SEE AMAZON.COM DEALS FOR TODAY
1. Deadly tornadoes Tennessee
2. Devastating storms North Carolina
3. Southern states tornado forecast
Killer tornadoes leave three dead as devastating storms rip through Tennessee and North Carolina and maps reveal deadly twisters will slam into the southern states today
Meteorologists are warning of dangerous storms tearing through the South just days after killer tornados claimed lives in Tennessee and North Carolina. The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings stretching past midnight in several states, including Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, and Kentucky. Parts of Arkansas and Mississippi were also under a tornado watch. The storms caused power outages, downed trees, and large hailstones. Tragically, two people lost their lives in Tennessee due to the severe weather. The storms have prompted emergency declarations, evacuations, and significant damage across the region. Stay safe and heed all warnings during this severe weather event.
Meteorologists have warned that a wave of dangerous storms are set to tear through the South today, just a day after a series of killer tornados claimed three lives as they ripped parts of Tennessee and North Carolina up yesterday.
Amid Wednesday’s storms, the National Weather Service continued issuing tornado warnings that stretch past midnight in North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Kentucky.
Parts of Arkansas and Mississippi were also under a tornado watch through the pre-dawn hours, according to a map it published as part of its warnings.
One storm that rumbled across northeastern Tennessee on Wednesday brought high winds that knocked down power lines and trees.
One video showed large hailstones battering vehicles and homes in the vicinity of Fire Station 1 in downtown Clarksville, which lies on Tennessee’s border with Kentucky.
The National Weather Service continued issuing tornado warnings that stretch past midnight in North Carolina, Alabama , Georgia, Missouri and Kentucky
One video showed large hailstones battering vehicles and homes in the vicinity of Fire Station 1 in downtown Clarksville
Cars were seen ploughing through the heavy rain
Trees across severals states were toppled by heavy winds
Other videos shows trees toppled by heavy winds, and cars wading through inches of water that had collected on roads.
The sheriff in Claiborne County, which lies about an hour north of Knoxville, said a 22-year-old man was in a car when he was fatally struck by one of the trees.
A second person was killed in the city of Columbia in Maury County, also in Tennessee, where the National Weather Service said a likely tornado had touched down.
Homes were damaged and people injured, according to Lynn Thompson, assistant director of Maury County 911. Thompson told The Associated Press that he could not provide any further details: ‘We’re getting overloaded right now.’
Rita Thompson, a spokesperson for Maury Regional Health, said the hospital had received five patients, including the person who died. Another was in serious condition and three had injuries that were not life-threatening, she said.
Storm debris litters a portion of Cranford Hollow Road, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Greenville, Ohio, resident Brenda Pollitt wipes the tears from her eyes as she removes important papers from her bedroom
Storm damaged mobile homes are surrounded by debris at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A tornado ripped through the area the evening of May 7. (Neil Blake/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
The storms also prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a temporary ground stop at Nashville International Airport and the National Weather Service to issue a tornado emergency – its highest alert level – for other nearby areas south of the state’s capital, including Chapel Hill and Eagleville.
Meanwhile, torrential rain and thunderstorms led to water rescues northeast of Nashville.
‘Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order,’ the National Weather Service warned when it issued a flash flood emergency.
In North Carolina, a state of emergency was declared Wednesday night for Gaston County, west of Charlotte, following a large storm that toppled power lines and severed trees, including one that landed on a car. One person in the car was killed and another was taken to a hospital, officials said.
The storms rolled into the region Wednesday after parts of the central United States were battered Monday by heavy rain, strong winds, hail and tornadoes, including a deadly twister that ripped through an Oklahoma town and killed one person. Then, on Tuesday, the Midwest took the brunt of the bad weather.
FedEx trucks sit outside a damaged FedEx facility after a tornado in Portage, Michigan
A mobile park home flipped onto two nearby cars after a tornado struck Pavilion Estates near Kalamazoo
A home damaged by severe weather is pictured Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The National Weather Service said tornadoes touched down in parts of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana on Tuesday.
In Michigan, tornadoes swirled through the southwestern part of the state, in and around Kalamazoo County, according to the National Weather Service. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for four counties.
