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Deadly tornadoes strike South, ‘high risk’ for more as freak storm approaches East Coast Deadly tornadoes strike South; ‘high risk’ for more as freak storm approaches East Coast
(35 minutes later)
Fifteen people are dead in Mississippi and Georgia after violent thunderstorms, some which spawned tornadoes, tore across the South Saturday into Sunday morning. Another round of destructive thunderstorms is predicted in the Southeast during the day Sunday and the National Weather Service has declared parts of northern Florida and south Georgia at “high risk” of severe weather, which is extremely unusual for the time of year. Fifteen people are dead in Mississippi and Georgia after violent thunderstorms, some spawning tornadoes, tore across the South on Saturday into Sunday morning. Another round of destructive thunderstorms is predicted in the Southeast during the day Sunday, and the National Weather Service has declared parts of northern Florida and southern Georgia at “high risk” of severe weather, which is extremely unusual for this time of year.
The powerful storm system responsible for this violent weather is expected to ride up the East Coast late Sunday into Tuesday, unloading heavy rain and high winds in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with some wet snow at high elevations. The powerful storm system responsible for the violent weather is expected to ride up the East Coast late Sunday into Tuesday, unloading heavy rain and high winds in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with wet snow at high elevations.
In south Georgia early Sunday, the Associated Press reports a tornado “ripped through a mobile home park” killing seven people. Four others died elsewhere in the region. In southern Georgia early Sunday, the Associated Press reported, a tornado “ripped through a mobile home park,” killing seven people. Four others died elsewhere in the region.
DEVASTATING: We just got these photos from Cook Co. after the storm overnight killed 11 people and injured 23 in Ga. https://t.co/fkxQkq2jbM pic.twitter.com/rF4QSQZ4Nz — WSB-TV (@wsbtv) January 22, 2017DEVASTATING: We just got these photos from Cook Co. after the storm overnight killed 11 people and injured 23 in Ga. https://t.co/fkxQkq2jbM pic.twitter.com/rF4QSQZ4Nz — WSB-TV (@wsbtv) January 22, 2017
DEVASTATING: We just got these photos from Cook Co. after the storm overnight killed 11 people and injured 23 in Ga. https://t.co/fkxQkq2jbM pic.twitter.com/rF4QSQZ4NzDEVASTATING: We just got these photos from Cook Co. after the storm overnight killed 11 people and injured 23 in Ga. https://t.co/fkxQkq2jbM pic.twitter.com/rF4QSQZ4Nz
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) January 22, 2017— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) January 22, 2017
Just the day before, four people died when a violent tornado tore through Hattiesburg, Mississippi (around 3:35 a.m. Saturday). The storm left behind “massive damage” likely to top $200 million, the Associated Press reported. The responsible twister was rated a 3 on the 0-5 Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating peak wind speeds of 111 to 135 mph. The day before, four people died when a violent tornado tore through Hattiesburg, Miss., around 3:35 a.m. The storm left behind “massive damage” likely to top $200 million, the AP reported. The responsible twister was rated a 3 on the 0-5 Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating peak wind speeds of 111 to 135 mph.
Petal tornado Hattiesburg pic.twitter.com/N4QI8Qp3I7 — david lord (@dcl920) January 21, 2017Petal tornado Hattiesburg pic.twitter.com/N4QI8Qp3I7 — david lord (@dcl920) January 21, 2017
Petal tornado Hattiesburg pic.twitter.com/N4QI8Qp3I7Petal tornado Hattiesburg pic.twitter.com/N4QI8Qp3I7
— david lord (@dcl920) January 21, 2017— david lord (@dcl920) January 21, 2017
Since Saturday, the Weather Service Storm Prediction Center logged over 30 tornado reports, 170 reports of damaging winds, and 50 instances of large hail across the South. Since Saturday, the Weather Service Storm Prediction Center logged over 30 tornado reports, 170 reports of damaging winds and 50 instances of large hail across the South.
Dangerous thunderstorms, which may produce strong, long-track tornadoes are likely in the Southeast through Sunday evening. Over 50 million are under an elevated threat of severe weather according to the Storm Prediction Center. The “high risk” zone for severe storms includes Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville and Savannah. Dangerous thunderstorms, which may produce strong, long-track tornadoes, are likely in the Southeast through Sunday evening. Over 50 million are under an elevated threat of severe weather, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The “high-risk” zone for severe storms includes Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Gainesville in Florida and Savannah, Ga.
“This is a highly volatile and dangerous situation!,” the National Weather Service forecast serving Tallahassee warned in a briefing package. “This is a highly volatile and dangerous situation!” the Weather Service forecast serving Tallahassee warned in a briefing package.
The National Weather Service office serving Jacksonville said in special statement: “You need to take this situation very seriously, like you would a potential hurricane.” The Weather Service office serving Jacksonville said in special statement: “You need to take this situation very seriously, like you would a potential hurricane.”
