Severe thunderstorms threaten millions with wicked weather
Severe thunderstorms across the southern and eastern U.S. threatened a barrage of dangerous weather conditions from flooding rains and destructive winds to "very large hail" and possible tornadoes, forecasters said.
Tens of millions of people were at risk Monday, June 9 of severe thunderstorms from northern Texas and New Orleans to western New York, with forecasters warning of damaging winds, hail, some tornadoes and flash flooding as areas receive 1 to 3 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Over 12 counties in southeastern Texas and parts of western Louisiana were under severe thunderstorm watches. Flood warnings, which indicates that flooding is imminent or has been reported, were active throughout the central and southern U.S., especially along major rivers following rounds of heavy rain late last week and over the weekend.
In Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott activated state emergency resources to mitigate possible storm damage, over 86,000 homes and businesses were without without power, according to PowerOutage.us. The state has been battered by consistent, powerful thunderstorms since last week, including at least one that turned deadly.
Federal forecasters suggest the strengthening storms could have impacts from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes and the Northeast as they expand. Flood watches warning of the looming storms were in place across western New York and swaths of northern Pennsylvania.
Houston weather: city under 'severe thunderstorm watch'
The city of Houston, along with much of Texas, is at risk of powerful thunderstorms this week.
The National Weather Service office in Houston said between 1.5 inches and 4 inches of rain is expected between June 9 and June 12, with the heaviest bouts of rain occurring throughout the midweek.
This outbreak of severe weather follows last week's relentless rainstorms, which inundated roads and caused at least death in the Dallas area. Abbott on Sunday activated more state resources – including the Texas National Guard – to respond to the incoming storms, especially in areas impacted by flooding, tornadoes or other damaging weather threats.
"Texas stands ready to deploy all necessary resources to support Texans as severe weather moves across our state that has potential to bring flash flooding and heavy rain,” the governor said in a statement.
'Severe thunderstorm warning' issued in Alabama
By the early morning, forecasters with the National Weather Service issued a "severe thunderstorm warning" in central Alabama.
The weather alert warned residents about 60 mph winds and penny-sized hail – hazards that could damage roofs, siding, and potentially uproot trees, according to the warning.
"For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building," the weather service in Birmingham, Alabama, said.
What to expect for the rest of the week? More rain, wet weather
By Tuesday, the overall risk for severe weather will be lower, but forecasters still warned of the risk of hail, damaging winds and a possible isolated tornado across western Texas and New Mexico.
Into the midweek, the storms are expected to expand east and north, bringing more rain to the Carolinas and as north as the Great Lakes region.
As rounds of storms continue to roll across the southern U.S., an outbreak of thunderstorm activity is expected to reignite throughout the Midwest on Wednesday, including South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to AccuWeather. The storms could produce hail, damaging winds, and 50 to 60 mph winds, forecasters said.