Multiple rounds of severe weather are expected to impact a large portion of the Southern United States this weekend, with more than 40 million people under threat through Saturday night. The affected area stretches from Texas to the Carolinas, where damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes are possible.
On Saturday, torrential rain caused flash flooding in parts of Arkansas, including the Little Rock metro area. Meanwhile, a line of severe thunderstorms moved across the Southeast, bringing strong wind gusts and reports of wind damage in northern Mississippi and Alabama.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for several states, including Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia, extending into the evening hours. As of Saturday evening, more than 430,000 customers were without power due to ongoing storm activity sweeping through the Southeast.
The weekend’s severe weather threat follows a violent Friday when at least nine tornadoes touched down across Texas and Oklahoma. Grapefruit-size hail was reported near Briscoe, Texas, with hail larger than baseballs recorded in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Winds reached up to 90 mph near Lora, Texas, with other storms in Texas and Oklahoma producing gusts exceeding 70 mph.
On Sunday, many of the same areas impacted by storms over the past 24 hours will face another round of severe weather. Damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes remain possible.
A level 4 out of 5 severe weather threat — classified as a “moderate risk” — has been issued for parts of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, including Lawton, Oklahoma, and Wichita Falls, Texas. These areas are at greatest risk for very large hail and destructive wind gusts.
Additionally, areas marked under a level 3 out of 5 “enhanced risk” include Oklahoma City and Dallas, where severe thunderstorms may bring very large hail and damaging winds.
The threat of severe weather is expected to continue through Monday across parts of the South, with Louisiana to South Carolina remaining within the risk zone for more strong thunderstorms.
Residents in affected areas are advised to stay alert to weather updates and take necessary precautions as conditions develop.
