured and two other people missing. The woman taken to the hospital after the tornado suffered unknown injuries, with no update to her condition as of 8 p.m. CST. Caddo deputies, along with K-9 teams, firefighters and volunteers, have been searching through debris and the surrounding area for the two missing. Search and rescue operations were concentrated in Four Forks, in the southwest area of the parish.
“It’s a horrible mess down there … we’re following debris fields trying to find the actual residence, then trying to find if there’s people inside the residence," Caddo Parish Sheriff Stephen Prator told AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell about the situation in Four Forks. Other deputies have been going house to house conducting welfare checks. The tornado, indicated by radar earlier Tuesday, left several structures damaged, electrical lines and trees knocked down, along with the manufactured homes destroyed in Four Forks.
Severe winter weather has continued into Tuesday evening in the Plains, with snow quickly piling up in several locations. The top two heaviest snow reports from Tuesday both occurred in South Dakota, with the community of Norris receiving 18.1 inches of snow and the community of Vetal picking up 18 inches of snow. Other top snow reports include 16 inches of accumulation in Chadron, Nebraska and 15 inches of snow received in Interior, South Dakota. Blizzard warnings remain in place Tuesday evening throughout western South Dakota, eastern Wyoming, western Nebraska and northeastern Colorado.
A new tornado watch was issued across portions of northeastern Louisiana, southeast Arkansas and western Mississippi Tuesday evening. Set to expire at 2 a.m., local time, the watch expands across an area with a population over 505,000 people, including 287 schools and 36 hospitals. A few areas that were hit by the severe weather outbreak in late November are included in the watch.
Sharon Leader Charge, a hotel clerk in Kadoka, South Dakota, urged locals to stay home during these blizzard conditions. “I’ve grown up in South Dakota, I’ve seen these storms, I know what they can do, stay home. Stay home where it’s warm, you don’t have to worry about anything,” she told AccuWeather.
The blizzard is mainly affecting the residents of the area. Kadoka is a town located in southwestern South Dakota in Jackson County. Kirk Gossack, a commuter, had to take a detour to keep his wife and himself safe after seeing semi-trucks and cars in ditches. “I drove 40 miles an hour for the last hour and a half just to get here. Speed limit is 80 and I was driving 40,” Gossack said.
Howling blizzard conditions made travel treacherous in Kadoka, South Dakota, as locals were urged to be cautious on the road, or to stay home on Dec. 13.
Tuesday’s severe storms in the south have expanded eastward into Louisiana, creating major damage in Caddo Parish, 10 miles northwest of Shreveport. In the Four Forks area of southwest Caddo Parish, mobile residences were completely destroyed, multiple homes were significantly damaged and local forestry was shredded. No injuries have been reported as of early Tuesday evening. Caddo Parish Emergency Management Director Robert Jump told AccuWeather that search and rescue operations are ongoing, concentrated on a subdivision that contains approximately 40 homes. AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell was in Four Forks Tuesday evening in downpour conditions.
AccuWeather's Tony Laubach took this video of a tornado near Four Forks, Louisiana, in Caddo Parish on the evening of Dec. 13, 2022.
Damages have been reported along the Texas-Louisiana border Tuesday afternoon after a tornado touched down in the area. At 3:40 p.m. CST, a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service office in Shreveport, Louisiana, located over Elysian Fields, Texas. The tornadic storm made its way through nearby Harrison, Texas, causing several trees to be shredded and damage to a large outbuilding, according to a local storm chaser report. The storm also tracked into nearby Panola County, Texas, where a roof was ripped off of a two-story house and a gas mainline was cut along a road. No injuries were reported in Panola.
This week’s severe weather outbreak has included several destructive storms, which have been captured in spectacular images throughout the southern and central United States. Imagery has been captured from drone video taken by storm chaser Mike Scantlin in Wayne, Oklahoma, where a EF2 tornado touched down in the early morning hours. Photos have also been captured of severe storms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including the town of Grapevine, Texas, as well as from video of a twister in White Settlement, Texas.
Travel issues throughout the United States Tuesday were not just limited to the ground, as major airports in impacted areas have canceled or delayed hundreds of flights. At Denver International Airport, 53 outgoing flights have been canceled through the early afternoon hours, according to FlightAware, while 268 outgoing flights have been delayed. A total of 57 flights have been canceled and another 208 were delayed where Denver was the destination airport. The other major airport affected by Tuesday’s severe weather was Dallas-Fort Worth International, with 38 cancelations and 457 delays of outgoing flights. A total of 43 cancelations and 369 delays have been announced Tuesday with Dallas-Fort Worth as the destination airport.
