Real-time severe weather coverage for April 13-14
The town of Franklin, in Central Texas, took a direct hit by an EF3 tornado Saturday morning during a round of severe weather that tore through several states in the South.
A robust outbreak of severe weather, which included damaging tornadoes, hail and flash flooding, took aim at the eastern United States over the weekend. From early Saturday into Monday morning storm and damage reports spread from Texas to Massachusetts.
The severe weather was not only significant in terms of scale and the area impacted, but also the amount of the damages that occurred throughout the weekend. Cracked roads, downed power lines and trees, flattened buildings, and numerous deaths and injuries have been reported in the storm’s tracks.
At least eight people are dead, including two children, after severe weather slammed communities across the South over the weekend.
Download the free AccuWeather app to stay alert to severe weather watches and warnings. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Additional reporting by AccuWeather staff writer Chaffin Mitchell and Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
Scroll down for previous reports as the severe weather unfolded Saturday into Sunday.
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5 p.m. EDT Sunday:
There is a confirmed tornado in progress in the area of Shelby, Ohio, near State Route 61. If you are near this area, take cover now!
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3 p.m. EDT Sunday:
A thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is tracking over areas to the west of Mansfield, Ohio
There is also a strong rotation over Ellenton, Georgia heading toward Sparks and Lenox.
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8 a.m. CDT Sunday:
There are reports of significant damage in Glencoe, Alabama. Search and rescue operations are underway with eight homes damaged.
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7:45 a.m. CDT Sunday:
Tornado damage has been reported in Troy, Alabama, where a vehicle was overturned and power poles downed. This dangerous storm is now tracking toward the community of Midway and Hurtsboro in Bullock County, Alabama.
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6:45 a.m. CDT Sunday:
The break of dawn is shedding new light on the devastation in Hamilton, Mississippi, where a deadly tornado ripped through on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, the tornado danger continues farther east with a new tornado watch issued for much of northern and central Georgia, including the Atlanta metro area.
Residents throughout the region are encouraged to stay up to date with the latest severe weather alerts throughout the day by downloading the free AccuWeather app.
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6:20 a.m. CDT Sunday:
Power outages have increased to nearly 19,000 customers across Alabama as storms continue to roll through the state.
The severe weather threat has ended for Mobile, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, but is just beginning around Auburn and Dothan.
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4:20 a.m. CDT Sunday:
In addition to the continued risk of tornadoes and damaging winds across Alabama early this morning, flash flooding will also be a threat as the storms unleash a significant amount of rainfall.
Parking lots are beginning to take on high water at the University of South Alabama's campus.
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3:15 a.m. CDT Sunday:
Emergency managers report that a possible tornado occurred in Hagler, Alabama. Trees and power lines were downed near the Hagler Volunteer Fire Department.
Meanwhile, there are reports of fatalities and injuries in Monroe County, Mississippi, after a potentially large tornado swept through the area earlier Saturday night.
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2:30 a.m. CDT Sunday:
A tornado warning is in effect until 3:00 a.m. CDT for southeastern Tuscaloosa and northwestern Bibb counties in Alabama. A tornado has been confirmed with this storm.
Power outages are climbing across the state as the severe weather moves through, with over 12,000 customers without power, according to poweroutage.us.
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1:25 a.m. CDT Sunday:
A new tornado watch has been issued for portions of southern Tennessee and eastern and central Alabama until 9:00 a.m. CDT Sunday.
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12:35 a.m. CDT Sunday:
The National Weather Service reports that a confirmed tornado is located 8 miles east of Tishomingo State Park, moving north at 45 mph.
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11:20 p.m. CDT Saturday:
A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado is located 8 miles northwest of Caledonia, Mississippi, moving north at 35 mph.
The National Weather Service is calling this a life-threatening situation and urging people to seek shelter now.
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10:45 p.m. CDT Saturday:
Damage has been reported near the Mississippi State University campus in northeastern Mississippi. A tornado-warned storm moved through the area within the past 30 minutes.
The National Weather Service office in Birmingham, Alabama, warned residents to not let their guard down as they head off to bed, as the thunderstorms currently in Mississippi will be arriving in central Alabama later tonight.
"Get those weather radios and phone apps TURNED ON," they said on Twitter.
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9:30 p.m. CDT Saturday:
Preliminary survey shows an EF-3 tornado with winds of 140 mph hit the town of Franklin in central Texas earlier today.
It is important to remain alert into the overnight hours, as severe storms are still erupting in sections across the southern U.S.
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8:30 p.m. CDT Saturday:
There are more than 180,000 power outages according to PowerOutage.US, with more power outages likely as the storm progresses.
