USA: Tornado hits south of country, removes cars from highways and leaves thousands without power – 06/15/2023

Strong storms, tornadoes, downed trees, damaged buildings and carried cars from a highway in the southern United States on Wednesday, the 14th. Locally, the National Weather Service issued several tornado warnings, mainly for southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia. He warned that hurricane-force winds could reach 90 mph (145 km/h) in areas such as Mississippi.

Large hailstorm occurred in some areas on Wednesday as well. Witnesses released video of the tornado hitting Abbeville and Eufaula, Alabama. In Georgia, Troup County officials told WSB-TV that one person was struck by lightning Wednesday afternoon, but did not release his condition.

Tens of thousands of people in Alabama and Georgia lost power amid Wednesday night’s storms, according to state power providers. At one point, 50,000 people were affected in Alabama alone. Forecasters said severe storm threats could continue through Thursday in the Florida panhandle, south Alabama and Georgia, and parts of Oklahoma and northern Texas and southern Kansas.

Felecia Bowser, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida, said the storm system was “unprecedented for this time of year.” “In June, we’re generally gearing up for tropical weather,” Bowser said. “The aggressive, widespread precipitation we see today usually occurs more in the spring.”

Two people escaped unharmed from a home that was destroyed Wednesday as storms battered rural southwest Georgia, Calhoun County Sheriff Josh Hilton said. The home in Quill County Plantation, near the county line with neighboring Early County, was demolished, he told WALB-TV. Video posted on social media showed a large funnel cloud rumbling on the horizon near the rural town of Blakely, and officials in nearby communities reported downed trees and downed power lines.

Connie Hobbs, chairman-elect of the neighboring Baker County Commission, said hail the size of golf balls pelted her backyard. Tornado warnings were issued Wednesday afternoon for Albany, southwest Georgia’s largest city, and surrounding Dougherty County. County government spokeswoman Wendy Howell said there were no reports of significant damage or injuries. “The big concern is flooding,” Howell said.

In Alabama, the Eufaula Police Department said tornado damage was confirmed in a town near the Georgia state line. Eufaula Mayor Jack Tibbs told WSFA-TV that no injuries were immediately reported, but the storm knocked down the wall of a building and downed 30 or 40 trees.

Sheriff Larry Rowe of Cass County, east Texas, told KYTX-TV that some vehicles were driven off a freeway while the county was under a tornado warning Wednesday afternoon. There were no immediate reports of injuries.