With severe weather continuing to impact the southern United States Tuesday, AccuWeather National Reporter Jillian Angeline was live from Shreveport, Louisiana, alongside storm chaser Connor McCrorey. The storm chaser from Dallas has been on the ground for some destructive events, including Hurricane Michael in 2018. McCrorey provided some context to predicting weather hitting the area, as a Particularly Dangerous Situation tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Shreveport at 3:40 p.m. local time. “We’ve gotten so good at predicting tornadoes from where we were a couple of decades ago … (but) there are still these unknowns that keep us from saying exactly when and where they’ll happen,” McCrorey told Angeline. “I keep saying they’re this wondrous mystery. You don’t know which day is going to really live up to its maximum potential as far as tornadoes go.”
Whiteout conditions have continued to make travel nearly impossible in several spots across the Plains, including in eastern Colorado Tuesday. In the city of Brush, Colorado, 90 miles northeast of Denver, an area just outside of Interstate 76 had no visibility. “You can barely see in front of you, normally you can see I-76, but right now it’s not visible at all,” FOX31’s Vincente Arenas said of the area. “There are some people that are out and about … clearly you can tell they are sorry that they are.” Interstate 76 has been closed from Sterling, Colorado, to the Nebraska border since 6:25 a.m. local time Tuesday, and parts of Interstate 70 towards the Kansas border have been closed as well since the morning hours. Blizzard warnings remain in effect for northeast Colorado Tuesday, as well as much of western Nebraska and western South Dakota. The heaviest snow reports in Colorado over the past 24 hours were in the northern and western parts of the state, including 10 inches in Stoner and 8.2 inches in Steamboat Springs.
The EF2 tornado that touched down in Wayne, Oklahoma, before 5:30 a.m. local time Tuesday morning left remarkable damage in the town of just over 600 residents. Drone video from storm chaser Mike Scantlin showcased the destruction, including a local home completely ripped apart and significant damage to local forestry. Several trucks were also seen buried by downed trees and numerous debris piles. Residents of Wayne, located 43 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, were being assisted by the American Red Cross of Oklahoma Tuesday, with the organization setting up a response center at a local church for those affected by the tornado.
This drone video from storm chaser Mike Scantlin shows significant tornado damage in Wayne, Oklahoma, as local residents begin recovery efforts on Dec. 13.
The National Weather Service has issued a new tornado watch for portions of southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana and eastern Texas through 10 p.m. CST Tuesday. The new watch is in addition to the tornado watch that is already in effect for areas of northeastern Texas and southwestern Arkansas. “A couple intense tornadoes” are likely in this area, as well as hail larger than quarters and wind gusts over 70 mph. The threat of damaging storms and tornadoes over the Southeast will continue into Thursday with the risk of severe weather shifting farther east each day.
The National Weather Service of New Orleans shared a Twitter post warning residents of potential flash flooding, in addition to severe weather threats. With a graphic, the NWS cautioned the particular danger flash flooding can present when happening overnight, and even during the day. Thunderstorms are also expected going into Tuesday night. "Seek shelter if you hear thunder," NWS said.
Parts of the Florida Panhandle to south-central Louisiana could face a moderate risk of severe weather on Wednesday, according to AccuWeather meteorologists, with possible damaging wind gusts, hail, flooding downpours and tornadoes.
With this week’s major storm forecast to produce blizzard conditions in states such as Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota, it is important to keep in mind the criteria that separate a blizzard from a snowstorm. A storm that brings snow and gusty winds may not reach blizzard criteria.
A blizzard is defined as a storm that brings sustained winds or wind gusts of 35 mph or greater, and visibility of less than one-quarter of a mile for three consecutive hours. Visibility decline can be created from considerable falling or blowing snow. Rate of snowfall is not needed for blizzard criteria, although some blizzards may produce snowfall rates of 2-6 inches per hour. A blizzard may be produced by a large-scale storm, lake-effect snow, a press of cold air or strong winds blowing across a surface made of powdery snow.
A possible tornado was spotted in Grapevine, Texas, on Dec. 13, leaving debris and damage to nearby buildings.
