Death toll at least 7 in Texas storms that spawned tornadoes

Bystanders watch the Flint River flow over Old Hwy.

The flooding is the result of heavy downpours that have been thrashing the southeastern US since Wednesday, bringing record rainfalls in some areas. Until the holiday season outbreak, only 10 people had died in tornadoes across the nation, the fewest number on record. “It looks like the tornado did severe damage”, Thompson said.

The tumultuous weather has led to at least 29 deaths in the Southeast, including those in Texas, plus 18 in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas. Heavy rain and wind hampered cleanup efforts on Sunday afternoon. That’s the second-most powerful tornado on the damage scale used by meteorologists and is generally strong enough to level well-constructed homes and toss cars. At least three people who died were found in vehicles, Barineau said, though it’s unclear if they were among the four involved in traffic accidents.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins was reported to say he would be signing a local disaster declaration for the county because of all of the damage. Jenkins’ statement says only residents and emergency personnel will be allowed access.

Dale Vermurlen lives in a Rowlett neighborhood that sustained heavy damage. He said there were reports of numerous houses damaged along with an apartment community.

At 7 a.m., officials in both Garland and Rowlett will hold press conferences updating the situation in each of those cities.

“I think everyone understands now the gravity of what happened”, Anita Foster, spokeswoman for American Red Cross of North Texas, said on WFAA television.

No official overall toll is yet available for the state of Texas, as emergency crews continue to search through the debris for possible victims.

About 25,000 customers in Texas were without power on Sunday morning, according to local utility companies. Two of the deaths in Collin County occurred at a gas station in Copeville.

The National Weather Service said a tornado was reported in a rural area of McClain County near Byars just before 2 p.m. Saturday.

On the other side of the state, a snowstorm was accompanied by plunging temperatures.

No deaths or injuries are reported after a tornado touched down about 30 miles south of Dallas tonight.

Snow obscures vehicles on Interstate 40 in Moriarty, New Mexico.

Widespread rain has prompted flash flood watches in eastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, most of Arkansas, central and southern Missouri and IL and central Indiana.

Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms pounded North Texas over several hours early Saturday evening.

Six deaths were confirmed in Tennessee, including three people found dead in a vehicle submerged in a creek on Thursday, according to the fire department in Columbia, Tennessee.