Tornado Outbreak Underway: Three Dead as Severe Storms Hit South

While the event is predicted to be the strongest further south, near the Interstate 20 corridor, Cox said tornadoes are “definitely a possibility”, for the area.

CNN has reported two people died and another seven suffered serious injuries, after what is believed to be a tornado, touched down in a caravan park in Convent, Louisiana.

“Winds are likely to increase to small-craft advisory levels by Tuesday afternoon, with gusts to gale-force winds expected through early Wednesday”.

A line of severe storms rumbled across the Gulf Coast states Tuesday night, toppling utility poles, tossing trailer homes and killing at least three people.

There were no reports of any injuries, but wind damage to homes and businesses has been reported.

The National Weather Service reported one fatality near the MS town of Henleyfield, where it said a mobile home was destroyed.

Meteorologist Andrew Ansorge with the National Weather Service in Slidell says it’s a little rare to have this strong of a storm this early in the year.

Storm warnings were issued throughout a southern corridor of the United States, including parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, he said.

Schools in Valdosta and surrounding Lowndes County will be closed Wednesday, as well as 12 other school systems in rural south Georgia counties.

A line of fierce thunderstorms moving across Texas was expected to raise the risk of tornadoes, hail and damaging winds across the Deep South on Tuesday. “We’re warning people to stay indoors and be weather conscious”.

Even outside the storms, forecasters are expecting it to be a very windy day and said some vehicles could be affected by it while driving on bridges and overpasses. “Cities most at risk are New Orleans to Mobile with a lesser threat for Houston and Atlanta”.

Severe weather watches were expected to last into the evening in the state.

Forecasters have been monitoring radar and other instrumentation at the Weather Service’s Slidell office, and have found strengthening low-level wind shear that is associated with rapidly dropping pressure.

Ken Gibson, emergency management director in Pickens County, said no one was injured in the storm Tuesday.

Conditions favor the formation of a few tornadoes, with gusty straight-line winds also possible. Timing for this system now looks to start around dinner time for the western third of the area continuing until 11 PM.

Heavy rain and minor flooding are also possible.