Severe storms rolled through the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Tuesday morning, leaving at least five people injured and widespread damage across Grapevine, a town just west of Dallas, Texas. Students were forced to shelter in place after multiple tornado warnings were issued.
Grapevine police said those injured in the storms were transported to local hospitals; their conditions have not yet been released.
The Grapevine Mills Mall, Sam’s Club and Walmart all had their roofs partially torn off and sustained other major damage. Also, “metal roofing was peeled off of a vacant convenience store” and nearby “a wall was destroyed at Mustang Elite Car Wash,” the police department noted on its Facebook page. Emergency crews were also assessing heavy damage to other structures in the area. Multiple downed trees and power lines also shut down several local roads. “We are a strong community, and will continue to work together throughout the day,” the Grapevine police department posted.
By 9 a.m. local time, the shelter-in-place order was lifted for all Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District (GCISD) campuses. Following the storms, the power was out at multiple school campuses and a natural gas odor was detected near the exterior of Grapevine Middle School. When conducting a search on the school, the Grapevine Fire Department found roof damage and a water leak, presumably from the storms, and students were then bussed to a nearby church. Due to a continued power outage at two of the district’s elementary schools, students will be dismissed early for the respective schools.
AccuWeather meteorologists say the threat of severe thunderstorms will persist into Wednesday and Thursday across parts of the South. On Wednesday, a moderate risk of severe weather will extend from parts of the Florida Panhandle to south-central Louisiana. Cities at risk of the dangerous storms include Mobile, Alabama, New Orleans and Jackson, Mississippi. Damaging wind gusts, hail, flooding downpours and tornadoes will all be possible with the storms on Wednesday.
By Thursday, the storms will shift farther to the East. “The threat for severe weather will enter its fourth day on Thursday, as storms reach the Florida Peninsula, southeastern Georgia and the eastern Carolinas,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger said. “A warm, humid air mass ahead of the storm’s cold front will drive the thunderstorms and severe weather potential.”
After a tornado hit Wayne, Oklahoma, Tuesday morning, the American Red Cross headed out to Garvin and McClain counties to offer support to affected residents. In a Twitter post, Red Cross officials said they have disaster workers on their way to “assess damage, deliver cleanup supplies, and provide hope and comfort.” The Red Cross had already set up a response center in Wayne at a local church to assist residents.
The account also shared tips on how to stay safe after a tornado, including staying out of damaged buildings, watching out for fallen power lines, reporting broken gas lines to utility companies and taking pictures of home damage. For those faced with power outages, the Red Cross recommended using flashlights in the dark instead of candles, turning off appliances, ensuring generators stay dry and keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed to longer preserve food.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation has closed many roads across the western portion of the state as weather conditions have made the roads “impassable.” One of the many roads that have been closed is Interstate 80 from North Platte to the border of Wyoming. “Conditions are not expected to improve during the storm. Do not attempt to drive around gates or barricades,” the department said. Sidney, Nebraska, located in the western part of the state along Interstate 80, reported heavy snow and whiteout conditions at 9:56 a.m. MST. Winds in Sidney were sustained at 30 mph with gusts over 40 mph, sending the AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature down to 19 degrees below zero F.
A snow-covered Interstate 80 in western Nebraska Tuesday morning as a major winter storm was moving through the region. State police closed a section of the highway along with Highway 30 due to deteriorating road conditions. (Nebraska State Patrol)
A number of damage reports were sent in to emergency officials in Decatur, Texas, located northwest of Fort Worth, early Tuesday morning as tornadoes and other severe thunderstorms rampaged across northeastern Texas.
“We do have multiple reports of homes and businesses damaged,” Wise County Emergency Planner, Jennifer Klemke told AccuWeather. Klemke said multiple emergency officials are responding and assessing the damage. She also noted two injuries from the storm. “One person was injured from flying debris while traveling in their vehicle,” said Klemke. “Another person was injured when their vehicle was overturned due to high wind. Only one person was transported to the hospital. The other was treated on scene.”
Residents in the Fort Worth, Texas, area witnessed dark skies and a possible tornado on Dec. 13.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Norman, Oklahoma, has confirmed that an EF2 tornado touched down in Wayne, Oklahoma, just before 5:30 a.m. local time Tuesday morning. The twister created widespread damage in the small town of Wayne, which is located just 43 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. A family sheltered in their basement as the violent tornado tore through their home just before daybreak on Tuesday, according to Victor Park, a reporter for OKCFox. The father, mother and two kids were unharmed, but the house sustained substantial damage. Debris could be seen scattered across the property and walls were seen toppled over in photos that Park shared on Twitter.
