AccuWeather is wrapping up live coverage of the severe storm system that brought destruction across the South and widespread power outages. Forecasters say more chances for severe weather are expected across the Midwest and Northeast throughout March. For additional coverage, stream AccuWeather NOW anytime on our website. Stay up to date on the latest weather in your area by downloading the AccuWeather mobile app and visiting AccuWeather.com. And keep an eye on weather news and forecasts by following AccuWeather on:
An astonishing amount of power outages in Kentucky Friday evening rivaled the state’s largest amount of outages on record, and the state is far from finished with power issues. At 8 p.m. EST Friday, the state had over 510,000 customers without power, nearing the record mark of 609,000 outages set in January 2009. The 2009 outages were caused by an extreme ice storm that dropped more than an inch of freezing rain on the state, causing some Kentucky residents to lose power for weeks. As of 9:30 a.m. EST Saturday, over 400,000 tracked Kentucky customers remain without power, according to PowerOutage.US. Several counties have more than half of tracked customers out of power, including a 92% outage in central Kentucky’s Green County and a 73% outages in western Kentucky’s Butler County.
Two deaths in Tennessee have brought the number of fatalities from the late-week severe weather to 12. Both deaths were related to falling trees, including the death of an elderly woman in the city of Hendersonville after a tree fell on her while out walking. In Humphreys County, a man died after a tree fell on the vehicle he was riding in, county officials told CNN. Aside from the deaths in Tennessee, the storms have claimed four lives in Kentucky, three in Alabama, one in Mississippi, one in Arkansas and one in California.
Another week of wild weather added to the trend of severe outbreaks that began in the late stages of 2022 and remained strong into 2023. Tornado reports since January have been astounding in both number and location variance, with tornadoes ranging as far east as the Carolina coastline and as far north as northern Illinois. The South has been impacted heavily as well, including this week’s outbreak that brought tornadoes to Texas and Arkansas.
AccuWeather On-Air Meteorologist Justin Povick pointed to several potent ingredients as reasons behind the severe trend, such as an abnormally strong jet stream creating gusty winds, as well as a large supply of available warmth and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Recent water temperatures in the Gulf are running 2-4 degrees above the historical average. Povick stated that an intrusion of colder air across the United States later this month could mean less frequent rounds of severe weather.
A pattern change could finally be in the works later this month after repeated rounds of severe weather so far in 2023.
Powerful imagery captured the destruction in the South this week, providing a visual reference for the multiday severe weather outbreak that left at least 10 dead and 1.5 million people without power. Photos of the massive tornado Thursday in Jefferson, Texas, give a glimpse into just how massive the twister was, as well as some of the harm done in the area. Meanwhile, debris from the storms were thrown about everywhere, from Jefferson to the governor’s mansion in Jackson, Mississippi.
If you or someone you know was impacted by severe weather, the task of filing a claim may seem daunting, but there are ways to make the process easier. When your property is damaged from a storm, document the damage by taking photos. Make sure to keep all receipts if you perform temporary repairs so you can have record for reimbursement, according to KTBS. It is also important to not pay anything up front and get everything in writing. Another tip is to be cautious of people going door-to-door who may be trying to capitalize from the severe weather.
The swath of heavy snow has remained on the move overnight, with conditions turning drier across much of the Midwest. After over 10 inches of wet snow fell in many of Detroit's northern suburbs, this morning has seen snow shift to the Northeast, from western New York to southern Maine.
Radar depiction of snow across much of the Northeast early Saturday morning.
Farther to the south, across northern Pennsylvania and and far southern New England, a slushy mix or just plain rain has been in place. As a secondary storm forms offshore, snow will continue across much of the Northeast, leading to travel difficulties on both highways and at the airports. Cities such as Albany and Boston may be especially impacted when it comes to air travel, and those with flights booked are encouraged to monitor their flight status.
Nearly 70% of the U.S. population lives in a region that receives more than 5 inches of snow annually, and an overwhelming number of the nation’s roadways traverse those snowy areas, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA). This means there is a high likelihood that your simple grocery store run or morning commute could be impacted by winter weather at least once. From snow to sleet to freezing rain or ice, winter weather yields numerous types of precipitation that all pose hazards and difficulties on the roadways. According to the FHA, more than 24% of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement, and 15% happen during snowfall or sleet. But equally dangerous is getting stuck for hours in a snowstorm in your vehicle. Many people don’t envision themselves in this situation, but the unthinkable does happen and being prepared and knowing what to do can help save you and your family’s lives. “The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to not travel if you can,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, but if you do have to be out on the roads, being prepared is vital.
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Have an emergency car kit that includes a flashlight, gloves, a battery-powered radio, water, extra food and a blanket.
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If you cannot move, stay where you are and don’t abandon your vehicle. It is a good place to take shelter, especially during a winter storm.
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Notify the authorities with your cellphone and pinpoint your location with GPS either on your cellphone or with navigation services in your car. Make sure to tell the authorities relevant information, like how much gas your car has, how much food and water you have and your location.
