Powerful storms wreaked havoc across multiple states, resulting in three fatalities in Mississippi and causing extensive damage in a small Oklahoma town. These storms made their way eastward on Wednesday, triggering tornado warnings near the East Coast while the Midwest experienced heavy snow, and Texas battled dry, windy conditions perfect for fueling wildfires.
A Pacific storm was anticipated to sweep across California and the western United States from Wednesday to Friday, delivering widespread rainfall and mountain snow, as reported by forecasters.
On Wednesday, tornado warnings were issued in parts of the Carolinas, Florida, and Virginia. Union County, North Carolina, confirmed an EF1 tornado in the Unionville area, thanks to the U.S. National Weather Service. This damaging storm resulted in power outages and structural damage, with wind speeds reaching up to 90 mph (145 kph). However, there were no reports of injuries, county officials announced.
In Texas, wildfires were exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions, affecting several regions. Notably, in coastal San Patricio County near Corpus Christi, at least 20 homes and structures were destroyed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as confirmed by County Judge David Krebs. The National Weather Service continued to warn of critical fire weather conditions across south central Texas on Wednesday.
These severe weather systems continued to pose threats a day after impacting Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, prompting modifications to the schedule and shortening of the two largest parades.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency attributed three deaths to severe weather on Wednesday. WAPT-TV reported a tragic event in Madison County, where a person died due to a fallen power line and another lost their life when a tree fell on their car. In Clarke County, WLBT-TV noted that a woman was killed by a falling tree limb outside her residence.
The weather service’s preliminary data indicated at least seven confirmed tornadoes on Tuesday across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. This number was expected to grow on Wednesday as the potential for severe storms spanned from Florida up to New York, according to Bill Bunting, deputy director of the Storm Prediction Center.
“These storm systems not only have a warm side with severe thunderstorms but a cold side that can bring all forms of winter weather,” Bunting remarked, emphasizing that this is not the last storm anticipated for March.
Blizzard conditions engulfed eastern Nebraska overnight into Wednesday, delivering roughly 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) of snow and winds up to 65 mph (105 kph). This significantly reduced visibility and resulted in the closure of various snow-covered roads.
Minnesota and a substantial portion of Iowa experienced the diminishing edge of a potent winter storm. Minneapolis faced the heaviest snow of the season, accumulating 7.4 inches (18.8 centimeters) according to the weather service, with some nearby areas reporting over a foot of snow.
“It’s not unheard of or unusual, but it’s quite remarkable to witness nature’s power through these storms,” shared Jacob Beitlich, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.
Slippery road conditions led to at least 70 accidents, as reported by the Minnesota State Patrol. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz authorized the National Guard to provide aid and assist stranded drivers.
The Iowa State Patrol blamed whiteout conditions for 68 accidents between Tuesday night and Wednesday, including significant pileups on Interstate 35 outside Des Moines and numerous wrecks on Interstate 80.
“A series of small crashes are effectively closing the interstate,” stated State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Alex Dinkla. “Officers are moving from car to car, confronting vehicles stuck on the road that can’t move.”
In a South Carolina area near Myrtle Beach, firefighters have been combating wildfires since the weekend. Horry County Fire Rescue indicated that high winds prevented them from addressing flare-ups and spot fires by air and limited access to forested areas with potential falling trees.
These storms caused widespread power outages on Wednesday across the central and southeastern United States, affecting over 51,000 homes and businesses in Texas, 27,000 in Virginia, and 17,000 in Tennessee, as reported by PowerOutage.us.
Flight disruptions were also significant, with approximately 800 flights to and from U.S. airports canceled on Wednesday, as monitored by FlightAware.com, which tracks nationwide cancellations and delays.
