Intense winds, flooding downpours and tornadoes are leaving behind a trail of destruction as the first severe weather outbreak of 2020 sweeps across the southern United States.The severe weather outbreak initiated on Friday morning as thunderstorms erupted across Oklahoma, before expanding into Missouri and Texas, on Friday afternoon and advancing eastward through Arkansas and Louisiana, on Friday night.At least nine fatalities have been confirmed across Texas, Louisiana and
Alabama as violent storms continue to battered the Deep South. Louisiana's Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed that two of the people were found dead near their demolished
trailer home. The third fatality happened in Caddo Parish when a tree fell on a house, according to KSLA.The Alabama Emergency Management Agency said that "an embedded tornado within a long line of intense thunderstorms" had caused three more fatalities in Pickens County, Alabama, on Saturday. Another person died Friday night when a car flipped into a creek in Dallas, Texas, according to The Associated Press.Saturday morning, two
Texas first responders were killed after they were hit by a vehicle, according to the AP. They had been working the scene of a traffic accident in Lubbock, Texas, during icy conditions after the severe weather had moved through, officials had told the news source. The two first responders were 27-year-old Officer Nicholas Reyna, a
police officer who had been with the department for one year, and 39-year-old firefighter Lt. David Hill. Matthew Dawson, another firefighter, had also been hit and was listed in critical condition.Dozens of tornado warnings were issued across the region during this time frame, including one in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex as an intense storm swept through the city. Over 1.7 million people were alerted of a possible tornado, as well as travelers waiting for their flights at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.Tornado watches remain in effect for parts of the Deep South, including Jackson, Mississippi, and New Orleans. Additional watches are likely to be issued throughout Saturday as the severe storms march eastward.
Although tornadoes will be possible, the biggest threat will be strong wind gusts capable of toppling trees, sparking power outages and leading to property damage.As of mid-afternoon Saturday, more than 300,00 customers were without power from Texas to Kentucky, with the majority of those in Alabama, where more than 118,000 customers had lost power, according to PowerOutage.us.* * *5:45 p.m. CST SaturdayA radar-confirmed tornado east of Baker Hill, Alabama, is moving toward Eufaula. People in the area should seek shelter immediately.> Radar CONFIRMED tornado just east of Baker Hill in Barbour Co. Circulation is moving toward Eufaula. Be in your safe place now! pic.twitter.com/8TpofNdSft> > -- NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 11, 2020* * *4:30 p.m. CST SaturdayOfficials told The AP that a man was swept away and drowned after floodwaters from the severe storms that swept across the state and into the South stalled his truck near Kiowa, Oklahoma. His body was found around 8:15 a.m. CST on Saturday about 100 yards way from his Chevy pickup. It is currently unknown around what time he drowned.* * *1:30 p.m. CST SaturdayAs of mid-afternoon Saturday, more than 316,00 customers were without power from Texas to Kentucky, with the majority of those in Alabama, where more than 108,000 customers had lost power, according to PowerOutage.us.
States impacted by power outages due to severe weather. Image via PowerOutage.us * * *12:30 p.m. CST SaturdayStorms are approaching the Birmingham, Alabama area, where a recent wind gust of 56 mph was recorded at the Birmingham Airport. If you are in Alabama stay vigilant and seek shelter if needed.> ⚠SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for portions of Chilton, Shelby, Jefferson & St. Clair Counties until 2 PM. Line of storms is capable of damaging winds up to 70 mph possible. Take shelter! pic.twitter.com/tLirxOKaWG> > -- NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 11, 2020* * *11:30 a.m. CST SaturdayA storm capable of producing a tornado is located near Union, Alabama moving northeast.> ⚠TORNADO WARNING for SE Pickens, N Greene & SW Tuscaloosa Counties until 1215 PM. Storm capable of a tornado is located near Union, moving NE toward Ralph, Romulus & Fosters. Take shelter NOW! pic.twitter.com/HP2C5q2xzU> > -- NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 11, 2020There is confirmed damage with one injury near Carrollton in Pickens County, Alabama.* * *10:30 a.m. CST SaturdayPowerful straight-line winds pushed a train of at least 30 railroad cars off a track in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, according to reports.> Strong, damaging straight-line wind has blown at least 30 train cars off this track in the Sumner area of Tallahatchie County. Photos courtesy of Stephanie Simms. mswx @matt_laubhan @NWSMemphis @WTVAWeather pic.twitter.com/USASJdtxto> > -- Joel Young, CBM (@JoelYoungTV) January 11, 2020Strong winds in Arkansas and Texas reportedly flipped over trucks along highways between Friday evening and Saturday morning.* * *9:30 a.m. CST SaturdayStructural damage has been reported south of Tunica, Mississippi, where the highest wind gust thus far was clocked at 79 mph.Storm damage has also been seen along Highway 232 in southern Lonoke County in Arkansas. There are no reported injuries there at this time.> Here's the storm damage along Highway 232 in southern Lonoke County. Residents tell me the red metal beams were a tractor/truck shed that blew into a vacant gin office that sits along the highway. No reported injuries arwx @THV11 pic.twitter.com/qjIa3FCB7U> > -- Michael Aaron (@michaelfaaron) January 11, 2020* * *8:30 a.m. CST SaturdayPower outages are mounting across the South as the storm continues to trek eastward across the United States. Texas is experiencing the most outages with more than 55,000 customers without power.
* * *7:30 a.m. CST SaturdayThree people have been killed in northwestern Louisiana as a result of this severe weather outbreak.Two people died and at least one was injured in the Haughton area of Bossier Parish when storms moved across the area, sheriff's Lt. Bill Davis confirmed.The third death happened when a tree fell on an elderly man's house shortly after 1:14 a.m. Saturday in Caddo Parish in Louisiana, officials report.* * *See earlier reports here.