AccuWeather.com is wrapping up live coverage of the severe weather that spawned tornadoes, damaging winds and flooding downpours across the Gulf Coast states. However, some severe thunderstorms will continue for part of the eastern U.S. through Thursday evening. Thank you for staying up to date with the storm on AccuWeather.com. For additional coverage, you can stream AccuWeather NOW anytime on our website. Stay up to date on the latest weather in your area by downloading the AccuWeather mobile app and visiting AccuWeather.com.

Tornado damage from severe outbreak

Two people died and two were injured Thursday morning when a tornado struck just west of Tallahassee, near the town of Alford in the Florida Panhandle, according to The Associated Press. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office shared photos on Facebook showing the aftermath of the deadly twister, which showed toppled trees and power lines and one completely obliterated home. No other information was immediately available. 

A woman in Mississippi said that she’s lucky to be alive after her house was severely damaged during Wednesday’s thunderstorms. “Me and my 6-year-old grandson was in the kitchen and I just heard a big boom,” Eunissa Hampton told AccuWeather National Reporter Jillian Angeline. Hampton and her grandson then ran to a closet for shelter. The two were unharmed, but the house they were in was damaged by a tree that was blown over by strong winds. Click here to hear Hampton’s story.

The house that Eunissa Hampton was in on Wednesday when storms blew over a large tree. (AccuWeather/Jillian Angeline)

A tornado watch is in effect this morning for southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle as severe thunderstorms continue to advance eastward. Damaging winds associated with the storms could disrupt travel along Interstate 10 in Florida and Interstate 75 in Georgia. Additionally, flooding downpours will be possible across most of Florida throughout Thursday as the locally severe storms sweep across the state.

A tornado watch (dark red) is in effect for Florida and Georgia until 2 p.m. EDT Thursday.

Before daybreak on Wednesday, March 30, Springdale, Arkansas, located in the northwest corner of the state, was struck by a destructive tornado that injured seven people and caused extensive damage to homes and an elementary school. The initial damage survey found damage consistent with an EF2 tornado, but further analysis has led to the twister being upgraded to an EF3 with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell, who is in Springdale, said that the power is being restored and that kids are returning to school this morning.

National Weather Service offices have been busy over the past 24 hours issuing dozens of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. A total of 120 tornado warnings were issued, with 26 from the Jackson, Mississippi, office alone. The Jackson National Weather Service also led the way with 30 severe thunderstorm warnings. A tornado warning was issued as far north as the Kansas City office. In all, the combination of tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings totaled 331 in the past 24 hours. Additional severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings are likely to be issued farther east today.

Power outages are in the tens of thousands in multiple states this morning in the wake of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. As of 3:30 a.m. CDT Thursday morning, Tennessee leads the way with over 57,000 reported outages according to PowerOutage.US. Alabama is not far behind with greater than 48,000 outages. Kentucky, Indiana and Mississippi are all reporting more than 20,000 customers in the dark. Thunderstorms are now moving into Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, and outages in those states may rise in the coming hours as a result.

A thunderstorm that had a tornado warning associated with it moved through the campus of the University of Montevallo in Alabama. The storm caused minor damage to Brooke Hall dormitory and university officials confirmed that at least one person sustained minor injuries. No damage was reported elsewhere on campus.

A tornado that tracked through west-central Alabama has caused damage in Pickens and Tuscaloosa counties. More than 40 trees were reportedly blown down in Tuscaloosa County alone. Numerous tornado watches remain in effect from central Tennessee through southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle for the next several hours and thunderstorms capable of producing additional tornadoes will continue to move eastward throughout the night.

Radar image from just before 10 p.m. CDT Wednesday evening showing a line of thunderstorms moving over Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that reportedly caused a tornado that produced damage.

The past 24 hours of wild weather has resulted in copious amounts of National Weather Service warnings throughout the Southeast, both for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Over that time frame, 104 tornado warnings were issued by weather forecast offices, with the most coming out of Jackson, Mississippi. The city was hit by a confirmed tornado in the late afternoon hours Wednesday. Over 220 severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect over the past day as well. Jackson (30) and Memphis, Tennessee (24), were the forecast offices with the most frequent warnings. There have also been 22 tornado or funnel cloud spotter reports, and nearly 250 wind damage reports in the last 24 hours.

