Tornadoes and Severe Storms Continue to Threaten Millions in South
Several tornadoes were reported across the south of the country on Wednesday, the weather service's Storm Prediction Center said.
One of the areas that were initially affected by the catastrophic event is the state of Alabama. According to USA Today, at least six tornadoes were reported in Alabama, two in Mississippi, and one in Louisiana. Luckily, no one was reported hurt, but damage has been reported in Alabama and Mississippi.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued over 50 tornado warnings in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The NWS said tornado watches also included parts of seven states.
A tornado warning is issued when the weather services have detected a storm, while a tornado watch means that tornado conditions are on the way in the next couple of hours.
CBS News reported that March is known for the occurrences of extreme weather. This is because the warm spring conditions battle to replace the cold of winter, and the collision between the two temperatures can result in extreme weathers or the formation of tornadoes.
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Alabama, Other States, and Tornadoes
"Long track, intense tornadoes are expected along with winds and large hail," said the Storm Prediction Center on Wednesday morning. The center added that the tornadoes would move eastward by Wednesday evening into Mississippi and Alabama.
The center classified the tornadoes to be in a high-risk warning. A warning that has never been given since March 2012. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of the predicted severe weather.
"This severe weather event, coupled with COVID-19 public health emergency, poses extraordinary conditions of disaster," said Ivey in a statement. Ivey added that the events are threats to public safety and properties within their state.
A certain James Spann tweeted a photo that showed a tornado on the scene, almost colored black covering the cast sky of Autaugaville, Alabama.
Lightning strike in tornado warned Alabama #alwx courtesy of @MyRadarWX @WeatherNation pic.twitter.com/T0QdBnh2Ek
— Samantha Weiss (@samanthapweiss) March 17, 2021
Another user tweeted a video capturing lightning striking in Alabama.
Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) was issued by the Storm Prediction Center for Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Also, Jackson and Birmingham's cities were specially mentioned due to the high chances of tornadoes crossing the areas.
This is a "PDS" (particularly dangerous situation) Tornado Watch for #Alabama and #Mississippi. PDS Watches are issued when there's a heightened risk of strong or violent, long-track tornadoes. https://t.co/nk5hHOUUoG
— Ray Hawthorne (@ray_hawthorne) March 17, 2021
"PDS watches are issued when there is a heightened risk of strong and violent long-track tornadoes," tweeted meteorologist Ray Hawthorne.
Tornadoes' Terror
The Storm Prediction Center noted that about 40 million Americans were in the path of the violent storms. The area of the bull's eye or the eye of the possible tornadoes will be in Memphis, Tennessee, and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Weather experts are not surprised that the spring severe season started with a devastating entrance. The reason is the La Niña event which is present in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The said phenomenon is associated with a more extreme and heightened tornado threat.
"The most important thing is this is coming at nighttime," said Nick Loli From Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency. Loli's statement followed the experts' statements, saying that the threat will continue overnight in Alabama, a deadly time for tornadoes in the South.
According to the Weather Channel, there would be a continued threat of severe storms across the southeast until Thursday. It noted that some severe storms would be ongoing around the Appalachians to parts of Georgia, eastern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle until early Thursday morning.
It warned that these storms might pose a risk due to its damaging wind gusts with possible large hail and tornadoes, including around the Atlanta area, and the severe weather would likely hit as far as eastern Georgia, east as the central and eastern Carolinas, southeastern Virginia, and northeast Florida in the afternoon and into the early evening.
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WATCH: Tornado Captured on Camera in Demopolis, Alabama - from Alabama News Network
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