Severe weather batters South, but snow looms later this week
Storm-battered residents across the South were cleaning up Tuesday after severe weather roared through the region late Monday, killing at least five people, knocking out power to thousands and blocking roads with fallen trees.
Though the threat of more storms ended Tuesday afternoon, Southerners could have other weather problems later this week in the form of snow and ice. Wintry weather could cause slippery roads and major travel delays by Friday and Saturday from Arkansas to Virginia, AccuWeather said.
Overall on Monday, there were 13 reports of tornadoes across the South, all in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, according to the Storm Prediction Center. There were also dozens of reports of high winds.
The worst of the weather had dissipated by Tuesday afternoon.
"You had a warm front out of the Gulf with a lot of moisture," prediction center meteorologist Patrick Marsh told Paste BN. "We had all the ingredients for creating tornadoes, and we had quite a few tornado reports Monday in southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia."
Four people died in Alabama when a tree crushed a mobile home in Rehobeth. Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza told the Dothan Eagle seven people were inside the home when the storm struck. Some area roads and Rehobeth schools were closed Tuesday.
"Please stay off roads and out of areas damaged by storms," Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said. "Our prayers go out to the citizens and Town of Rehobeth and families impacted."
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said he spoke with Valenza. "Prayers for those impacted," Bentley tweeted.
The weather service was conducting damage surveys Tuesday to determine the strength and paths of the tornadoes that ripped across the South.
Parts of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and southern Alabama were hit hardest by severe weather, the weather service reported. In Walton County, Fla., a man drowned when his car submerged in floodwaters from the Shoal River. The man, who was found face-down in the water, was apparently trying to evacuate when he succumbed, the sheriff's office said.
At least two tornado reports were recorded in Mississippi, Marsh said. One possible tornado ripped through the southern part of the state, leaving some homes and other structures damaged in Simpson County and thousands without power. But there were no reports of injuries.
"We mostly had trees and power lines down and some structures damaged," said Ashley Griffith of the Simpson County Sheriff Department. "It's widespread."
Wind damage was reported across Louisiana. Gusts broke skylights in Marksville, and even picked up a fireworks stand, moving it 30-40 feet and mangling the structure.
Contributing: Melanie Eversley, Paste BN; Jimmie E. Gates, The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion-Ledger