A massive storm was captured on NOAA’s GOES East satellite as the sun rose Tuesday. The storm, which could be seen covering an area from North Dakota to the Gulf of Mexico, is delivering snow to the northern Plains and severe weather across the southern Plains. According to the National Weather Service, snow is starting to accumulate across the Dakotas. The storm will continue to move east, bringing the threat of snow and severe weather to parts of the country through late week.
A nearly 200-mile-long stretch of Interstate 90 in South Dakota was closed Tuesday morning due to rain, snow and high wind. The closure includes eastbound and westbound lanes from Rapid City through Chamberlain, South Dakota. “In addition to the interstate closure, motorists are reminded that many No Travel Advisories are in place on state highways throughout the central and western part of the state,” the South Dakota Department of Transportation said in a press release. “Secondary highways will also become impassable during the duration of this winter storm.”
Texan Jon Espinosa shared a video of a possible tornado Tuesday morning spotted in White Settlement, Texas, a suburb northwest of Fort Worth, just after 8 a.m. local time. Lightning can be seen illuminating the sky as a dark funnel cloud nears the ground in the distance. A tornado warning was issued for the storm as it passed through the area Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Fort Worth confirmed the tornado on radar and urged people to seek shelter. The NWS office was unable to confirm if the tornado touched the ground, and a survey team will need to be sent after the storms clear to assess the damage.
Numerous tornado warnings have been issued across northeastern Texas Tuesday morning as a line of storms continues to track east. While it is still too early to confirm the intensity of the twisters, preliminary storm reports included multiple damaged vehicles and debris on roadways.
A dangerous severe weather threat in the southern United States is already well underway, according to extreme meteorologist Reed Timmer, who reported from Tyler, Texas, as he prepared to chase the severe thunderstorms. Tyler is about 93 miles to the southeast of Dallas. Timmer says the tornado threat will continue into Tuesday night as severe storms move into parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. Strong and violent tornadoes will be possible in some areas, he warned. Hear more from Timmer in the video below.
As a line of severe weather roars across the southern Plains Tuesday morning, multiple tornado warnings have been issued across Texas and Oklahoma. Numerous tornado-warned storms moved into the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex Tuesday morning, just as the morning commute was getting underway. Images of power lines and trees spewed across the roadway showed some of the significant damage in Decatur, Texas, which is northwest of Fort Worth. Multiple homes have been reportedly damaged, according to the DFW Scanner. The DFW scanner also reported that there was at least one injured person as a result of a tornado.
Traffic cameras across Colorado show conditions beginning to deteriorate across the state Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Boulder, Colorado, reported. Nearly every highway in the Centennial State is covered in snow and ice, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) website. As of Tuesday morning, a handful of roads were closed across the state due to deteriorating conditions.
In the neighboring state of Nebraska, road conditions were also deteriorating as of Tuesday morning, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) reported. AccuWeather radar shows rain across the eastern half of the state and snow across the western half of the state. Throughout the day, conditions are expected to worsen on Nebraskan roadways as the snow spreads across the entire state. The NDOT anticipates additional road closures throughout the day.
A confirmed tornado touched down in Wayne, Oklahoma, during the early morning hours Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Norman, Oklahoma. Wayne is located about 43 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, with a population of about 635 people, according to the 2021 U.S. Census. According to PowerOutage.US, more than 650 customers were without power in McClain County, which is home to Wayne. The Wayne Public Schools announced Tuesday morning that school would be closed Tuesday “due to no electricity and the high probability of storm damage.” Photos of the damage in Wayne show the walls of a brick house completely leveled after the twister moved through, Sabrina Bates, a meteorologist for KOCO posted on Twitter.
Just over one year after a deadly tornado outbreak that spanned multiple states, conditions are once again ripe for severe weather activity this week. This week’s potentially destructive weather comes after the one-year anniversary of Dec. 10, 2021, when a rare and violent EF4 tornado killed 57 people and injured more than 500 throughout western Kentucky while remaining on the ground for over 150 miles over a three-hour period. Tornadic activity was also felt in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee. The EF4 tornado ravaged the town of Mayfield, Kentucky, flattening a local candle factory plant, along with damage to over 100 other businesses and between 700 and 800 homes. In a statement for the anniversary, Kentucky Gov. Andrew Beshear stated that “nothing I’d ever witnessed prepared me for the level of destruction I saw.”