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If you don’t have any cellphone service to contact the authorities, then it is important to stay put.
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Turning your car off periodically will help conserve precious gas and battery life and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Make sure that your vehicle is visible to others. Using a piece of bright-colored fabric, road flares, or a traffic light behind your vehicle will all help to ensure your car is easily spotted on the road or highway.
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Make sure if you have to leave your home, to have a fully charged cellphone as well as a portable cellphone charger for the car.
In the wake of a severe weather outbreak, and with a busy severe season approaching, 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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
One of the most tedious challenges drivers can face during the winter months is removing ice from their car’s windshield on frosty mornings or after an ice storm. Several dangers arise when you can’t see adequately out of your windshield when driving. At least 11 states have laws that mandate the removal of snow and ice before heading out on the roadways. Michael Calkins, manager of technical services at AAA, provided AccuWeather with numerous tips in case you find your windshield frozen with ice and snow during the winter.
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Take proactive measures to reduce the likelihood of having to deice your car. Park in a garage, if possible. Cover the windshield with a trap, large town or old sheet folded a few times. Cloth covers can be pre-soaked in a saltwater solution (1 tbsp. of salt to 1 quart of water) to aid in ice prevention.
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Make sure your car is prepared with adequate winter equipment such as an ice scrapper, snow brush, traction aids, snow shovel and warm clothing.
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Ensure the windshield washer reservoir is filled with a winter fluid or “de-icer” fluid that will not freeze in colder weather and can aid in ice removal.
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If you come out to a windshield covered in snow or ice, the first step is to turn the heater on and set it to defrost. Allow the airflow to circulate and set the temperature to the maximum setting.
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Apply a commercial glass deicer spray to the windshield.
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Use a plastic scraper, soft bristle brush or squeegee to remove the ice as it melts.
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Do not use any type of metal scraper. This can scratch and gouge the glass on vehicles.
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Do not use hot water to remove the ice. Hot water can crack the glass by creating thermal shock.
Accumulating snow has departed the Chicago metro area this evening, with the last remaining snow flurries moving eastward out of Indiana over the next hour or two. The heaviest snow has since shifted into Michigan, where snowfall rates in excess of an inch per hour are ongoing across much of the Detroit metro area.
In the Chicagoland area, accumulating snow was heavily concentrated to the south of the city, with a sharp cutoff in many areas. Midway International Airport, located around 5 miles southwest of downtown, reported just flurries to perhaps a coating of snow. Farther north at Chicago-O'Hare Airport, conditions remained dry throughout the day.
Farther to the south and east, several hours of heavy snow led to meaningful accumulations. While Gary, Indiana, only saw up to an inch of snow, other portions of northern Indiana saw higher totals. Valparaiso, Indiana, an outer suburb of Chicago, picked up around 5 inches of snow, with similar totals extending toward the Illinois border. Totals as high as 7 inches were observed in the region surrounding South Bend, Indiana, with even higher totals possible in portions of Michigan. Snow also fell across a long swath of Illinois as well, with Bloomington and Springfield both picking up a general 1 to 3 inches of slushy accumulation.
Over 1.5 million electric customers across the South, Midwest and portions of the Northeast were without power by Friday evening, according to PowerOutage.US. The majority of the outages were in Kentucky — which had over 528,000 customers without power — Tennessee and Michigan. Power lines and utility poles hardly stood a chance as the vicious winds from the multistage severe weather outbreak were strong enough to overturn semi-trailer trucks. A wind gust of 98 mph was recorded at Wears Valley, Tennessee, and few other locations across the state recorded gusts of over 70 mph. In Hardinsburg, Kentucky, a wind gust of 75 mph was recorded.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport temporarily closed on Friday night as winter weather ramped up in eastern Michigan. The airport reported rapidly deteriorating weather conditions prompted the closure. "Please check your flight status with your airline before heading to the airport," the airport said in a tweet. Detroit is forecast to get 4-8 inches of snow into late Friday night, with heavy snow expected until around 9 p.m. EST.
A third storm-related fatality in Kentucky was reported on Friday evening by Gov. Andy Beshear. “Kentucky, please add one more family to your prayers tonight. We just learned of our third weather related death, this loss coming out of Logan County,” the governor said over Twitter. This is the fifth fatality associated with the severe weather sweeping across the U.S. The other two deaths occurred in Mississippi when a tree fell onto a vehicle in Yazoo County and in Arkansas where floodwater presumably swept man’s truck into the Poteau River.
Blue Grass Airport, located in Lexington, Kentucky, was damaged following severe weather in the area. When severe weather approached the airport, the tower was evacuated due to threat of high winds. As the storm impacted the city, the roof of concourse A at the airport was damaged. The power was also knocked out in some areas of the terminal and TSA closed. Flights originally scheduled to land at Blue Grass Airport have been diverted to other airports, according to LEX 18 News reporter Sean Moody.