A curfew is in place in Franklin from 8 p.m. CDT to 7 a.m. CDT following the direct hit from the tornado.
Officials said Saturday evening that more than 20 homes were destroyed.
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8:15 p.m. CDT Saturday:
There is a tornadic supercell north of Canton, Mississippi, along I-55. The squall line continues to move east with an isolated tornado threat.
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7:30 p.m. CDT Saturday:
There are many damage reports from Vicksburg, Mississippi, however there are currently no injuries reported.
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6:45 p.m. CDT Saturday:
According to the National Weather Service, the roofs of a Kroger store and a USPS were blown off during a tornado three miles south of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Other damage is reported from residents, including trees uprooted on Warrenton Road and Clay Street near I-20.
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6:20 p.m. CDT Saturday:
There is a tornado-producing storm approaching I-55 north of Canton, Mississippi. If you live near this area, stay up to date on alerts and prepare to take cover if needed.
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5:30p.m. CDT Saturday:
Two children were killed after a tree fell on a vehicle they were in during a severe storm, the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. According to Angelina County Sheriff’s Captain Alton Lendermen, the 3-year-old and 8-year-old children were in a car with their parents on DeWitt Hinson Road in Pollok, Texas.
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5:15p.m. CDT Saturday:
There are almost 75,000 power outages in the state of Texas due to the severe storms. Those numbers are likely to rise as severe weather continues to track across the southern U.S.
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4:15p.m. CDT Saturday:
A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located west of Jackson, Mississippi, near Vicksburg. Specifically over Somerset, or 16 miles south of Tallulah, moving northeast at 40 mph.
This is a Particularly Dangerous Situation, take cover now!
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3:30 p.m. CDT Saturday:
Several reports of damage from a possible tornado were observed around the Milam and Robertrson county line in Texas. Storm surveys will take place to tell the number of tornadoes and their intensity.
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3:00 p.m. CDT Saturday:
There is an unconfirmed report of one fatality near Alto, Texas, after a house was ripped off its foundation.
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2:45 p.m. CDT Saturday:
According to reports, extensive damage has been seen in Robertson, Leon and Houston counties.
There are tornado warnings in effect in Louisiana, Texas and North Carolina, as we continue to see severe weather roll across the southern U.S.
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2:15 p.m. CDT Saturday:
Nearly all of Robertson County residents are experiencing power outages following the tornado in Franklin, Texas.
As of 2:15 p.m. CDT Saturday, 3,104 out of 3,476 customers are without power.
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1 p.m. CDT Saturday:
According to reports via police scanners, 30 people who escaped the tornado in Franklin, Texas, without injuries are now staying at a shelter set up in the town.
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12:30 p.m. CDT Saturday:
Separate from the tornado that devastated the Franklin area, another confirmed tornado was located near Austonio, Texas. The communities of Crockett and Latexo are in the path of this potentially dangerous storm.
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12:20 p.m. CDT Saturday:
Additional tornadoes are threatening people and motorists in eastern Texas.
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11:45 a.m. CDT Saturday:
The large and devastating tornado that struck Franklin, Texas, is now threatening the community of Marquez and will soon cross Interstate 45 between mile markers 157 and 180.
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11:35 a.m. CDT Saturday:
Law enforcement reports three people sustained injuries after a tornado badly damaged a home in Ratcliff, Texas.
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11:25 a.m. CDT Saturday:
Reports received via police scanners indicate "significant damage" in Franklin, Texas, with one mobile home overturned, multiple homes collapsed and power lines downed.
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11:03 a.m. CDT Saturday:
A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located near Calvert, Texas, which is located north of College Station. Residents of Franklin should seek shelter immediately.
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10:25 a.m. CDT Saturday:
The FAA reports that delays for arriving flights to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are averaging two hours.
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9:45 a.m. CDT Saturday:
A powerful thunderstorm slammed areas north of San Antonio with hail slightly larger than baseballs. While the largest hailstones were produced just to the north, golf ball-sized hail pounded Six Flags Fiesta.
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9:25 a.m. CDT Saturday:
Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer gives a live update on the impending tornado outbreak.
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7:30 a.m. CDT Saturday:
Severe thunderstorm warnings grow in Texas as a line of thunderstorms moves toward Brackettville and a supercell moves between Uvalde and Hondo. Brackettville is under a severe thunderstorm warning and a tornado watch.
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7 a.m. CDT Saturday:
Severe thunderstorm warnings were posted in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, early this morning. As severe thunderstorm warnings pop up, parts of Arkansas go under a flash flood watch that will last until Sunday morning. According to the National Weather Service, it won't take much rain to cause flash flooding issues.
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