AccuWeather Director of Forecast Operations Dan Depodwin said that the outbreak was “a very rare situation” and pointed to four main ingredients that were necessary for the deadly event to occur. “You need moisture, which we had from the Gulf of Mexico,” Depodwin said. “You need instability, rising air. You need colder air aloft, we had that. You need some time of lifting mechanism, a cold front in this case. And then you need some type of turning in the atmosphere or wind shear, as we call it.”
A feed store in Mayfield, Kentucky was damaged as part of the Dec. 10, 2021 tornado outbreak in the state. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Following potent activity Monday night into early Tuesday morning, AccuWeather forecasters warn that an even greater, and more expansive, severe weather threat is shaping up for Tuesday and Tuesday night.
As the energy from the storm translates eastward during the day on Tuesday, the line of storms will gain intensity and the risk for damaging impacts will become more widespread. Storms will have the capacity to produce damaging wind gusts, hail, drenching rainfall and even tornadoes through Tuesday night.
The greatest risk for severe weather will stretch from eastern Texas to western Mississippi, centered on the lower Mississippi Valley.
Tuesday's severe weather threat will encompass a greater number of population centers than Monday night's, with cities like Houston; Dallas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and New Orleans in the mix. All told, more than 28 million people are considered to be at least at some risk for severe weather impacts Tuesday and Tuesday night.
As a line of severe thunderstorms roared across portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas early Tuesday morning, reports on the strength of these storms started to roll in.
While the feisty storms tracked through the Oklahoma Panhandle, hail up to the size of tennis balls, or 2.50 inches in diameter, was reported in the community of Balko, according to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC). Hail of this size is large enough to do damage to cars and some weaker structures.
Just a few hours later, wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were reported in Custer County, Oklahoma, as the line blew through the area. The National Weather Service defines a thunderstorm as severe once it produces winds in excess of 58 mph and/or drops hail at least 1 inch in diameter. Hail with a 1-inch diameter is often referred to as "quarter-sized" hail.
This radar loop shows a line of hazardous storms moving through the Plains early Tuesday morning, Dec. 13, 2022. (AccuWeather)
Tornadoes will be a potentially destructive part of this week’s severe weather outbreak, and the devastating weather event poses an even greater risk when striking under the cover of darkness. In the event of a nighttime tornado, the following should be kept in mind:
-Preparing a clear severe weather safety plan is paramount to keeping yourself and your loved ones safe, particularly when dangerous storms strike at night. During a tornado event, you may only have a few minutes of lead time to seek shelter.
-Installing the free AccuWeather app on a smartphone is a simple, yet important, preparation. Ensure that push notifications are turned on and the volume is turned up on your phone, in order to receive fast alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS). Keeping a cell phone charged during a severe weather outbreak is also essential.
-Items to have handy include a battery-powered weather radio, a flashlight, bottled water, closed-toed shoes and a big puffy blanket. Blankets, a helmet or a mattress can be used to shield the body and head from flying debris.
-Everyone in the household should be aware of where a home’s safe location is, such as a basement away from windows, an interior stairwell or an interior bathroom. Parents should talk with their children about where the safe locations are in the home, and practice getting to them quickly.
A car is flipped over after a tornado swept through the area in Arabi, La., Tuesday, March 22, 2022, showcasing the damage nighttime tornadoes can cause. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
As a line of severe thunderstorms continues to push through portions of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles Monday night, AccuWeather meteorologists are once again urging residents at risk to have multiple ways to receive vital weather warnings. Several tornado warnings have already been issued as of early Monday night and activity is set to continue through dawn Tuesday.
Severe thunderstorms, especially those that can produce tornadoes, are particularly dangerous at night when darkness obscures the location of any storms. In addition, many residents may be asleep in the area of concern and can miss out on life-saving information if they do not have a plan in place to be woken up.
The threat for severe weather will continue to expand eastward overnight and reach central portions of Kansas, Oklahoma and potentially northeastern Texas.
A tornado warning was issued for an area in the far northern Texas panhandle and southern Oklahoma panhandle on Monday night. This warning included Perryton, Lord and Huntoon, Texas and expired at 8:45 p.m. local time. It was the first tornado warning issued in the United States this month, with the last warning occurring on Nov. 30, 2022. Additional tornado warnings have already been issued as a line of severe weather begins to move through Texas and Oklahoma overnight Monday into Tuesday.
