The Southeast is contending with powerful storms to mark the beginning of spring. After a long, stubborn, cold winter, the US is finally experiencing warmer temperatures. However, these temperatures are clashing with northerly cold air fronts, creating gnarly squall lines and generating powerful tornadoes throughout the Midwest and Southeast.
Millions of people in the Southeast are under severe storm warnings Monday through Tuesday, with experts suggesting that residents in the region stay inside if they can help it. Here’s what you need to know about the powerful storms tearing through the Southeast.
Weekend Storms
There was a series of powerful, destructive thunderstorms in the Southeast over the week. These, combined with tornadoes, claimed 26 lives between Saturday and Sunday. Several homes were demolished by the twisters, with the squall line leaving a trail of destruction through Mississippi and Alabama.
The state of Mississippi has declared a formal disaster after twenty-five people were killed by tornadoes over the weekend. President Joe Biden approved the disaster declaration, freeing up federal relief funds for the region. The city of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, faced particularly severe winds and now looks “like a battlefield,” according to residents.
Devastation Left by Tornadoes
Rolling Fork Vice Mayor LaDonna Sias told reporters that her house was destroyed by the tornadoes over the weekend. Sias explained that her husband saved their lives by shutting both of them in a closet as the tornado literally ripped their home apart. “He pushed me in […] his closet, and he was able to close the door,” Sias remarked.
“And the minute he closed the door, the force … he was just constantly trying to hold the door so it wouldn’t come open. And you could literally hear the house ripping apart.” According to the National Weather Service, these severe conditions will continue through the start of this week, too.
More to Come
There are more storms and tornadoes on the horizon for the Southeast, too. “Large hail, damaging wind gusts, and frequent lightning will remain the primary risks throughout the day today but isolated tornadoes could still be possible,” notes Meteorologist Haley Brink. And the strong winds won’t be the only concern, either.
Experts say the heavy rainfall over the weekend, combined with more rains throughout the day Monday, could trigger flash flooding and even landslides in some mountainous areas. Residents are urged to take precautions before traveling while these storms linger over the region.
