NEW CANEY, Texas — Efforts to restore normalcy were in full swing on Monday following a fierce storm system that unleashed hail, rain, high winds, and tornadoes across the southern United States over the weekend, leading to a tragic death toll of at least four individuals.
As of Monday afternoon, emergency response teams confirmed over 30 tornado occurrences, while crews managed around 50 damage reports from Texas to South Carolina, according to an emergency response expert from the National Weather Service’s Southern Region Headquarters.
The severe weather coincided with a traditionally busy holiday travel weekend, making conditions hazardous on the roads and causing flight delays or cancellations at major airports across the country.
The storms initially struck on Saturday near Houston, where the National Weather Service confirmed six tornadoes by Monday. Among these, two were classified as EF3, reaching peak winds of approximately 140 mph (225 kph), including one that impacted Montgomery County in the Porter and New Caney areas.
“The extent of the damage varied, with some homes completely leveled and substantial roof damage reported,” noted the lead forecaster in Houston.
In Montgomery County, about 50 homes faced severe damage, with 30 completely destroyed, as reported by local officials. Additionally, hundreds of more homes experienced minor or cosmetic issues.
Cleanup crews were engaged throughout the weekend and continued their efforts on Monday to clear debris left in the storm’s wake.
Carlos Benitez, owner of an auto repair shop in New Caney, described his shock at the devastation. He stated that he closed his eyes during the storm and when he opened them, “everything was down.”
Nearby resident Sasha Zamora, 39, recalled how she attempted to settle her baby when the storm escalated. “The wind picked up incredibly fast, and debris began hitting the windows,” she recounted, as she hurried her children to the safest part of their home. Fortunately, while her family remained safe, her neighbor’s mobile home was flipped upside down by the winds.
Tragedy also struck in Mississippi, where two individuals lost their lives due to the storms, including an 18-year-old who perished when a tree fell on her home Saturday night in Natchez. About 22,000 residents in Mississippi were reported to be without power by Monday afternoon.
In Texas, another casualty was reported—a 48-year-old woman from the Liverpool area near Houston was found deceased approximately 100 feet from her home. Local authorities also indicated significant damage to numerous homes and at least one elementary school in Brazoria County.
North Carolina experienced its own loss, as a 70-year-old man was killed on Sunday while driving his pickup truck in Statesville when a tree fell on his vehicle. Highway Patrol Trooper DJ Maffucci described the incident as an unfortunate accident that resulted in an instant fatality.
In the town of Athens, Alabama, located northwest of Huntsville, the downtown area faced extensive damage from the storm, with large HVAC units thrown from rooftops and a bookstore’s roof torn off. A military helicopter display was also knocked over.
“When I stepped out onto the porch, the sound was deafening,” expressed a city spokeswoman about the ferocity of the storm.
Despite being uncommon for this time of the year, meteorologists explained that severe weather can still occur in December, particularly when warm Gulf Coast air meets a cold front, resulting in unstable conditions for storms.
Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, emphasized that the right conditions can lead to severe weather even in winter months in the Southern U.S.
Wiley also noted that while it is unusual for a weather system to travel all the way from Texas to the Atlantic Coast in December, it is not completely unheard of.
In western Pennsylvania, high winds caused power outages early Monday morning, predominantly affecting Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Winds exceeding 60 mph (97 kph) were recorded across Pennsylvania, along with similar gusts in Ohio and northern West Virginia.
AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva reported that a developing low-pressure system brought about the strong winds that downed trees and utility poles on Sunday. Initially, around 60,000 utility customers in Pennsylvania were without power, though the number had decreased to approximately 13,000 by Monday afternoon.