Storms in Jackson, Mississippi Wednesday knocked down a tree that survived Hurricane Katrina, leaving a family’s housing decimated. The home of Jackson resident Eunissa Hampton was destroyed by a tree that slammed through the ceiling, leaving quite a mess for her and her grandson.

"Me and my six-year-old were in the kitchen, and I just heard a big boom,” Hampton told AccuWeather’s Jillian Angeline, who was live on scene. "I immediately ran with him, he was screaming to hide in the closet for shelter. After everything calmed down and I came out the room, that’s when I realized the tree had actually fallen in the house." The result is a flooded home with a wiped-out kitchen and living room. For now, she stated, she’s happy to be alive.

At 8:08 p.m. CDT a Tornado Warning has been issued for northeast Orleans Parish just northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana. The city is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, forecasting 70 mph wind gusts, valid until 9 p.m. CDT, and a Flash Flood Warning due to 2 inches of rain that has already fallen, with as much as 3 more inches falling in New Orleans.

One county in Alabama is sharing one way to save lives in the midst of severe weather. The Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency shared a photo via Twitter of a local household secure with helmets, in the middle of a tornado threat in the area. The EMA stated that "the best way to protect your loved ones and yourself during a tornado is to have a plan, securely buckle infants into a car seat, and wear a helmet." The area is under a Tornado Watch this evening.

The line of intense thunderstorms with damaging winds and tornadoes currently extends from the Gulf Coast of Louisiana through southern Indiana. This line of storms will continue to advance eastward through the first part of Wednesday night, eventually reaching Nashville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; and New Orleans. Frequent lightning can also be expected, even along part of the line where there are currently no severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings.

Five states in the southern U.S. still have over 10,000 customers without power entering the evening hours, as the area continues to be slammed with severe storms and tornadoes. Mississippi is now the hardest-hit with outages, with 57,610 according to PowerOutage.US. The state’s western neighbor, Louisiana, comes close to the figure with 52,401 out of power. Tennessee (22,452), Alabama (16,061) and Arkansas (10,460) also have a notable number of outages.

At approximately 4:50 p.m. CDT, a radar confirmed a tornado hit the metropolitan area of Jackson, Mississippi, specifically the areas north and west of nearby suburb Flowood. Residents of the area were urged to take shelter. The National Weather Service quickly confirmed the tornado, which could be seen moving through the city creating a chaotic sight for residents.

Several buildings were reportedly damaged at Jackson State University, including one building after a power pole fell down on the corner of Daun St. and University Blvd. just off campus. Elsewhere, one local video shows the storm ripping off local roofs and potentially harming local transformers. 

Another tornado watch has been issued as the risk for damaging storms and life-threatening tornadoes shifts east. The new watch area includes Mobile, Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama; and Nashville, Tennessee. The tornado watch extends past sunset, a time when tornadoes can be particularly dangerous as they can be almost impossible to see after nightfall.

Damage to trees, power lines, and homes was reported Wednesday afternoon from a line of storms, but also from high winds ahead of the line. A possible tornado was reported with damage to structures and roads blocked near Benton, Mississippi in the west-central part of the state. In Powhatan in western Louisiana, and also in Acorn in western Arkansas, trees fell on homes. A mobile home was overturned in the western part of Mississippi near Holly Ridge. At 3:21 p.m. CDT, an 83 mph wind gust was measured by an amateur weather station near Shelby, Mississippi, not far from the Arkansas border.

One key to residents staying alert and safe in Wednesday's severe weather will be to know the difference between tornado watches and tornado warnings. A tornado watch, AccuWeather states, is when conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop, and normally covers large areas. One area under a current tornado watch is eastern Louisiana, including New Orleans and Baton Rouge, through 9 p.m. CDT. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, 59 tornado warnings have been issued. The watches are normally issued several hours in advance, giving residents an opportunity to prepare a disaster kit or safety plan.