As mixed precipitation and winter weather continue to impact the Northeast, freezing rain was reported in western Maryland on Friday evening. A trained spotter observed a quarter of an inch of freezing rain near Accident, Maryland, with another observation of one fifteenth of an inch reported a few miles to the northeast. AccuWeather meteorologists say freezing rain will create messy travel conditions for at time across the central Appalachians Friday.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was placed under a ground stop at 4:14 p.m. EST due to thunderstorms in the area. A line of severe storms was moving into the Atlanta area on Friday afternoon. Multiple severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect from the line of storms, warning of the potential for 60 mph wind gusts. The ground stop is in effect until at least 5:45 p.m. EST, according to the National Airspace System Status.
At least one man died in Arkansas after floodwaters swept away his truck, the Scott County Sheriff’s Department confirmed with AccuWeather. Scott County 911 Dispatch had received a report early Friday morning that a Scott County man had never arrived to meet his grandson and had not returned home, according to a statement provided by the sheriff's department. As water levels receded later Friday morning, a motorist noticed and reported the top of a pickup truck in the Poteau River. A search found the truck to be heavily damaged and the man was found a short distance from the vehicle, deceased. “The initial investigation of the incident indicates that the truck was likely swept from the roadway and into the Poteau River near Hwy 80 East and Manorcrest Road, and washed downstream to where it was ultimately discovered,” the statement said.
A tornado that impacted Pikes County, Arkansas, located in the southwest portion of the state, received an EF2 rating from the National Weather Service. The tornado impacted Kirby, Arkansas, located about 60 miles northeast of Texarkana. The team that surveyed the damage said it was consistent with a higher end EF2, which has an estimated three second wind gust of between 111 and 135 mph.
Widespread winter weather is starting to fall across the northern Midwest and Northeast on Friday afternoon. Suburbs to the south of Chicago are experiencing snow while parts of northern Indiana are getting rain, with heavy amounts around the city of Gary, Indiana. In Pennsylvania, mixed precipitation is falling in the central part of the state, including a portion of US-22 near Vintondale. To the east of the mixed precipitation, snow continues to fall in areas such as Altoona and State College while to the west of the mixed precipitation, rain is falling in cities such as Wheeling, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and into Ohio. A roughly 840-mile stretch of Interstate 80 from western Illinois to western New Jersey is currently experiencing some form of precipitation -- roughly one-third of the entire interstate, which is the nation's second-longest interstate and runs from San Francisco to Teaneck, New Jersey.
Hundreds of thousands of electric customers were without power across the nation as of Friday afternoon amid both severe weather and a winter storm impacting the eastern portion of the country. Tennessee leads the country in outages with over 285,000 customers without power, according to PowerOutage.US. Kentucky and Alabama both exceed 120,000 as all three states were impacted by a line of severe weather on Friday. To the north, Illinois and Indiana each report close to 20,000 customers without power as both those states battle severe weather and winter weather.
A tornado watch was issued for parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia shortly after a separate tornado watch was issued for portions of the Southeast.This latest watch will expire at 7 p.m. EST unless otherwise noted. The area under the watch includes southeastern Indiana, southern Ohio, western West Virginia, western Virginia and northeastern Kentucky, covering over 2.5 million people.
A tornado watch was issued for parts of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia on Friday afternoon. It is set to expire at 8 p.m. The watch warned of the possibility of a couple of strong tornadoes, hail up to the size of quarters and occasional wind gusts up to 75 mph. The same system had trekked across Texas and the south-central U.S. on Thursday, churning up several tornadoes and delivering 80 mph wind gusts in some locations. The watch covers a population of over 8.3 million people, focused on northeastern Georgia, northwestern South Carolina, western Carolina, eastern Tennessee and western Virginia.
Heavy snowfall and traffic accidents on slippery roads can often result in power outages, making it difficult to stay warm in cold weather. Here are a few tips to follow if the power goes out during a winter storm:
•Keep all doors to the outside closed, and use towels to block drafts from windows and door cracks
• Insulate windows with black blankets or place blanket on the floor where the sun is directly shining
• Run a bathtub of hot water
•Turn faucets to a trickle to prevent pipes from freezing
•Don’t rely on gas stoves, charcoal grills or other open-flame heat sources as carbon monoxide gas may build up in your home. You should also be aware of fuel fumes while trying to make a hot meal.
•Place any generators outside, away from doors, windows and vents
•Limit non-emergency phone calls
Around 10:20 a.m. CST Friday, two people were injured when a tree fell on a house near Mantachie, Mississippi, located less than 10 miles east of Tupelo. Just minutes later, another person was injured in Starkville, Mississippi, 60 miles to the southwest, when a tree fell onto their house. Two vehicles were also damaged by fallen trees nearby.
At 11 a.m., another injury was reported due to a tree that fell in Franklin County, Alabama. Shortly thereafter, winds gusted to 77 mph at Mooresville, Alabama, just north of Decatur. Winds over 70 mph were also reported in Kentucky. These reports were submitted to the National Weather Service by emergency officials.
