Nation 

Tuesday saw numerous tornadoes and powerful thunderstorms hit the south-central United States, while the West was expected to be hit by what AccuWeather called an "atmospheric fire hose."


The National Weather Service issued tornado watches across a sizable portion of the south-central region as it braced for a week of wild and dangerous weather, specifically in Louisiana and Mississippi where it warned of "a particularly dangerous situation." Watches are in place until Wednesday morning.

The weather service highlighted northeast Louisiana and central Mississippi in its statement, saying that the conditions "appears favourable for strong and long-tracked tornadoes this afternoon and early evening."


Residents of several towns in Louisiana and Mississippi took cover as tornado sirens wailed late Tuesday, and forecasters issued warnings of the possibility of powerful twisters capable of travelling great distances on the ground.

As strong thunderstorms moved from eastern Texas to Georgia and as far north as Indiana, numerous tornado warnings were issued beginning Tuesday afternoon and continuing into the evening. According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes touched down in Mississippi on Tuesday night, and Alabama was expected to be in the storm's path tonight.

Local authorities in the area immediately reported structural damage once tornadoes touched down.


Wind gusts of up to 165 mph could be generated by the long-track tornadoes. Some Mississippi public school districts ended their regular schedules of classes and events early as a precaution, and Mississippi State University in Starkville switched to online learning.


Storms that are predicted to combine could cause significant travel delays, as was the case on Tuesday afternoon when snow and poor visibility forced Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to temporarily close its runways.

According to AccuWeather, 40 million people from Indiana and Illinois all the way down to Texas were at risk for severe thunderstorms and possibly tornadoes on Tuesday. In a section of the Mississippi Valley that includes the states of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, the National Weather Service issued a severe weather warning for Tuesday.


"Damaging winds will be the primary threat," the weather service's Indianapolis office warned on Twitter. "Lightning and isolated weak tornadoes are also possible." The "threat for isol'd gusts strong enough to down tree limbs" was mentioned by the Chicago office.

Building damages are reported as tornadoes make landfall in the South.

Twisters struck the South late Tuesday, causing significant structural damage that was recorded throughout the region.

In Leighton, Alabama, the storms reportedly tore apart and damaged a sizable metal barn. In Lowndes County, Mississippi, where the tornado crossed the Alabama-Mississippi state line, a nearby church's steeple was destroyed.

Sheriff Clay Bennett of Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, reported that a tornado that caused damage to a number of residences also injured two persons there. As debris flew through the air, it was also reported that trees fell on residences in the parish.

Mississippi and central Louisiana were hit by tornadoes.

A tornado watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center and is in effect for a portion of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas through early Wednesday. According to the center, the area can anticipate numerous tornadoes, damaging winds, hail, and powerful thunderstorms throughout the night.

Tuesday afternoon, some 80 miles northeast of Jackson, in central Mississippi, a tornado was first detected close to the hamlet of Vaiden. According to AccuWeather, the storm was heading northeast at a speed of 50 mph at the time. Tennis ball-sized hail was also observed in the area.

Tuesday, it was determined that two more tornadoes had struck Mississippi. According to the weather service, a twister in Choctaw County, about 100 miles northeast of Jackson, caused a tree to fall onto a house.

Around 7:15 p.m. local time, a sizable tornado that caused significant damage ripped through Caldwell Parish, Louisiana. Damages in the southeast of the parish were confirmed by the weather service.

Wind gusts could reach 85 mph, and 125M people could be affected by outages.

AccuWeather meteorologists cautioned that a storm that could cause severe weather and tornadoes in some areas of the South from Tuesday to Wednesday will bring a burst of strong winds as cooler air moves from the Midwest to the Northeast. Power outages and delays in travel may result from high winds and heavy snowfall in some places.

Wind gusts of up to 85 mph could affect more than 125 million people from the Midwest to the Northeast, according to AccuWeather.


Pacific Coast prepares for blizzards and torrential rains

Tuesday saw parts of the Upper Midwest being affected by a strong cold front that was accompanied by severe winds and a lot of snow.

Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for the area, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Ziegenfelder, as heavy snow is expected to develop across portions of the Mississippi Valley and Upper Great Lakes.

The stormy weather won't spare the Pacific Coast. A portion of the West Coast will be targeted by an air river or plume of heavy moisture midweek as it moves southward, according to AccuWeather. The first snowfall of the year could occur in Seattle, and from Tuesday night to Wednesday, an "intense" 8 to 12 hour period of precipitation could bring dangerous conditions to western Washington.

Norther California will experience the storm on Wednesday and Thursday. At the end of the week, Southern California may get significant rain, AccuWeather said.

Even though the rain and snow in the mountains will help with the drought, enough of it could still fall to cause travel delays and disruptions, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Haley Taylor.