Tornado warnings are more of an immediate concern, as it means a tornado has been sighted or meteorologists have detected rotation on radar. When a tornado warning is issued, AccuWeather forecasters say that you should head to the closest tornado shelter, which can be a basement or interior room of a house. If you are in a vehicle or mobile home, you should find a more stable shelter. On Wednesday afternoon, tornado warnings popped up in several states, such as Arkansas and Mississippi. 

Tornadoes can develop and disappear in a matter of seconds, so it is crucial to know the safety precautions to take if severe weather is expected to hit. Flying debris is one of the greatest dangers during a tornado, so it is best to avoid any room with a lot of windows that debris could break. The safest place in a building to shelter during a tornado is the basement or most interior room. If there is no basement in the building, finding an interior room with no windows, like a closet or bathroom is crucial. Mobile homes are not stable enough to seek shelter in. Before a storm hits, it is important to make arrangements to go to a building with a basement or storm shelter center. If outside when a tornado hits, and there are no safe shelters nearby, find a ditch, crouch low to the ground and cover your head and neck with your arms. Never try to outrun a tornado in your car and try to avoid driving during times of severe weather. AccuWeather Jon Porter said having a safety plan is important, but it doesn’t need to be written out and complex. Simply talking to your family so everyone knows where to go when inclement weather occurs can keep everyone safe.

With parts of eight states under a tornado watch through Wednesday evening, a potentially devastating part of the severe weather threat is high-speed winds AccuWeather forecasters are predicting an AccuWeather StormMax™ wind gusts of 90 mph. AccuWeather reminds residents of the watch area that damaging straight-line winds are a much more common event in powerful storm systems. For every one tornado report, there are roughly 10 reports of high wind. The damage caused by extreme wind is capable of spreading hundreds of miles in threat areas, with winds of 50-60 mph common. 

Powerful storms in the Gulf Coast states have triggered a wave of power outages Wednesday afternoon, especially hitting hard in the state of Louisiana. In total, Louisiana has 57,879 reported outages according to PowerOutage.US as of 2:02 p.m. CDT. At the time, there were 10 counties reporting 30 to 60 percent of customers without power. Both Texas (13,251 outages) and Mississippi (11,669 outages) are also dealing with power issues amid the mid-week surge of storms.

At least seven people were injured in Springdale, Arkansas, on Wednesday morning after a tornado swept through the area around 4 a.m. CDT. Mayor Doug Sprouse issued an emergency proclamation after the twister, adding at the time that no fatalities had been reported in the town, which is located in the northwest corner of Arkansas. Cleanup from the disaster could take weeks, he said. “We are mobilizing volunteers and resources to help our residents over the coming days and weeks that have been impacted by this storm,” he said in a statement. “Several area churches, businesses, and individuals have reached out to see how they can help.”

An elementary school in the town took a direct hit, as well as nearby houses. “Lots of damage, but our priority is our kids and making sure they’re okay,” Wendi Pickard, an instructional facilitator at George Elementary School, told AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell. A survey team with the National Weather Service office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, issued a preliminary rating, saying that the twister was “at least EF2.” The damage survey is still underway and the final rating could end up being higher.

Damage in Springdale, Arkansas, after a tornado hit the town on the morning of March 30, 2022. (AccuWeather/Bill Wadell)

One week after a destructive EF3 tornado hit the New Orleans area, the region is once again bracing for potential twisters. The National Weather Service has issued another tornado watch for eastern Louisiana, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The tornado threat is expected to last into Wednesday night, with strong winds and hail also possible.

Multiple tornado warnings were in effect across northern Louisiana early Wednesday afternoon, and Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer was in the right place at the right time to watch one of the powerful storms unfold. Timmer watched a tornado track just northwest of Monroe, Louisiana, near Interstate 20 at 1:05 p.m. CDT. The tornado-warned storm has since tracked north of Moore and still poses the threat of spinning up twisters.

On the latest episode of AccuWeather’s Weather Insider podcast, AccuWeather Chief Broadcast Meteorologist Bernie Rayno and AccuWeather Broadcast Meteorologist Jessica Pash discuss the ongoing severe weather danger. Both Pash and Rayno say the ingredients are in place for a widespread severe weather outbreak, and some of the areas struck by destructive weather last week are once again at risk Wednesday. Rayno says a long-lasting and fast-moving squall line will produce damaging winds on Wednesday, and there’s a chance it could meet the criteria of a derecho. Give the episode a listen below.