At least one person has died due to the severe weather outbreak across the southern United States. On Friday morning, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced the fatality on Twitter. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency confirmed to AccuWeather that the fatality happened when a tree fell onto a vehicle in Yazoo County, located in the west-central part of the state. “Please pray for the victim’s family in this difficult time,” Reeves said in a Tweet. Two people in Mooreville, Mississippi, were injured early Friday when severe storms blew a tree onto a house. The occupants evacuated the house and got to safety, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
A snapshot of the weather radar around 10:30 a.m. CST on March 3, 2023. (AccuWeather)
A line of thunderstorms is blasting eastward across Tennessee and is slated to reach Nashville before 11 a.m. CST. Strong wind gusts, flooding downpours and frequent lightning are the primary threats as the line of storms moves through the city. Farther south, the same line of storms blew over trees and power lines as it produced wind gusts over 60 mph along the border of Mississippi and Alabama. People should remain indoors as the storms move through the area. Elsewhere across the region, the National Weather Service has issued a new tornado watch that includes most of eastern Tennessee, northeastern Alabama and northwestern Georgia.
The threat of severe thunderstorms is increasing across Kentucky, and state officials are taking action to prepare for the impending weather. On Friday morning, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency due to the growing threat of destructive storms and tornadoes. “Today we are going to have a dangerous weather day,” Beshear said. “With everything we have been through, I want to make sure that everyone is safe today.” The declaration allows state officials and the National Guard to take action ahead of the storms so they can swiftly respond to any area hit hard by a twister or intense winds. “Don’t take chances. This could be a very dangerous day,” Beshear said.
A severe weather map showing the flood warnings and flash flood warnings (green) from Ohio to Oklahoma. (AccuWeather)
Widespread flooding was occurring Friday morning from eastern Oklahoma to Ohio after heavy rain with the storms Thursday afternoon and overnight caused creeks to swell over their banks. Roads were reported underwater in southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and Missouri, according to dozens of National Weather Service spotter reports. Flood advisories (green) were in effect for many areas. As the water moves downstream, residents living near rivers could experience moderate flooding through at least Sunday, according to NWS forecasts.
Severe thunderstorms, snow and flooding rain are at the forefront of the forecast for the eastern U.S. on Friday, but gusty winds could also cause issues from western New York through eastern Texas. AccuWeather meteorologists predict that wind gusts not associated with thunderstorms could be over 40 mph across a large area from Lake Erie toward the Gulf Coast. Gusts could occasionally reach speeds of 60 mph with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 80 mph. The strong winds could cause widespread flight disruptions across the eastern U.S. and trigger turbulence for flights traveling in proximity to the far-reaching storm system.
A damage survey team from the National Weather Service plans to visit southeast Hopkins County, east of Dallas, where a tornado was observed and confirmed to have touched down in the Pickton area Thursday night. Residents captured footage of a twister as severe storms moved through the area. NWS officials say they believe powerful straight-line winds, not tornadoes, caused tree and major structural damage along the Interstate 20 corridor in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, from Parker County to Kaufman County. Wind speeds of 70 mph to 80 mph were recorded, according to NWS.
Elsewhere in the state, a video was captured of what appeared to be a massive tornado in Jefferson, Texas, near the Louisiana line Thursday. The footage, taken by storm chaser Brandon Clement in Marion County, showed dozens of downed trees, some of which had fallen over mobile homes, power lines and roads. A tornado also was reported in south Shreveport, Louisiana, after a tornadic storm moved through the area. At 5:37 p.m. CST, a video of a tornado near LSU-Shreveport was posted and confirmed by the NWS. It was unclear whether anyone was injured during the severe storms.
After chasing storms on Thursday around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, extreme meteorologist Reed Timmer has ventured into central Tennessee to continue his chase on Friday. Timmer reported from outside a Waffle House in Jackson, Tennessee, located roughly 77 miles to the northeast of Memphis, and he said Friday was shaping up to be a “significant” severe weather day due to a “big-time” damaging wind threat and the possibility of a significant tornado or two. Some individual storm systems could move at a speed of 70 mph or greater at some point on Friday, Timmer said. Watch the video below for more.
United Airlines flight information screen displays today flight information, including canceled flights at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. (AP photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Travelers passing through Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday faced a travel nightmare, with 382 flights canceled and another 513 delayed, according to FlightAware. A ground stop was issued on Thursday evening ahead of the severe thunderstorms that blew through the area, which generated a peak wind gust of 71 mph at the airport. Delays and cancellations are already on the rise today in the wake of the storms, with 82 flights canceled and another 45 delayed.
The northern flank of the massive storm over the eastern U.S. could also spell trouble for airline passengers. Snow is forecast to develop during the afternoon in Chicago and Detroit, two major travel hubs across the Midwest. Anyone planning to travel across the central or eastern United States on Friday should check with their airlines before heading to the airport.
