A weekend tornado outbreak has left a trail of devastation across the southern US, resulting in at least four fatalities and significant property damage. Nearly 40 tornadoes were documented on Saturday and Sunday, primarily impacting Texas, North Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, and Arkansas. The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that two of the deaths occurred in Mississippi, while one each was confirmed in Texas and North Carolina.
Deadly Tornado Outbreak Claims Four Lives Across Southern US
Deadly Tornado Outbreak Claims Four Lives Across Southern US
Four lives are lost as severe tornadoes unleash destruction in multiple southern states.
In Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves identified the locations of the two casualties; one in Adams County and another in Lowndes County. The severe storms also caused injuries to approximately ten individuals within the state. As of Monday afternoon (10:30 local time, 15:30 GMT), about 32,000 residents remained without electricity, though this was a decrease from the peak of 100,000 outages following the storms.
Texas experienced particularly severe weather conditions, as a tornado watch was issued on December 28 with a classification of "particularly dangerous situation"—a designation reserved for about 7% of tornadoes on average. The state witnessed extreme winds reaching up to 145 mph (233 km/h), leading to significant damage. Tragically, a 48-year-old woman lost her life in Brazoria County, while four others sustained non-critical injuries. Montgomery County reported damage to approximately 300 buildings, with 30 completely destroyed.
In North Carolina, a 70-year-old man named Matthew Ronald Teeple was a victim of the storms, dying after a tree fell on his vehicle. National statistics indicate that the US experiences around 800 tornadoes annually, resulting in an average of 80 fatalities and 1,500 injuries. This year, however, saw an alarming rise with a total of 1,762 tornadoes documented from January through November, marking the highest number since 2011.
As communities begin to assess and recover from the widespread destruction, the need for support and rebuilding efforts remains a critical concern across the affected regions.
Texas experienced particularly severe weather conditions, as a tornado watch was issued on December 28 with a classification of "particularly dangerous situation"—a designation reserved for about 7% of tornadoes on average. The state witnessed extreme winds reaching up to 145 mph (233 km/h), leading to significant damage. Tragically, a 48-year-old woman lost her life in Brazoria County, while four others sustained non-critical injuries. Montgomery County reported damage to approximately 300 buildings, with 30 completely destroyed.
In North Carolina, a 70-year-old man named Matthew Ronald Teeple was a victim of the storms, dying after a tree fell on his vehicle. National statistics indicate that the US experiences around 800 tornadoes annually, resulting in an average of 80 fatalities and 1,500 injuries. This year, however, saw an alarming rise with a total of 1,762 tornadoes documented from January through November, marking the highest number since 2011.
As communities begin to assess and recover from the widespread destruction, the need for support and rebuilding efforts remains a critical concern across the affected regions.