The tornado threat across the Mississippi Valley is escalating, leading to a new tornado watch for portions of Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana. A tornado watch means that the ingredients for tornado formation are coming together. In contrast, a tornado warning means that a tornado is about to form or is already on the ground. In addition to the risk of tornadoes, wind gusts up to 80 mph and hail larger than quarters will also be possible in this zone through Wednesday evening.

The severe weather risk is ramping up across the lower Mississippi Valley as a line of strong storms advances across the region ahead of a potent cold front. The storms are currently tracking east at speeds of 40 to 50 mph and will soon pass through Little Rock, Arkansas, and Natchitoches, Louisiana. The primary concern in the short-term is damaging winds, although a few quick spin-up tornadoes are also possible. The tornado threat is predicted to increase throughout Wednesday afternoon as additional thunderstorms develop ahead of this line of storms.  

A radar image shows a line of severe storms charging eastward across the southern U.S. at approximately 11:45 am, CDT, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

AccuWeather

March 2022 has been an active month in terms of severe weather. As of March 29, the preliminary tornado count stands at 187 for the month, according to Paul Pastelok. This count is likely to climb during the last two days of the month as a severe weather outbreak looms for the Gulf Coast and South Central states.

Compared to previous years, 2022 could be the third most active March for tornadoes. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the most active March on record since 1950, was in 2017, when 192 touched down across the U.S. The second most active March was just last year in 2021, when 191 preliminary twisters were recorded. The third most active March for tornadoes was in 1976 with 180 twisters, but this year could beat that record.

Severe weather that develops across the Gulf Coast and in the South Central states Wednesday will likely not let up after the sun sets. Overnight tornadoes can be more dangerous than twisters that happen in the daylight. ”Nocturnal storm events often come as more of a surprise to people simply because they may not be as in touch with the environment around them as they are during the day, or they may be asleep,” emergency preparedness specialist Becky DePodwin said. “That’s why it’s so important to ensure you will be [woken] up by weather warnings issued for your location and to know the appropriate action when a warning is issued.” Residents across the southern U.S. should have a plan in place before going to bed, including locating a safe place in their house to take shelter when a storm is approaching. One of the easiest ways to receive emergency weather notifications, including tornado warnings, is to download the free AccuWeather app on a smartphone.

Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer is covering Wednesday’s severe weather threat from Jackson, Mississippi, which is located in the SPC’s moderate risk area for severe thunderstorms. Timmer warned that all forms of severe weather will be possible during the outbreak of storms, including some tornadoes that could reach EF2 intensity. EF2 twisters can pack winds from 111 to 135 mph.  Hear more from Reed in the video below.

A possible tornado and strong thunderstorms caused significant storm damage in Springdale, Arkansas, which is just north of Fayetteville, during the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to 4029 News. Seven people were sent to the hospital, two of which were in critical condition, according to Capt. Jeff Taylor with the police department. Significant damage was done to the George Elementary School and Nilfisk Warehouse in Springdale. Multiple homes and a cell phone tower were damaged by the storm as well. Emergency crews from Fayetteville have been deployed to Springdale to help with the damage. The National Weather Service (NWS) will send survey crews to assess the damage.

50 million Americans from Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes are on alert for a severe weather outbreak, including those who are still recovering from last week’s tornado outbreak. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a moderate risk for severe weather Wednesday, which is the second-highest risk category for severe thunderstorms issued by the center. Nearly all of Mississippi, parts of eastern Louisiana, eastern Arkansas, western Alabama and southwestern Tennessee are all in this moderate risk category.

Significant, long-tracked tornadoes will be possible Wednesday, along with hail, flash flooding and destructive winds with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 90 mph. Jackson, Mississippi, Memphis, Tennessee, Mobile, Alabama, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana are located in the zone where the most intense storms and tornadoes are likely Wednesday into Wednesday night. Nighttime tornadoes will be a hazard that residents in those cities are advised to be alert for. “It remains critical that anyone in the potential path of severe weather has a way to receive time-sensitive and potentially life-saving warnings,” urged AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert.