Severe storms in the U.S. trigger blizzards and pose tornado risks
A series of intense storms that claimed the lives of three individuals in Mississippi and tore roofs off buildings in a small community in Oklahoma moved swiftly eastward on Wednesday. This extreme weather prompted tornado warnings close to the East Coast, while heavy snowfall impacted the Midwest and dry, windy conditions exacerbated wildfires in Texas.
TroibNews 
Powerful storms that resulted in three fatalities in Mississippi and damaged buildings in a small Oklahoma town surged eastward on Wednesday, triggering tornado warnings close to the East Coast while heavy snowfall impacted the Midwest and dry, gusty conditions exacerbated wildfires in Texas.
Forecasters also noted that a Pacific storm was poised to deliver widespread rain and mountain snow across California and other regions of the West from Wednesday into Friday.
On Wednesday, tornado warnings were issued across the Carolinas, Florida, and Virginia. The U.S. National Weather Service confirmed that an EF1 tornado touched down in Union County, North Carolina, specifically in the Unionville area, leading to structural damage and power outages due to wind speeds reaching 145 kilometers per hour. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the county.
In Texas, the combination of high winds and dry vegetation contributed to wildfires in multiple locations. One wildfire destroyed at least 20 homes and structures in coastal San Patricio County near Corpus Christi, with no immediate injuries reported. The National Weather Service indicated that critical fire weather conditions were anticipated to persist across south-central Texas on Wednesday.
Severe weather threats continued the day after stormy winds prompted changes to Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans, which resulted in the rescheduling and shortening of its two major parades.
On Wednesday, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency attributed three deaths to the severe weather. Reports indicate that in Madison County, one victim was killed by a falling power line, while another died when a tree fell onto his car. A woman in Clarke County lost her life when a tree limb struck her outside her home.
Preliminary information from the weather service indicated that at least seven confirmed tornadoes touched down on Tuesday across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. This number may rise on Wednesday, as the potential for severe storms extends from Florida to New York state.
Blizzard conditions affected eastern Nebraska overnight into Wednesday, bringing approximately 10 centimeters of snow and winds up to 105 kilometers per hour, which severely limited visibility and led to the closure of numerous roads.
Meanwhile, parts of Minnesota and much of Iowa were experiencing the tail end of a significant winter storm that delivered the season's heaviest snow to Minneapolis, where the weather service recorded 18.8 centimeters at the airport. Other nearby areas reported accumulations of a foot or more.
The treacherous road conditions resulted in at least 70 crashes, as reported by the Minnesota State Patrol. In response, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz authorized the National Guard to assist and help rescue stranded drivers.
The Iowa State Patrol reported that whiteout conditions contributed to 68 crashes from Tuesday night into Wednesday, including a pileup on Interstate 35 near Des Moines and numerous accidents on Interstate 80.
In a South Carolina area near Myrtle Beach, Horry County Fire Rescue noted that heavy winds hindered firefighters from responding to flare-ups and spot fires, both from air support and by accessing wooded areas where damaged trees posed risks of falling.
The storms have caused widespread power outages affecting thousands across the central and southeastern U.S., with over 51,000 homes and businesses in Texas, approximately 27,000 in Virginia, and around 17,000 in Tennessee left without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.
Approximately 800 flights scheduled to operate in and out of U.S. airports were canceled on Wednesday, as reported by FlightAware.com, which monitors cancellations and delays across the nation.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
Forecasters also noted that a Pacific storm was poised to deliver widespread rain and mountain snow across California and other regions of the West from Wednesday into Friday.
On Wednesday, tornado warnings were issued across the Carolinas, Florida, and Virginia. The U.S. National Weather Service confirmed that an EF1 tornado touched down in Union County, North Carolina, specifically in the Unionville area, leading to structural damage and power outages due to wind speeds reaching 145 kilometers per hour. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the county.
In Texas, the combination of high winds and dry vegetation contributed to wildfires in multiple locations. One wildfire destroyed at least 20 homes and structures in coastal San Patricio County near Corpus Christi, with no immediate injuries reported. The National Weather Service indicated that critical fire weather conditions were anticipated to persist across south-central Texas on Wednesday.
Severe weather threats continued the day after stormy winds prompted changes to Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans, which resulted in the rescheduling and shortening of its two major parades.
On Wednesday, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency attributed three deaths to the severe weather. Reports indicate that in Madison County, one victim was killed by a falling power line, while another died when a tree fell onto his car. A woman in Clarke County lost her life when a tree limb struck her outside her home.
Preliminary information from the weather service indicated that at least seven confirmed tornadoes touched down on Tuesday across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. This number may rise on Wednesday, as the potential for severe storms extends from Florida to New York state.
Blizzard conditions affected eastern Nebraska overnight into Wednesday, bringing approximately 10 centimeters of snow and winds up to 105 kilometers per hour, which severely limited visibility and led to the closure of numerous roads.
Meanwhile, parts of Minnesota and much of Iowa were experiencing the tail end of a significant winter storm that delivered the season's heaviest snow to Minneapolis, where the weather service recorded 18.8 centimeters at the airport. Other nearby areas reported accumulations of a foot or more.
The treacherous road conditions resulted in at least 70 crashes, as reported by the Minnesota State Patrol. In response, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz authorized the National Guard to assist and help rescue stranded drivers.
The Iowa State Patrol reported that whiteout conditions contributed to 68 crashes from Tuesday night into Wednesday, including a pileup on Interstate 35 near Des Moines and numerous accidents on Interstate 80.
In a South Carolina area near Myrtle Beach, Horry County Fire Rescue noted that heavy winds hindered firefighters from responding to flare-ups and spot fires, both from air support and by accessing wooded areas where damaged trees posed risks of falling.
The storms have caused widespread power outages affecting thousands across the central and southeastern U.S., with over 51,000 homes and businesses in Texas, approximately 27,000 in Virginia, and around 17,000 in Tennessee left without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.
Approximately 800 flights scheduled to operate in and out of U.S. airports were canceled on Wednesday, as reported by FlightAware.com, which monitors cancellations and delays across the nation.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