Kalamazoo County’s Portage area was hard hit as a FedEx facility was ripped apart, leaving about 50 people temporarily trapped inside because of downed power lines.
Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said more than a dozen mobile homes in Pavilion Township were ‘totally destroyed.’ At least 16 people, he added, were injured there, though the injuries were not life-threatening.
‘The clean-up efforts are tremendous. We’re looking at homes throughout this community that are totally gone, they’ve been demolished,’ Fuller said.
Several states are set to be battered by tornados and storms
Utility workers survey storm damage along a severely damaged road in Columbia, Tennessee
Residents work to remove downed trees at their home along Cothran Road after severe storms tore through Columbia, Tennessee
Homes were completely flipped over and cars were smashed by debris and trees moved by the storm.
A home where seven people were living ‘is totally on its top,’ he said. ‘They were able to self-rescue and get somewhere safe and came back today.’
‘We found homes in the roadway,’ the sheriff said late on Tuesday. ‘We found homes in neighbors’ homes. We found large trees in homes.’
Travis Wycoff ventured out Tuesday night after seeing on radar that a tornado had touched down in the Portage area, and he said he helped an elderly couple out of their partially collapsed home and freed a service dog from another home.
‘There were a lot of people running through the streets trying to find people and their pets,’ Wycoff said. ‘It was just a lot of chaos.’
Samantha Smith clutched a box Wednesday afternoon outside her mother´s partially wrecked home in Pavilion Township. Inside the box were her grandmother´s ashes. Being able to recover the most cherished of items offered Smith a rare moment of relief amid the storm’s devastation. She said her parents and brother were injured during the storm but survived.
‘I have thanked God probably a billion times since this happened yesterday,’ she said. ‘My kids are healthy and good. We just gotta make back up what we lost.’
Tornadoes were also confirmed in Pennsylvania just outside Pittsburgh, in central Arkansas and in northern West Virginia. The West Virginia twister was at least the 11th tornado this year in the state, which sees two tornadoes in an average year.
Both the Plains and Midwest have been hammered by tornadoes this spring.
Related Story.
Meteorologists are on high alert as a wave of dangerous storms is expected to hit the South today, following a series of killer tornadoes that wreaked havoc in Tennessee and North Carolina. The deadly tornados claimed three lives and caused widespread destruction, leaving communities reeling in their wake.
The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings that stretched past midnight in states like Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, and Kentucky, urging residents to take precautions and stay safe. Parts of Arkansas and Mississippi were also under a tornado watch as the storms approached, bringing with them high winds and heavy rainfall.
Videos captured the devastation caused by the storms, with large hailstones pelting vehicles and homes in downtown Clarksville, Tennessee. Trees were uprooted, power lines were knocked down, and cars were seen plowing through flooded streets as the severe weather swept through the region.
Tragically, two lives were lost in the wake of the storms. A 22-year-old man in northeastern Tennessee was fatally struck by a falling tree, while another person was killed in Columbia, Tennessee, where a likely tornado touched down. Homes were damaged, and several people were injured, further underscoring the destructive power of these natural disasters.
The aftermath of the storms prompted emergency responses across the affected areas, with the Federal Aviation Administration issuing a temporary ground stop at Nashville International Airport and the National Weather Service declaring a tornado emergency for nearby regions. Water rescues were conducted in flooded areas, and flash flood warnings were issued as torrential rain continued to fall.
In North Carolina, a state of emergency was declared for Gaston County after a storm toppled power lines and trees, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. The severity of the storms also led to widespread power outages and infrastructure damage, further complicating recovery efforts.
The impact of these storms extended beyond Tennessee and North Carolina, with tornadoes touching down in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. The Midwest was hit particularly hard, with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declaring a state of emergency for affected counties and emergency responders working tirelessly to assess the damage.
As communities begin to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of these devastating storms, the resilience and strength of the affected residents shine through. Despite the destruction and loss, stories of survival and hope emerge, underscoring the human spirit’s ability to endure and rebuild in the face of adversity.
As we continue to monitor the situation and support those affected by these storms, it serves as a stark reminder of the power of nature and the importance of preparedness in the face of unpredictable weather patterns. Stay safe, stay informed, and be ready to respond to any emergency that may arise in your area.