Many schools across the Chicago area are taking a snow day, giving students a three-day weekend due to the snowstorm approaching the region. AccuWeather forecasters say that 1 to 3 inches are likely for the city, but there is a chance that snowfall could accumulate 3 to 6 inches if the storm tracks farther north. The first snowflakes are forecast to arrive in the city around midday and continue into the first part of Friday night. The snow is not likely to stick around for long, with temperatures in Chicago forecast to reach the 50s by the start of next week.
The same system responsible for intense winds and tornadoes in the southern Plains on Thursday is shifting east and is moving through the Tennessee Valley. The National Weather Service issued a new tornado watch from western Kentucky into central Mississippi that is in effect until 1 p.m. CST. Nashville, Tennessee; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Huntsville, Alabama; and Tupelo, Mississippi, are a few cities at risk of twisters, damaging winds and frequent lightning. A tornado watch means that conditions are conducive to the development of tornadoes, while a tornado warning means that a twister is imminent or is already happening. If a tornado warning is issued, people in the path of the storm should seek shelter immediately and remain in a safe location until the storm passes.
Very heavy rain accompanied some of the thunderstorms that caused hail, wind and tornadoes on Thursday. In addition to the thunderstorm damage, the rainfall resulted in flooding. This prompted the issuance of flood watches and warnings. The highest rainfall totals were in Arkansas and Mississippi, where up to 7 inches fell. Forecasters say that heavy rain will also accompany severe weather on Friday.
Winter storm watches were in effect for parts of the Midwest on Thursday, with snow expected to fall across the Northeast on Friday. The winter storm watches included portions of western Illinois, northern Indiana and southern and central Michigan, most of which were scheduled to expire between Friday evening and the early hours of Saturday morning. The winter storm watches and warnings in the Northeast are posed to impact northern New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine as the storm moves into the region before expiring Saturday evening.
Winter storm watches indicate that the risk of hazardous winter weather has increased while winter storm warnings indicate the winter weather event has become imminent, according to the National Weather Service. Additionally, winter storm warnings often indicate heavy snow of at least 6 inches in 12 hours or at least 8 inches in 24.
When severe weather begins to fire up, radar helps to pinpoint the location of damaging tornadoes and quickly warn those in its path. As a thunderstorm rotates and strengthens, a hook-like shape may appear on the edge of the storm when viewed on radar. This hook can become more prominent in an area where a tornado can spawn as the storm intensifies. As a tornado touches down, it can loft objects and debris into the atmosphere, forming a cluster sometimes referred to as a “debris ball.” The presence of both strong rotation and a debris ball in the same area often indicates there is a radar-confirmed tornado occurring.
Damage was reported in south Shreveport, Louisiana, after a tornadic storm moved through the area. At 5:37 p.m. CST, a video of a tornado near LSU-Shreveport was posted and confirmed by the National Weather Service. The extent of the damage at LSU-Shreveport included the intersection of Youree Dr. and Sophia Lane. Twelve Oaks neighborhood, a gas station and a grocery store all suffered damage as a result of the storm, according to Shreveport Times. One video from near the LSU-Shreveport campus showed a home with significant roof damage and blown-out windows. Pieces of the roof can be seen crumbled on top with panels missing.
February 2023 saw a decently high total of tornadoes for the month, but the preliminary total hardly compares to past Februarys. Preliminary reports estimate 52 tornadoes touched down in February 2023 following an extremely active January which had a preliminary count at 168, according to the National Weather Service. If confirmed, this could be the January with the second-highest tornado count since records began, behind January 1999.
"This winter has been unusually active with more tornado and wind reports to date than average," AccuWeather Director of Forecast Operations Dan DePodwin said. "This is due, in part, to the unusually warm winter across much of the eastern half of the country. The Gulf of Mexico is also several degrees warmer than normal, meaning that it is easier than normal to draw warm, moist air northward." If confirmed, this February's 52 tornadoes will be the most recorded during the month since 2017 when the Storm Prediction Center confirmed 69 tornadoes. In 2016, 103 tornadoes were reported in February. Also if confirmed, the total number of tornadoes in February 2023 easily soared above the three-year average of 21 tornadoes for the month. February 2008 had the highest count of tornadoes during the month since records began with 147 reports.
Historically, March kicks off the start of the main severe weather season as winter transitions into spring. “March typically signals a significant increase in severe thunderstorms across the United States, especially the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley,” AccuWeather Director of Forecast Operations Dan DePodwin said. “Warm, moist air — usually sparse during the heart of winter — is more readily drawn northward from the Gulf of Mexico in March. This fuel interacts with still potent atmospheric winds and cold, dry air diving south from Canada.”
The resulting clash of air masses then serves as a key ingredient for severe thunderstorms, beginning in March and continuing through early June, according to DePodwin. With a burst of severe weather also comes a greater chance for tornadoes. While the month isn’t known for the highest number of tornadoes during the year, it is the month when the numbers typically begin to swell. The three-year average number of tornadoes for March is 152 compared to 21 for February and 47 for January.
