Fierce U.S. weather events cause snowstorms and increase tornado risks
A series of powerful storms that resulted in three fatalities in Mississippi and tore roofs off buildings in a small town in Oklahoma surged eastward on Wednesday, generating tornado warnings close to the East Coast. Meanwhile, the Midwest faced heavy snowfall while dry and windy conditions in Texas exacerbated wildfires.
TroibNews 
Powerful storms that resulted in three fatalities in Mississippi and damaged buildings in a small Oklahoma town moved eastward on Wednesday, prompting tornado warnings near the East Coast, while heavy snowfall impacted the Midwest and dry, windy conditions fueled wildfires in Texas.
Forecasters also indicated that a Pacific storm was anticipated to deliver widespread rain and mountain snow across California and other areas of the West from Wednesday through Friday.
On Wednesday, tornado warnings were issued in the Carolinas, Florida, and Virginia. Officials in Union County, North Carolina, reported on social media that the U.S. National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado touched down in the Unionville area. The tornado caused structural damage and power outages with wind speeds reaching up to 145 kilometers per hour, although no injuries were reported by the county.
In Texas, the combination of strong winds and dry vegetation contributed to wildfires across several regions. One wildfire destroyed at least 20 homes and structures in coastal San Patricio County near Corpus Christi, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. The National Weather Service warned that critical fire weather conditions were expected to persist across south-central Texas on Wednesday.
Severe weather threats continued a day after stormy winds caused changes to Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, shortening and moving up its two largest parades.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported on Wednesday that severe weather was responsible for the three deaths. In Madison County, a person was killed by a falling power line, while another died when a tree fell on their car. In Clarke County, a woman was killed when a tree limb fell on her outside her home.
Preliminary information from the weather service indicated that at least seven tornadoes touched down on Tuesday in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, with the possibility that this number could rise on Wednesday as severe storm conditions extended from Florida to New York state.
Blizzard conditions impacted eastern Nebraska overnight into Wednesday with approximately 10 centimeters of snow and winds reaching up to 105 kilometers per hour, which heightened visibility issues and resulted in the closing of numerous roads.
In Minnesota and much of Iowa, areas were experiencing the effects of a powerful winter storm, with Minneapolis receiving the heaviest snowfall of the season—18.8 centimeters reported at the airport. Nearby communities experienced even more significant snow accumulation, exceeding a foot.
The treacherous roads resulted in at least 70 crashes, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Governor Tim Walz authorized the National Guard to assist and rescue stranded drivers.
The Iowa State Patrol attributed whiteout conditions to 68 crashes from Tuesday night into Wednesday, including a pileup on Interstate 35 near Des Moines and multiple accidents on Interstate 80.
In a community near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, firefighters have been combating wildfires since the weekend. Horry County Fire Rescue noted on social media that heavy winds hindered their ability to respond to flare-ups and spot fires from the air and restricted access to areas where damaged trees might fall.
As a result of the storms, thousands were without electricity across the central and southeastern U.S. on Wednesday, including over 51,000 homes and businesses in Texas, around 27,000 in Virginia, and about 17,000 in Tennessee, as reported by PowerOutage.us.
Additionally, about 800 flights scheduled for Wednesday into or out of U.S. airports were canceled, according to FlightAware.com, which monitors flight cancellations and delays nationwide.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
Forecasters also indicated that a Pacific storm was anticipated to deliver widespread rain and mountain snow across California and other areas of the West from Wednesday through Friday.
On Wednesday, tornado warnings were issued in the Carolinas, Florida, and Virginia. Officials in Union County, North Carolina, reported on social media that the U.S. National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado touched down in the Unionville area. The tornado caused structural damage and power outages with wind speeds reaching up to 145 kilometers per hour, although no injuries were reported by the county.
In Texas, the combination of strong winds and dry vegetation contributed to wildfires across several regions. One wildfire destroyed at least 20 homes and structures in coastal San Patricio County near Corpus Christi, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. The National Weather Service warned that critical fire weather conditions were expected to persist across south-central Texas on Wednesday.
Severe weather threats continued a day after stormy winds caused changes to Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, shortening and moving up its two largest parades.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported on Wednesday that severe weather was responsible for the three deaths. In Madison County, a person was killed by a falling power line, while another died when a tree fell on their car. In Clarke County, a woman was killed when a tree limb fell on her outside her home.
Preliminary information from the weather service indicated that at least seven tornadoes touched down on Tuesday in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, with the possibility that this number could rise on Wednesday as severe storm conditions extended from Florida to New York state.
Blizzard conditions impacted eastern Nebraska overnight into Wednesday with approximately 10 centimeters of snow and winds reaching up to 105 kilometers per hour, which heightened visibility issues and resulted in the closing of numerous roads.
In Minnesota and much of Iowa, areas were experiencing the effects of a powerful winter storm, with Minneapolis receiving the heaviest snowfall of the season—18.8 centimeters reported at the airport. Nearby communities experienced even more significant snow accumulation, exceeding a foot.
The treacherous roads resulted in at least 70 crashes, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Governor Tim Walz authorized the National Guard to assist and rescue stranded drivers.
The Iowa State Patrol attributed whiteout conditions to 68 crashes from Tuesday night into Wednesday, including a pileup on Interstate 35 near Des Moines and multiple accidents on Interstate 80.
In a community near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, firefighters have been combating wildfires since the weekend. Horry County Fire Rescue noted on social media that heavy winds hindered their ability to respond to flare-ups and spot fires from the air and restricted access to areas where damaged trees might fall.
As a result of the storms, thousands were without electricity across the central and southeastern U.S. on Wednesday, including over 51,000 homes and businesses in Texas, around 27,000 in Virginia, and about 17,000 in Tennessee, as reported by PowerOutage.us.
Additionally, about 800 flights scheduled for Wednesday into or out of U.S. airports were canceled, according to FlightAware.com, which monitors flight cancellations and delays nationwide.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
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