Reports: 2 dead after tornado touches down in Louisiana

As of 9:23 a.m. CDT Monday. This reports story is no longer being updated. For the latest forecast information on the severe thunderstorms and flash flooding over the southeast United States, click here.

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Severe storms with possible tornadoes, hail and damaging winds will continue to shift from the Mississippi Valley into the southeastern U.S. into Monday.

AccuWeather Senior Storm Warning Meteorologist Rich Putnam says that while flash flooding will be the overriding threat across the region, destructive winds, large hail and tornadoes are also likely.

Travel delays will continue to mount as the storms cross interstates and major airport hubs. Road closures expected to continue due to flooding.

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Louisiana Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is authorizing a delayed start for state employees on Monday, April 3.

"I urge all state employees to use caution and pay attention to media reports regarding the weather," Dardenne said.

"...do not put yourself at risk," Dardenne said.

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As of 6:54 a.m. CDT Monday there is a detour due to a submerged car on Interstate 65 North at the Greensprings exit in Birmingham, Alabama.

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As of approx. 4:15 a.m. CDT Monday, a tornado warning was issued near thunderstorm for Central St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. A nearby thunderstorm, spotted close to Abita Springs is reportedly moving east at 35 mph.

A warning was also issued for potential water spouts around 4:10 a.m. CDT for Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas.

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Local law enforcement reported that portions of Highway 21 in Scott County are completely submerged and not passage, as of 2:30 a.m. CDT Monday.

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As of about 1:45 a.m. CDT Monday, a tornado watch has been issued for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama The watch is in effect until 9 a.m.

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At approx. midnight CDT Monday, the emergency manager in Hinds County, Mississippi, reports a car taking on water at I-20 Frontage Rd in Bolton.

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As of 10 p.m. CDT, 9.74 inches of rain have been reported in Fullerton, Louisiana throughout Sunday. Reports of over 9 inches of rain have been reported throughout Vernon Parish. The average precipitation for Fullerton for all of April is 4.17 inches.

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The National Weather Service confirms a tornado did touch down in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana on Sunday, which led to the deaths of a woman and her three-year-old daughter.

NWS classified the tornado was an EF1, with peak winds at 110 mph and traveling for nearly 1 mile.

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Very heavy rain and thunderstorms will continue to inundate portions of central Louisiana and Mississippi through the night, according to AccuWeather Meterologist Alyson Hoegg. Rainfall totals have already exceeded 5 inches in many places from southeast Texas through central Louisiana. 

"This heavy rain has already led to street and urban flooding in many towns," Hoegg said. "With more heavy rain through the night, major flooding will develop from just north of Beaumont, Texas through Alexandria, Louisiana to Vicksburg, Mississippi."

Rainfall totals across this area can reach 5 to as much as 10 inches in some areas. 

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There are reports of significant flooding in Louisiana following this afternoon's severe storms. National Weather Service Shreveport is reporting that Highway 167 and Highway 8 contain 2 feet of water, with a car stalled in the intersection. In addition, 40 percent of the streets in Pollock, Louisiana are flooded as of 7 p.m. CDT.

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The tornado that touched down in Alexandria, Louisiana earlier today caused significant tree and power line damage.

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At 4: 25 p.m. CDT, a tornado was confirmed by the National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi at the Caldwell and Franklin Parish line in Louisiana, northwest of Fort Necessity.

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A tornado warning was issued for Southern Caldwell Parish in north central Louisiana, and Northeastern La Salle Parish in north central Louisiana Until 4:45 PM CDT.

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At 4:01 p.m. CDT, a large and extremely dangerous tornado was located near Midway, Louisiana or 22 miles northeast of Pineville, moving northeast at 40 mph. This is a Particularly Dangerous Situation, and people are advised to take cover immediately.

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At 2:47 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located 8 miles north of Esler Regional Airport, or 14 miles northeast of Pineville, moving northeast at 35 mph.

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Damage reports are beginning to come in for the tornado in Alexandria. Louisiana. There are reports of extensive damage, including downed power lines, and trees, flying metal, and a dislodged roof.

A tornado emergency has been declared for Alexandria, Louisiana, as a confirmed large and destructive tornado was observed 8 miles southwest of the town at 1:59 p.m. CDT.

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As of 1:37 p.m. CDT, a particularly dangerous situation (PDS) tornado watch has been issued for eastern Texas, northern and central Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi. A PDS tornado watch is issued when widespread, intense and long-track tornadoes are expected.                                                              

As of 1:41 p.m. CDT, trained spotters confirmed a tornado near Glenmora, Louisiana, moving northeast at 25 mph. 

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KSLA-TV is reporting that two residents of Breaux Bridge, Lousiana, including a three-year-old girl, have died after a possible tornado touched down.

According to the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, on Sunday morning around 9:30 a.m. and following reports of an unconfirmed tornado, a trailer flipped over sustaining significant damage.

The two occupants that were in the home at the time of the storm were killed. They have been identified as Francine Gotch, 38, and her daughter, Neville Alexander, 3.

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As of 12:45 p.m. CDT, roadways are reportedly flooded across Crockett and Latexo, Texas, after heavy thunderstorms rolled through.

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KTBS-TV reports that lightning may be to blame for a tanker fire in south Shreveport. Harts Island Road is closed from Highway 175 to Ellerbe Road for safety reasons.

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As of 11:56 a.m. CDT, a confirmed tornado is located near Joaquin, Texas and moving northeast at 40 mph.

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As of 11:45 CDT, there are around 22,000 Oncor customers without power in northern and central Texas.

There are over 5,000 power outages in northeast Texas and northwest Louisiana according to Southwestern Electric Power Company. The majority of the outage cases are around Shreveport.

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There have been reports of golf ball-sized hail near Barry, Texas. Large hail has also been spotted in Forth Worth.

It has been raining at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour in some areas of Texas, so localized flooding is possible. Brackettville, Texas is experiencing flooding.

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As of 10:40 a.m. CDT on Sunday, a new tornado watch has been issued for portions of eastern Texas and northern and central Louisiana until 6:00 p.m. CDT. The tornado watch includes the cities of Tyler and Houston, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana.

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As of 9:55 a.m. CDT, sixty to 70 mph wind gusts have caused tree damage north and west of Austin, Texas. Damage has been reported in the towns of Lakeway and Anderson Mill.

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A thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is threatening portions of Grimes, Montgomery and Walker counties in Texas as of 9:15 a.m. CDT on Sunday. The thunderstorm is moving to the north at 25 mph.

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There are reports of large trees down in Kerr and Real counties in Texas. A Texas law enforcement officer witnessed a brief tornado near Center Point in Kerr County around 8:00 a.m. CDT on Sunday.

Hail has been spotted in areas of central Texas. Cover vehicles with sheets and padding to protect against hail damage.

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Del Rio, Texas, received 5.49 inches of rain between 12:50 a.m. CDT and 6:00 a.m. CDT on Sunday. On average, the city picks up 1.65 inches of rain during the entire month of April.

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