As Chicago braces for one of its biggest snowstorms of the season so far, many schools across the region have already canceled classes for Friday. Some districts announced no evening activities on Thursday while others have announced E-learning days for Friday. The AccuWeather forecast is calling for 3 to 6 inches of snow to accumulate in the city with 6 to 10 inches and just to the south and east into parts of central Illinois and northwestern Indiana. Lesser amounts in the 1- to 3-inch range are forecast well to the north and west of Chicago.
Major cities such as Chicago, Detroit and Boston will be hit by an incoming snowstorm into Saturday evening. A band of 1 to 3 inches of snow will stretch from Springfield, Missouri, up past the Canadian border into Quebec City. A higher band of 6 to 10 inches will fall in Chicago and Peoria, Illinois, along with Syracuse, New York, and Portland, Maine. The largest snowfall total of 12 to 18 inches can be expected in northern Vermont and New Hampshire, central Michigan and southeastern Ontario.
"While parts of central Michigan receive a foot of snow, areas downriver may pick up only a couple of inches of snow and slush with a change to drenching rain from Friday afternoon to Friday night," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dean DeVore said.
At least 21 motor vehicle crashes occurred during the severe weather event across the Fort Worth area on Thursday, according to MedStar medics. Three crashes included rollovers, including one that involved an 18-wheeler. Four people were transported to nearby hospitals. The storms struck around rush hour as people were returning home from work. At the time, the National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area, warning of “destructive storms” and calling it a “life-threatening” situation. The alert covered over 2 million people and warned of possible wind gusts of up to 80 mph.
Multiple severe hail reports encompassed Texas throughout the day on Thursday. The 1.75-inch diameter reports -- equivalent to golf ball size -- included much of North Texas including Sherman and Tioga. The golf ball-sized hail also impacted areas to the south including Smithson Valley and San Marcos, both located between San Antonio and Austin. Large hail remains possible as the severe weather continues to move into east Texas and the Arkansas and Louisiana border into Thursday night.
A snow drought has unfolded this winter season across much of the Midwest and Northeast. Although Chicago has received more than 17 inches of snow so far this season, that amount is well short of what it typically receives through March 1. Snowfall so far this season is about 14 inches below the historical average to date. More than 28 inches had fallen by this point in 2022. The city’s snow total is expected to get a big boost on Friday as a major winter storm moves through town.
So far this winter, the biggest single-day snowfall amount at O’Hare International Airport, the city’s official observation site used by the National Weather Service, was 3.6 inches on Jan. 25. However, on Friday, the storm system is forecast to dump 6-10 inches of snow around the Chicagoland area. Lesser amounts in the 3- to 6-inch range are forecast well to the south of Chicago.
“The key to who in the Chicago area gets a lot of snow, and who sees more rain at times, is the track of the storm,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore. “Some cold air pushing in from the north toward the end of the storm could also complicate the forecast, as some places that change to rain may end up going back to snow before the storm ends.”
A severe thunderstorm watch over southeast Texas, including Houston, was issued Thursday night and will remain in effect until midnight unless canceled. The alert comes as robust storms sweep across Texas, sparking power outages, spawning possible tornadoes and fueling raging winds. Earlier Thursday evening, the National Weather Service warned that residents in the city of Dallas and surrounding areas that were under a previously issued severe thunderstorm warning were in a life-threatening situation as wind gusts roared above 80 mph. The line of thunderstorms moving into the region of the severe thunderstorm watch in southeast Texas will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail and tornadoes.
Storm chaser Brandon Clement captured a video of what appeared to be a massive tornado in Jefferson, Texas, on Thursday evening. The northeastern Texas city, located in Marion County, was under a tornado warning around 5:25 p.m. CST.
Footage showed dozens of downed trees, some of which had fallen over mobile homes, power lines and roads. One clip showed two lines of trees that had once flanked a private driveway now completely uprooted and blocking the road.
Storm chaser Brandon Clement captured this video of a destructive tornado and its aftermath in Jefferson, Texas, on March 2.
As severe thunderstorms moved through North Texas on Thursday evening, Collinsville, Texas, was hit especially hard. Several trees were shredded, and thrown across the ground and tree limb debris was scattered across roads. Overflow could also be seen along roadways following the severe weather event. The town was put under a severe thunderstorm warning at 6:30 p.m. CST. Collinsville is located about 50 miles north of Dallas.
Wind gusts in Texas surpassed 80 mph on Thursday after a gust of 81 mph was recorded at Comstock, a town in southwestern Val Verde County. Closer to Dallas, a gust of 80 mph was recorded at North Fort Worth. Power outages across the state were quickly surging on Thursday evening, rising to over 323,000 by 7:25 p.m. CST, according to PowerOutage.US. The majority of these outages were in North Texas and southwest Texas. Both Tarrant and Dallas, neighboring counties in North Texas, recorded over 100,000 customers experiencing power outages.
