We are tracking the final act of a multiday severe weather threat that caused power outages across the Southeast Thursday morning after spawning deadly tornadoes in the Midwest earlier this week. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to tour the devastation in Kankakee later today. Meanwhile, back-to-back winter storms are brewing across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
A Tornado Watch includes parts of South Carolina after a powerful line of severe thunderstorms marched across Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.
At least four radar-confirmed tornadoes have been detected this morning in Alabama and Georgia.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported Thursday that 1 person was killed and 3 others were hurt after severe thunderstorms swept through Lawrence County Wednesday.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the strongest storms moved through the area around 8 p.m. local time, with rain persisting into early Thursday.
More than 40,000 customers were still without power Thursday morning, with other damage concentrated in Amite, Lincoln, Smith, Pike and Walthall counties.
The Storm Prediction Center has increased Thursday's severe weather threat to a Level 2 out of 5.
The severe storms rumbling across the Southeast are capable of producing an EF-2 tornado through early Thursday afternoon before finally moving off the coast.
Power outages have spiked across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia Thursday morning, as a line of severe thunderstorms blasts through the region.
Wind gusts of up to 55 mph have been reported, and the National Weather Service has received numerous reports of downed trees and power lines.
Several school districts are operating with delays, including Troup County and Meriwether County due to active Tornado Warnings and severe storms.
The Rockdale County public school district, just outside of Atlanta, is also on a 2-hour delay.
The National Weather Service survey found that a preliminarily rated EF-3 tornado formed near Aroma Park, Illinois, Tuesday night.
The tornado was on the ground for 36.6 miles, tracking from near Aroma Park to near DeMotte, Indiana. This path crossed Lake Village, Indiana, where two people were killed.
FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne is in Aroma Park with the latest.
According to data from poweroutage.com, power outages in Louisiana are skyrocketing as severe storms roll through parts of the South.
Outages have been reported across numerous parishes, as nearly 40,000 outages have been reported across Louisiana.
The storms have already prompted multiple Tornado Warnings, and Tornado Watches remain in effect for parts of the region — a sign that conditions are primed for additional dangerous storms.
The National Weather Service warns the severe threat isn’t over yet. With watches and warnings expected to continue into Thursday, people in the warning areas are urged to stay weather-aware as the risk for tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding threatens the Deep South.
The National Weather Service announced that the Knox, Indiana Tornado that spawned the first Tornado Emergency of the year has been rated an EF-2.
The tornado packed an estimated peak wind 115 mph, with a width of 1,000 yards and traveled approximately 14.5 miles.
A large cone-shaped tornado formed 3 miles northeast of the previous Wheatfield, Indiana tornado, heavily damaging two pole barns and three grain bins at its start, with debris thrown up to half a mile.
It moved northeast, damaging trees, irrigation systems, barns, and homes, crossed SR 39 and later SR 8, and lifted southeast of the Starke County Airport in Knox, Indiana.
The damage path reached just over half a mile wide, with signs of brief multi-vortex activity.
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and its publication in NWS Storm Data.
As surveys continue, the National Weather Service has confirmed a total of 10 tornadoes from Tuesday’s severe weather outbreak.
A Tornado Watch has been issued across parts of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi until 2 a.m. CDT.
The Watch includes New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Mobile, putting more than 4 million people at risk of potential tornadoes up to EF-2+, hail 1" in diameter and 70 mph wind gusts into Thursday.
Stick with FOX Weather as we continue to monitor severe weather across the U.S.
The National Weather Service said that preliminary reports indicate the strong tornado that ripped through Kankakee, Illinois, was an EF-3.
The dangerous tornado spawned during a severe weather outbreak across the Midwest Tuesday evening, and ensued on a path of carnage, destroying homes and demolishing businesses.
Preliminary information indicates this tornado began southwest of Kankakee, Illinois, and tracked northeast, dissipating northeast of Roselawn, Indiana.
Along its path, it moved through the southern portion of Kankakee; the northern section of Aroma Park; just south of Sun River Terrace; just north of Hopkins Park; across the southern portion of Lake Village, where officials announced two people died; and through the northern portion of Roselawn.
Peak wind gusts reached 150 mph along Sandbar Road northeast of Aroma Park, which is EF-3 intensity, the National Weather Service said.
A report of hail 6" in diameter were reported in Kankakee, which would set a new Illinois state-record if verified by the National Weather Service.
More information about the tornado start, tornado end, and peak width will be available at a later time after further analysis.
So far, six tornadoes have been confirmed from Tuesday night's severe weather outbreak.
A Tornado Warning has been issued areas in Baltimore and Baltimore City counties in place until 7:45 P.M. EST.
The City of Baltimore is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, along with portions of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Howard counties.
Damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph and pea-sized hail are possible. More than 1.8 million people across the warned area in Maryland are under threat.
