A severe weather outbreak that hammered the Plains and South over the weekend will exit the East Coast overnight Saturday after killing two and causing widespread damage.
Late Saturday afternoon, severe storms capsized vessels participating in the Dauphine Island Race in Mobile Bay, Alabama, killing one and leaving several missing.
According to The Weather Channel severe weather expert Dr. Greg Forbes, there were 13 reported tornadoes on Friday. Six of those reports came from Texas while another six originated in Kansas and one was in Louisiana. It's important to note that these tornadoes have not been confirmed.
"A warm front lifted northward into the Ohio Valley on Saturday, bringing warm and moist air into the region," said weather.com meteorologist Chrissy Warrilow. "This warm, muggy air provided the fuel for severe thunderstorms that erupted throughout the Gulf Coast, Deep South and Ohio Valley Saturday afternoon and evening."
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The following are impacts on a state-by-state basis.
Alabama
At least one person was confirmed dead and several more missing after severe storms blasted the Dauphin Island regatta in Mobile Bay late Saturday afternoon, WKRG-TV reported. The Coast Guard sent multiple units to the area, including helicopter and boat crews, in response to the incident.Severe storms left nearly 23,000 Alabama Power Co. customers without power Saturday afternoon, AL.com reported. The utility restored power to all but 5,000 customers by 9 p.m.
Strong thunderstorm winds destroyed a barn in Coosa County, Alabama, according to local storm reports.
Georgia
A woman was injured when a tree was downed on a home in Savannah, Georgia, Saturday night, according to local storm reports. Additional trees were downed on Interstate 95 in Chatham County.Nearly 3,500 Georgia Power customers were without power Saturday night, according to the utility's website.
A power transformer may have exploded Saturday night, leaving residents of the Holly Hill subdivision in Columbus, Georgia, without power, according to local storm reports.
Douglas County firefighters responded to two house fires in Douglasville, Georgia, after morning thunderstorms produced lightning that struck the homes, WSB-TV reported.
Florida
A crash involving a tractor-trailer blocked all eastbound and some westbound lanes of Interstate 10 in Jacksonville, Florida, Saturday afternoon, WJXT-TV reported. Lanes have since reopened, and it remains unclear if heavy rainfall in the area contributed to the incident.Interstate 95 in Jacksonville was plagued with flooding and dozens of accidents, as well, WJXT said.
Organizers of the Welcome to Rockville music festival in Jacksonville suspended the event Saturday afternoon due to the threat of severe storms, The Florida Times-Union reported. Concertgoers were evacuated from Metropolitan Park but will be allowed back in when the storms pass.
Illinois
Threatening thunderstorms prompted the cancelation of the remainder of the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon in Champaign, Illinois, Saturday morning, The News-Gazette reported.Kansas
A tornado was also spotted near the small unincorporated town of Modoc in Wichita County, KSN.com reported. There were no reports of damage.
Kentucky
Strong thunderstorm winds destroyed a mobile home in Henderson County, Kentucky, Saturday evening, according to local storm reports.Louisiana
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans was delayed Saturday afternoon due to severe storms rolling through the area. An event spokesman told The Weather Channel participants were evacuated from suites because they were not covered.The opening night of the New Orleans Jazz Fest shut down early due to weather Friday night. The festival announced at around 5:30 p.m. that one stage, the Fais Do Do Stage, would be shut down at 6 p.m. By 6 p.m., the music had stopped throughout the Fair Grounds — with the exception of Keith Urban, who then stopped playing shortly thereafter, according to NOLA.com.
Day 1 of Jazz Fest concludes at 6 pm due to the possibility of severe weather. Here’s to a sunny Sat & Sun!
Louisiana State Police said two tractor trailers were overturned by strong thunderstorm winds on Interstate 10 Friday afternoon, according to local storm reports.
Baseball-sized hail was reported in the cities of Breaux Bridge and Catahoula Friday afternoon.
Mississippi
Heavy flooding contributed to the death of James Willie Harris, 49, who was killed Friday night near Batesville, Mississippi, The Panolian reported. Harris was the passenger of a vehicle that plummeted into a ravine where heavy rains washed out a culvert. The driver was injured but survived.Severe storms downed a tree onto a home's bedroom in Canton, Mississippi, early Saturday morning, Mississippi News Now reported. A man sleeping in the room was not injured.
Texas
The Lone Star State saw more effects from this severe weather outbreak Saturday morning after a long night of storms left damage and knocked out power to tens of thousands.Winds gusted to 69 mph in Katy on Saturday morning a day after an 80 mph wind gust was reported in Fort Worth. There were dozens of wind damage reports relayed by the NWS, several of which occurred early Saturday morning.
The Fort Worth Fire Department told The Weather Channel it received several calls reporting downed power lines and trees blocking streets. There were also reports of several fires, one of which was likely caused by lightning.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport implemented a ground stop Friday night as severe storms rolled through the area, the Federal Aviation Administration reported. Passengers were evacuated to the lower level during the ground stop.
A carport was severely damaged after being tossed 100 feet by strong winds in Coleman County, the National Weather Service said.
A tornado touched down at my apt las night
Strong winds also caused roof damage on Main Street in Childress Friday afternoon, according to local storm reports.
More than 60,000 customers lost power in the Dallas-Fort Worth area at the height of the outages, utility company Oncor reported.
Flash flooding inundated at least 20 roads in Rio Grande City, Texas, Friday morning, additional storm reports said.
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