Severe weather once again wreaked havoc across the south-central United States on Tuesday, as a powerful storm system brought heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms. This region had already been battered by severe weather just last week.
The weather service stated that the region faced significant risks from large hail, damaging wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes. In response to this threatening forecast, the organizers of the Texas Eclipse Festival decided to conclude the celebration earlier than planned. Additionally, Texas Governor Greg Abbott took action by activating emergency response resources.
According to a database maintained by USA TODAY, there were over 87,000 homes and businesses experiencing power outages in various parts of the south, including eastern Texas and western Louisiana, as of Tuesday night.
The storm wreaked havoc on air travel as well, causing significant disruptions. By Tuesday night, FlightAware, a flight tracking website, reported that over 40 flights out of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport had been canceled, while more than 440 were delayed.
According to AccuWeather, severe weather is expected to pose a risk in central Georgia, the Florida Panhandle, northern Arkansas, and parts of Tennessee on Wednesday. The Gulf Coast is expected to face a higher threat of tornadoes on Wednesday, with the risk shifting to the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic region on Thursday.
On Sunday, Abbott took action by mobilizing various state entities, including the National Guard, the Department of Transportation, and the Texas A&M Forest Service. This proactive measure was taken to prepare for potential flood, tornado, and storm damage.
According to a statement by Governor Abbott, Texas is fully prepared to provide any necessary resources to aid local communities in dealing with severe weather, such as severe thunderstorms and large hail. He also urged individuals who traveled for Monday’s solar eclipse to stay vigilant about the weather and keep themselves and their loved ones safe by monitoring road conditions.
A powerful storm system wreaked havoc across the eastern United States last week, resulting in the loss of at least four lives. This devastating weather event brought forth a barrage of heavy rain, strong winds, snowfall, destructive hail, and tornadoes, spanning from Georgia and Alabama to Ohio and Illinois.