Power outages soared amid a destructive severe weather outbreak Thursday evening. In a little over an hour, power outages across the state surged from 41,000 to 289,000 between 6 and 7:15 p.m. CST, according to data from PowerOutage.US. The 2,100 customers without power in Tarrant County jumped to 101,404 and 174 to 87,101 in Dallas County. The storms raging across the state have brought destructive gusting winds that threaten to reach 80 mph — more than enough to down trees and power lines. Wind gusts at Fort Worth, located in Tarrant County, were recorded to have reached over 70 mph.
The Office of Emergency Management activated sirens in the city of Dallas due to damaging winds Thursday evening, according to local officials. The area was under a severe thunderstorm warning, marked as a “life-threatening situation” by the National Weather Service earlier that evening. “If your phones alerted and you hear sirens, that is for wind speeds as strong as a weak tornado! So treat it like one!” the NWS office in Fort Worth warned over Twitter. “Get inside, away from the windows! Widespread damaging winds will impact most everyone in Collin and Dallas counties.” AccuWeather meteorologists have been warning of the potential for severe thunderstorms to produce wind gusts over 70 mph in the Dallas area for several days. A second severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Fort Worth, Arlington and North Richland Hills.
At 6:26 p.m. CST, a tornado warning was issued for Dallas, Duncanville and Lancaster, Texas. The alert covers nearly 700,000 people, warning of a radar-indicated tornado and pea-sized hail. Over 200 schools and seven hospitals are in the area, according to the National Weather Service, and is in effect until 7 p.m. CST.
A new tornado watch was issued Thursday evening up until midnight for parts of southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana, an area that's home to a population of over 1.1 million people. Nearly 500 schools and 69 hospitals also sit in the covered area. Widespread wind gusts of up to 80 mph are likely, according to the National Weather Service, as well as a few tornadoes and scattered hail up to the size of tennis balls. The watch will expire at midnight, local time, unless renewed.
A line of intense thunderstorms is approaching the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex from the West around the same time that people are traveling for the evening commute. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Fort Worth, warning of a “destructive storm” and calling it a “life-threatening situation.” Over 2 million people live in the storm-warned area with wind gusts up to 80 mph possible. The line of storms is slated to move through Dallas later this evening. A 71-mph wind gust was clocked near Mineral Wells, Texas, located 45 miles west of Fort Worth, as the storms blew through around 5 p.m. CST.
The National Weather Service reported roof damage to a home along state Highway 11 in Hopkins County, Texas, on Thursday afternoon. The damage occurred where a tornado was reported by a trained spotter at around 4:30 p.m. CST. The tornado was spotted near Purley, Texas, which is about 50 miles north of Tyler. Downed trees and power lines were also observed as a result of the tornadic storm.
Nearly 350 flights were canceled and more than 300 delayed at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport today, and those numbers could continue to rise throughout the evening. The FAA has issued a ground stop at the airport due to thunderstorms around the area. The ground stop is in effect until 5:45 p.m. CST, but the FAA added that the ground stop might be extended due to the continued threat of storms. The flight disruptions could have a ripple effect across the country and may impact flights elsewhere in the U.S. into Friday.
Massive, hail-producing thunderstorms have pelted towns north of Dallas with hail as large as golf balls, and AccuWeather storm chaser Tony Laubach is in pursuit. Laubach was near Aubrey, Texas, a few miles north of Dallas, when he saw an ominous shelf cloud above the horizon.
While these storms are tracking away from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, other storms in the area are threatening the city. “[A] severe line of storms with the potential for winds in excess of 70 mph and tornadoes [is] moving toward the Metroplex,” AccuWeather storm warning meteorologist Rich Putnam said. He added that they would likely arrive in the city between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. CST and will significantly disrupt rush-hour travel.
Areas of south-central Oklahoma and central Texas were placed under a severe thunderstorm watch early Thursday afternoon, and at 2:55 p.m. CST, the National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for northeastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma. Nearly 10 million people live in the area placed under the tornado watch, including residents in and around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. “A couple intense tornadoes” and hail larger than baseballs are possible in this area through 10 p.m. CST.
An early round of severe thunderstorms began to push towards the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Thursday afternoon, prompting multiple severe thunderstorm warnings. One of the isolated thunderstorms impacted Decatur, Texas, at around 2:30 p.m. CST, resulting in multiple hail reports. The largest hail report for Decatur was a 1.25-inch diameter observation, about the size of a half dollar. A hailstone is considered severe when it is above 1 inch in diameter.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for parts of North Texas on Thursday afternoon, including Wichita and Archer counties, as the severe weather began to ramp up. The area under the warning holds a population of nearly 100,000 people, according to the National Weather Service. A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for surrounding areas, extending into southern Oklahoma. Frequent lighting is possible within the warned area, as well as scattered wind gusts of up to 75 mph.
AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said the dangerous severe storms on Thursday will be tracking across the south-central U.S. well after dark and past midnight into early Friday. Rayno explained that all of the necessary atmospheric ingredients to create severe thunderstorms are in place. Storms could affect the Dallas area around 5 p.m. local time Thursday before departing the area around 9 p.m., Rayno said. Watch the video below for more.
AccuWeather forecasters say the risk of storms on Thursday will be the most widespread of the three-day event.
The same brutal storm system that has dumped upwards of 100 inches or more of snow in Southern California over the past week is poised to strike parts of the Plains, Midwest and the Northeast Thursday and Friday.
Californians are still reeling from the winter storm, with officials declaring a state of emergency for 13 counties. Residents in the sun-soaked West who normally aren’t used to even a trace of snow have been in a state of shock over the sheer amount that’s landed on their doorstep, posting countless videos and photos on social media. Many were delighting in the sight of falling snow, even if they saw a coating: “It’s unbelievable!” exclaimed Shawn White who posted a video tweet from San Diego. “Snow in Burbank! This is wild weather y’all,” another resident shared in a video.
Southern California experienced unseasonable March weather as instances of snow, rain and hail left residents in disbelief on March 1.
“It’s not rain, it’s snow,” added Brian Hockenmaier of Los Angeles in a separate video, as a relative steps out on the front porch to take in the experience. Kids were seen popping outdoors to get some licks of snowflakes – and build snowmen of any size. California has endured a lengthy storm that’s lasted at least five days, much to the chagrin of many residents: “Ok this isn’t funny anymore. MORE snow in Los Angeles and now with a fun dash of apocalyptic wind!” Emilio Rossal of LA posted. “What is going on?”
Much of the focus, and rightly so, on the severe weather potential on Thursday and Friday includes the risk of tornadoes. However, forecasters say the storms could also bring a dangerous flood threat to a large portion of the United States. Heavy downpours could lead to reduced visibility as well as travel slowdowns for motorists. Flood watches were already issued for parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas on Thursday.
According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Courtney Travis, “cities and towns from northeastern Texas to the Ohio Valley and the central Appalachians could all be at risk for drenching rain and thunderstorms. These soaking storms could produce anywhere from 1-3 to 2-4 inches of rain with locally higher amounts.
Major cities including St. Louis, Nashville and Indianapolis may all be affected by the heavy rain."
Doppler radar is arguably the most important tool for meteorologists during severe weather events, but it has limitations. Radar works by sending a pulse of energy through the atmosphere at an angle toward the sky. When the pulses of energy bounce off objects, such as raindrops or hailstones, the radar can determine where precipitation is falling, what type of precipitation is falling and even if a tornado is on the ground. Due to the upward angle of the energy pulse and the curvature of the Earth, the accuracy of the radar decreases with distance, making it more challenging to see what type of weather is happening in areas far away from the radar.
An area located far away from any radar site is known as a radar hole -- and there are three radar holes in the area where AccuWeather is predicting the worst of the severe weather to occur through Thursday night. Paris, Texas, is near the center of a radar hole, with the closest radar located 128 miles away near Shreveport, Louisiana. Another radar hole exists in southeastern Arkansas and a third in eastern Texas between College Station and Lufkin.
Thursday is shaping up to be the most dangerous day of the three-day severe weather outbreak across the south-central and eastern United States. AccuWeather meteorologists say a high risk of severe weather is expected across parts of northern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, south-central Arkansas, northern Louisiana and parts of western Mississippi.
The storms on Thursday will produce a widespread risk of tornadoes, flooding downpours and damaging winds across many of those areas. The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said a population of more than 37 million people is at risk of some form of severe weather on Thursday. A number of larger metro areas could be impacted by the storms including Houston, Dallas, New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee.
Millions of people across the southern United States face the risk of potentially violent weather into Thursday night as a severe weather outbreak unfolds over the region. AccuWeather meteorologists predict that the most intense storms will develop over northeastern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana on Thursday and could continue into Thursday night.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is working with state officials so that emergency crews can react swiftly to damaging storms across the state, according to Louisiana-based news station KPVI. “We encourage everyone to make sure their electronic devices are charged and make certain they have a way to receive weather alerts,” Edwards said. “There are often added concerns when we face dangerous storm conditions in the overnight or early morning hours.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a similar statement ahead of the looming threat of damaging storms. “Texans across the state should remain weather-aware as this severe storm system moves across portions of Texas this week,” Abbott said. “The State of Texas is fully prepared to assist local officials and emergency response personnel on the ground to keep our communities safe.”
Tornado watch: This means you are “watching” for something to happen. Usually issued a few hours before severe storms could hit a broad area. A watch is used to alert the public of a developing threat of 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. Warnings are issued minutes before a tornado strikes a highly localized area. A tornado is imminent or has been detected on radar.
A simple way to remember the difference between both 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.
