A blockbuster storm with heavy rain and powerful winds sparked tornadoes across the South on Tuesday − ripping roofs off buildings, toppling trees and blowing over RVs − after the system roared across the Midwest with blizzard conditions en route to the Northeast.
One person died in Cottonwood, Alabama, after an apparent tornado touched down early Tuesday, and several people were reported injured in Florida.
Across the central U.S., the storm shut down major highways as it pummeled the region with whiteout conditions and packed roadways with snow. On Monday and through early Tuesday, Kansas Highway Patrol responded to over 100 vehicle crashes, 19 of which resulted in injuries. In Boise City, Oklahoma, the emergency management department said it responded to calls reporting several stranded motorists and said all roads were closed.
Many schools and government buildings were closed in Florida. Some schools in parts of Virginia and Maryland also planned early dismissals. Airports across the Midwest and Southeast reported a surge of delays and cancellations Tuesday morning.
In the Southeast, the National Weather Service confirmed at least three tornadoes across the Florida Panhandle, where wind gusts as high as 106 mph were reported. A thunderstorm over southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia had winds recorded at speeds of 70 mph and hail the size of baseballs, according to the weather service.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 49 of the state’s 67 counties.
Meanwhile, the Northeast was preparing for heavy rainfall just days after the region was hammered over the weekend by a significant snowstorm that dropped up to 22 inches of snow in New England. As the storm moves toward the Northeast later Tuesday and rain begins to fall over snow-covered areas, the potential for flooding will be widespread, especially along low-lying areas, swollen creeks and streams.
The weather service forecasts 1 to 3 inches of rain for New England by nightfall Tuesday. Much of the coast is under wind and flood advisories as gusts of 50 mph are anticipated. Metropolitan areas such as New York City, Washington, D.C. , and Philadelphia are forecast to receive over an inch of rain.
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Developments:
∎ As of Tuesday morning, nearly 900 flights across the country were delayed and over 110 were canceled. The airports with the most delays and cancellations were Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
∎ More than 170,000 utility costumers in Alabama, Georgia and Florida were without power Tuesday morning.
Woman killed after apparent tornado strikes in Alabama
An 81-year-old woman died in Cottonwood, Alabama, after an apparent tornado touched down around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd confirmed to USA TODAY.
Charlotte Paschal’s mobile home was picked up by the storm and “rolled” three to four times, Byrd said.
WDHN reported the city was on lockdown after the storm inflicted extensive damage, including to the town hall. Residents were trapped in their homes and had to be rescued earlier Tuesday, the outlet reported.
“The town of Cottonwood is basically destroyed,” Cottonwood Director of Public Safety Jim Smith told WDHN.
‘God spared me’: Tornado rips through Marianna, Florida
Doris Leona Peacock was awakened Tuesday morning by what sounded like shingles being ripped off her house.
As she rushed out of bed, she saw her power was out. She corralled her two dogs – Marley and Blue – in the hallway, where she sat with them after closing all the doors inside her home.
“We just had the walls between us,” Peacock, 75, told USA TODAY. “I could still hear that wind.”
What Peacock didn’t know was that a tornado had ripped through Marianna, a city of about 6,200 hundred people between Panama City and Tallahassee, leaving widespread damage it its wake. It was one of at least three tornadoes that formed throughout the Florida Panhandle early Tuesday.
While she was huddled with her dogs, Peacock’s son, who lives about 10 miles away, called her and said a tree had crashed through his living room window, and that, luckily, no one in the house was hurt. Two of his campers were destroyed; one had been tossed into his neighbor’s yard.
Around 9 a.m., Peacock ventured outside. Some of the facade was torn off her home and her chain-link fence was bent. A tree had fallen over a nearby power line and debris was littered across the street.
Her street was largely spared. But just a short walk away is Arrowhead Campsites, where entire RVs and campers were flattened. AccuWeather posted aerial footage on social media of extensive damage to buildings and vehicles in Marianna.
Ramsey Romero, a spokesperson for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, said no deaths have been reported and seven people with minor injuries were taken to nearby hospitals as of the early afternoon hours. Deputies were continuing to search through the wreckage of various RV parks and residential areas that were demolished by the storm.
“I’m more than blessed … God spared me,” Peacock, a retired nurse, said.
At least three tornadoes hit northern Florida
Several tornadoes were reported throughout Florida’s Panhandle on Tuesday morning as a powerful squall line capable of producing of 70-80 mph wind gusts made its way over the area, knocking out power across the region, including in Tallahassee, the state capital.
The weather service first reported a tornado 11 miles southeast of De Funiak Springs, between Pensacola and Tallahassee, moving northeast at 55 mph. The storm was accompanied by quarter-size hail.
Just before 7 a.m. a “large and extremely dangerous tornado” was located near Panama City, according to the weather service. It was moving northeast at 55 mph. Photos circulating on social media showed damage to multiple homes throughout the small beachfront community.
A half hour later, the National Weather Service in Tallahassee reported a tornado had crossed over the multi-state-spanning Interstate 10, southeast of Marianna.
A storm chaser later shared a video on X of an overturned semi-trailer on the interstate. A different storm chaser’s drone video showed an aerial view of the I-10 corridor in Marianna with multiple campers flipped and widespread structural damage.
DeSantis speaks at Florida Capitol while city hunkers down
Tallahassee residents sheltered in place Tuesday as rain and wind howled through the city, while Gov. Ron DeSantis made his State of the State speech at the state Capitol ahead of the start of the legislative session.
DeSantis began his speech by noting that every other government building in Tallahassee is closed except for the Capitol. He suggested it was a symbol of the state’s resilience and said that he had declared a state of emergency to ensure impacted residents could get assistance.
“We will handle whatever fallout there is from these dangerous tornadoes,” he said.
About the same time DeSantis was scheduled to speak, a dangerous squall line reached Tallahassee that was predicted to bring with it destructive winds that could down trees, damage homes and continue knocking out power.
DeSantis is coming off the presidential campaign trail briefly and flying in from Iowa to deliver the speech. Then he’ll need to turn around and head back to the Hawkeye State for a Fox News town hall on women’s issues at 6 p.m. ET.
− The Tallahassee Democrat
Pacific Northwest struck by persistent, heavy snowfall
Blizzard warnings were issued across the Pacific Northwest and Idaho on Tuesday as the first of multiple winter storms brings heavy snow to the region.
“Dangerous blizzard conditions expected,” read an early morning advisory from the weather service in central Washington. “Heavy snow and strong winds will lead to white-out conditions at times.”
The first storm is expected to make its way inland on Tuesday, blanketing much of the Northwest with heavy rain and snow, likely slowing traffic along the Interstate 5 corridor, including Seattle, Portland and Eugene, according to AccuWeather.
“Some of the highest snowfall totals so far this season are expected this week with the possibility for widespread totals between 24-48 inches at pass level across the Oregon and Washington Cascades,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Andrew Kienzle said.
Hawaii sees a tornado warning and a ‘chill in the air’
Severe weather is even being reported in Hawaii this week. An unusual tornado warning was issued on Maui on Monday as the state endures a stretch of inclement weather.
According to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, this is only the fifth time the National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning in Hawaii since 2005, KHON-TV reported. The last warning came in March 2020.
There is a threat for ongoing thunderstorms and flooding across the state for much of the week, the weather service said, adding that gusty winds and dropping temperatures “will add a chill to the air” in parts of the nation’s warmest state.
− Doyle Rice
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Contributing: The Associated Press; Tallahassee Democrat; Dinah Voyles Pulver, Doyle Rice; USA TODAY
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