High risk declarations for severe weather are very rare. The last such issuance was June 3, 2014, according to Weather.com and hasn’t occurred in winter since 2008. Since 1984, 42 percent of all tornado fatalities have coincided with such high risk days, according to the Weather Channel’s Kathryn Prociv. High-risk declarations for severe weather are rare. The last such issuance was June 3, 2014, according to Weather.com and hasn’t occurred in winter since 2008. Since 1984, 42 percent of tornado fatalities have coincided with such high-risk days, according to the Weather Channel’s Kathryn Prociv.
The region under high risk hasn’t seen such a designation in a decade, the website U.S. Tornadoes reported. The region under high risk hasn’t seen such a designation in a decade, the website for U.S. Tornadoes reported.
The Weather Service had issued tornado watches for the Florida panhandle and surrounding areas into Sunday afternoon, including a “particularly dangerous situation” watch, reserved for the most serious situations. Several tornado warnings were active, meaning twisters were imminent or about to occur. The Weather Service had issued tornado watches for the Florida Panhandle and surrounding areas into Sunday afternoon, including a “particularly dangerous situation” watch, reserved for the most serious situations. Several tornado warnings were active, meaning twisters were imminent or about to occur.
The responsible storm system is unusually strong for winter and much more characteristic of spring. North Little Rock, Arkansas set a record for its lowest January pressure. The lower the pressure, the more intense the storm. Additional low pressure records could fall in the South, according to Jesse Ferrell, a meteorologist at AccuWeather: The responsible storm system is unusually strong for winter and much more characteristic of spring. North Little Rock, set a record for its lowest January pressure. The lower the pressure, the more intense the storm. Additional low pressure records could fall in the South, according to Jesse Ferrell, a meteorologist at AccuWeather:
Major low-pressure system with "landcane" eye to threaten SE US ALL-TIME low pressure readings tonight as tornadoes spin across FL! pic.twitter.com/FSPtlxuxv6 — Jesse Ferrell (@Accu_Jesse) January 22, 2017Major low-pressure system with "landcane" eye to threaten SE US ALL-TIME low pressure readings tonight as tornadoes spin across FL! pic.twitter.com/FSPtlxuxv6 — Jesse Ferrell (@Accu_Jesse) January 22, 2017
Major low-pressure system with "landcane" eye to threaten SE US ALL-TIME low pressure readings tonight as tornadoes spin across FL! pic.twitter.com/FSPtlxuxv6Major low-pressure system with "landcane" eye to threaten SE US ALL-TIME low pressure readings tonight as tornadoes spin across FL! pic.twitter.com/FSPtlxuxv6
— Jesse Ferrell (@Accu_Jesse) January 22, 2017— Jesse Ferrell (@Accu_Jesse) January 22, 2017
The storm is drawing up tremendous stream of moisture northward from the Gulf of Mexico. The dew point in Tallahassee, a measure of the moisture in the air, sat at summer-like 72 degrees early Sunday – about as high as it gets in January. The storm is drawing up a tremendous stream of moisture northward from the Gulf of Mexico. The dew point in Tallahassee, a measure of the moisture in the air, sat at a summerlike 72 degrees early Sunday — about as high as it gets in January.
Very heavy rain is predicted up and down the East Coast, with widespread one to three inches total forecast through Wednesday. Very heavy rain is predicted up and down the East Coast, with a widespread one to three inches forecast through Wednesday.
Strong, possibly damaging winds, are predicted for Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coastal areas Monday and Monday night. Gusts of 50-70 mph are possible from the northern Delmarva beaches to eastern New England:Strong, possibly damaging winds, are predicted for Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coastal areas Monday and Monday night. Gusts of 50-70 mph are possible from the northern Delmarva beaches to eastern New England:
Atlantic City and New York City are included in high wind warnings in effect from early Monday morning to early Tuesday morning. The Weather Service said the winds could blow down trees and power lines, causing outages. Atlantic City and New York City are included in high-wind warnings in effect from early Monday morning to early Tuesday morning. The Weather Service said the winds could blow down trees and power lines, causing outages.
For ocean areas just offshore Long Island a hurricane force wind warning was posted for Monday afternoon and night. For ocean areas just off Long Island a hurricane-force wind warning was posted for Monday afternoon and night.
Areas further inland, from Washington to Philadelphia, could experience wind gusts to 50 mph Monday. Areas further inland, from Washington to Philadelphia, could experience wind gusts of up to 50 mph Monday.
Minor to moderate coastal flooding is possible from the Delmarva beaches through eastern New England as the strong winds from the east push large waves ashore, especially Monday and Monday night.Minor to moderate coastal flooding is possible from the Delmarva beaches through eastern New England as the strong winds from the east push large waves ashore, especially Monday and Monday night.
Because this storm is drawing so much mild air northward, accumulating snow is likely to be limited to high elevations of the Northeast (Pennsylvania and New York) and interior New England.Because this storm is drawing so much mild air northward, accumulating snow is likely to be limited to high elevations of the Northeast (Pennsylvania and New York) and interior New England.