Tornado warnings (light red) were issued for portions of Oklahoma and Texas on Monday night. A tornado watch (dark red) remains in effect until 1 a.m. local time.
With severe weather in the forecast, it is important to understand and prepare for the risks that are inbound. These are five tips that can help you and your family prepare in advance:
-Shelter safety: What to look for: It is important to make sure the storm shelter is safe and provides an escape if the door is blocked by potential debris.
-Access to shelter and supplies: Having a storm shelter that cannot be accessed effectively defeats the purpose of having one at all. Shelters should be as easily accessible as possible.
-Security and restoration planning: If doors and windows are shattered and missing, securing the property quickly is essential. Making sure the property is structurally sound and having a repair company in mind should be planned before the severe weather.
-Insurance and financial protection: Consumers should look at the types of disasters their area may be prone to, to determine if they have the proper coverage in place.
-Protecting irreplaceable property with sentimental value: Some items may never be able to be replaced after a disaster. For these items, it is a good idea to take preventative measures to protect personal possessions that hold sentimental value.
Severe thunderstorms will target the south-central US for several days this week, AccuWeather forecasters warn. On Tuesday, the greatest risk for tornadoes will span an area from eastern Texas across the majority of Louisiana, southern Arkansas and western Mississippi, four states that are not unfamiliar with severe weather. According to preliminary data from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), there have been 251 preliminary tornado reports in Mississippi since Jan. 1, 2022. Out of all 50 states, Mississippi holds the spot for most preliminary tornadoes this year, so far. Not too far behind Mississippi, Texas holds second place, with a total of 221 preliminary twisters so far this year. In Arkansas, there have been 88 twisters recorded so far this year, and in Louisiana, there have been 71.
Some of the areas that were hit by a deadly tornado outbreak in late November will be in the line of severe thunderstorms on Tuesday. The outbreak last month included at least 35 tornado reports across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and at least two people lost their lives in North Montgomery, Alabama, when an EF2 tornado tore through the community during the early hours on Wednesday, Nov. 30. In western Alabama, an EF1 tornado tore off the roof of an apartment complex in Eutaw, which sits nearly 80 miles southwest of Birmingham.
Across state lines, a tornado trapped several people in a Malone’s Grocery store in Lowndes County, Mississippi, during the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 29. While the building was damaged, the people trapped inside made it out safely. The National Weather Service had issued a tornado watch for the areas early Tuesday afternoon and labeled it as a “particularly dangerous situation” — the first since May 2022. Additionally, the PDS was the first to be issued during the month of November since 2013, according to AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor Jesse Ferrell.
A damaged mobile home where two people died is seen, in Flatwood, Ala. on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. Tornadoes damaged numerous homes, destroyed a fire station, briefly trapped people in a grocery store and ripped the roof off an apartment complex in Mississippi and Alabama. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
According to preliminary reports by the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, there have been 1,237 tornadoes in the country this year, which falls behind 2021’s total of 1,314 but higher than 2020’s total of 1,082.
Through August, preliminary tornado counts based on NWS local storm reports indicate March (293) and April (246) as the months with the most tornadoes. The amount of tornado deaths in 2022 has been counted at 22, far below totals for 2021 (103) and 2020 (76). November exceeded previous yearly numbers, with preliminary reports showing that 116 tornadoes occurred during the month. Notable tornado outbreaks in 2022 included March outbreaks in the Midwest, Southern and eastern United States, as well as a November outbreak that produced a damaging tornado in Idabel, Oklahoma.
Drone image of the Country Club neighborhood in Idabel, Oklahoma, after a tornado tore through the area. (AccuWeather/Bill Wadell)
Tornado watch: This means you are "watching" for something to happen. Usually, it is issued a few hours before severe storms could hit a broad area. A watch is used to alert the public of a developing threat for tornadoes where conditions exist for creating tornadoes, but one has not necessarily formed yet. When under a watch, it is important to be prepared and remain vigilant.
Tornado warning: This means forecasters are "warning" you to take action and seek shelter immediately. It is more urgent than a tornado watch, as warnings are issued minutes before a tornado strikes a highly localized area. A warning also means a tornado is imminent or has been detected on radar.
A simple way to remember the difference between them is using the taco analogy. A watch means the ingredients to make tacos are there, but the taco has not been made yet. A warning means the tacos have been made and are ready right now, eating them is coming very soon.
