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At Least 1 Dead as Severe Weather Sweeps Through the South At Least 2 Dead as Severe Weather Sweeps Through the South
(32 minutes later)
At least one person died after severe weather brought hail and storms through Alabama and other Southern states on Sunday and Monday, the second consecutive weekend that dangerous storms swept through the region. At least two people died after severe weather brought hail and storms through Alabama, Mississippi and other Southern states on Sunday and Monday, the second consecutive weekend that dangerous storms swept through the region.
In Alabama, where there was significant damage from wind and hail, the authorities said there was one fatality attributed to the storm. Jerry Oliver Williams Jr., 61, died from trauma as the storm barreled into his mobile home in southeastern Henry County, said Derek Wright, the county coroner.In Alabama, where there was significant damage from wind and hail, the authorities said there was one fatality attributed to the storm. Jerry Oliver Williams Jr., 61, died from trauma as the storm barreled into his mobile home in southeastern Henry County, said Derek Wright, the county coroner.
“The mobile home was blown away,” Mr. Wright said in a telephone interview on Monday morning. “It rolled two or three times. It was destroyed.”“The mobile home was blown away,” Mr. Wright said in a telephone interview on Monday morning. “It rolled two or three times. It was destroyed.”
A few counties north, Shaina Scott and her family heard marble-size hailstones bombard their house on Sunday in Alexander City, in Tallapoosa County. “It sounded like my house was just about to come apart,” she said on Monday. “I couldn’t hear my husband even talking, and we were right next to one another.”A few counties north, Shaina Scott and her family heard marble-size hailstones bombard their house on Sunday in Alexander City, in Tallapoosa County. “It sounded like my house was just about to come apart,” she said on Monday. “I couldn’t hear my husband even talking, and we were right next to one another.”
Thousands of customers lost power in the southern part of the state, the state power authorities said on Monday. Gregory Robinson, an official with the state Emergency Management Agency, said the authorities had reports of 67,000 outages with damage to buildings and including downed trees and power lines. “We have had up to 19 counties reporting damage, and maybe more,” he said, referring to the south and south-central parts of the state. In Mississippi, there was one storm-related fatality in Marion County, the state Emergency Management Agency said Monday, without further details. It said more than 8,000 customers were without power across five counties.
He said the region had been under tornado warnings, but any tornado sightings had to be assessed and confirmed by the National Weather Service. Thousands of customers lost power in the southern part of Alabama, the state authorities said on Monday. Gregory Robinson, an official with the state Emergency Management Agency, said the authorities had reports of 67,000 outages with damage to buildings and including downed trees and power lines. “We have had up to 19 counties reporting damage, and maybe more,” he said, referring to the south and south-central parts of the state.
He said the region had been under tornado warnings, but that the state was waiting for confirmation by the National Weather Service about the numbers.
Alabama’s peak tornado season runs from March through May, according to the University of Alabama. In March 2019, at least 23 people were killed in Lee County when a cluster of storms ripped through the southeast, spawning multiple tornadoes and leaving a trail of rubble.Alabama’s peak tornado season runs from March through May, according to the University of Alabama. In March 2019, at least 23 people were killed in Lee County when a cluster of storms ripped through the southeast, spawning multiple tornadoes and leaving a trail of rubble.
And just as they did last year, this weekend’s storms pushed east.And just as they did last year, this weekend’s storms pushed east.
On Monday morning, the storm system was moving rapidly east, and was forecast to sweep through Florida and parts of Georgia before tapering off and swinging out over the Atlantic Ocean. Hail, strong gusty winds and powerful thunderstorms were poised to strike parts of northern and central Florida, lasting through the afternoon, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said.On Monday morning, the storm system was moving rapidly east, and was forecast to sweep through Florida and parts of Georgia before tapering off and swinging out over the Atlantic Ocean. Hail, strong gusty winds and powerful thunderstorms were poised to strike parts of northern and central Florida, lasting through the afternoon, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said.
A tornado watch was in effect for northeast Florida, stretching up to coastal southeastern Georgia and southeastern South Carolina, it said. The center warned that the system could bring severe thunderstorms and the threat of damaging winds and tornadoes as it moves toward the Atlantic Coast.A tornado watch was in effect for northeast Florida, stretching up to coastal southeastern Georgia and southeastern South Carolina, it said. The center warned that the system could bring severe thunderstorms and the threat of damaging winds and tornadoes as it moves toward the Atlantic Coast.
Wind gusts could reach up to 70 miles per hour, and storms could bring onslaughts of hail the size of Ping-Pong balls.Wind gusts could reach up to 70 miles per hour, and storms could bring onslaughts of hail the size of Ping-Pong balls.
Some parts of the South were still trying to recover from a devastating weather system that started on April 12 and barreled across parts of Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. More than 30 people died, making it one of the most significant natural disasters in the country since government officials began ordering people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus.Some parts of the South were still trying to recover from a devastating weather system that started on April 12 and barreled across parts of Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas. More than 30 people died, making it one of the most significant natural disasters in the country since government officials began ordering people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Most of those deaths were in Mississippi, where the severe weather resulted in 14 fatalities across the state. More than 300 homes in three counties — Covington, Jefferson Davis and Jones — were heavily damaged or destroyed, the state’s emergency management agency said.Most of those deaths were in Mississippi, where the severe weather resulted in 14 fatalities across the state. More than 300 homes in three counties — Covington, Jefferson Davis and Jones — were heavily damaged or destroyed, the state’s emergency management agency said.