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Severe storms struck parts of the Southern United States on Thursday, further complicating cleanup efforts following earlier tornadoes that claimed at least three lives and critically injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain while playing in a flooded street. The storms caused delays at major airports in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina, as a heavy line of storms moved through during the morning rush hour. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center warned of an "enhanced risk" for severe weather from Texas to South Carolina.
An emergency manager reported significant wind damage from a possible tornado in the Vidalia, Georgia, area Thursday afternoon. These storms are part of a pattern of torrential rains and tornadoes that have affected the Plains, Midwest, and now the Southeast this week. Since Monday, 39 states have been under threat of severe weather, resulting in at least four deaths.
In Tennessee, where more than 100,000 homes and businesses remained without power on Thursday afternoon, severe weather damaged homes, injured people, and claimed two lives. In Claiborne County, north of Knoxville, a 22-year-old man died in a car, while a woman in Maury County, south of Nashville, was killed when a tornado with 140 mph winds damaged or destroyed over 100 homes.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee expressed heartbreak over the devastation, praising workers who spent the night clearing debris from roads. Residents in Columbia, Tennessee, recounted their experiences, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and community support.
Torrential rains also led to flash floods northeast of Nashville, with a 10-year-old boy in Christiana seriously injured after being swept into a storm drain while playing. Schools were closed in Rutherford and Maury counties, and some areas north of Atlanta canceled or delayed classes due to storm damage.
In northern Alabama's DeKalb County, at least 20 homes were damaged by a strong tornado, causing injuries but no deaths. North Carolina declared a state of emergency for Gaston County after a storm resulted in one fatality and another person hospitalized. The recent storms in the central and eastern U.S. have caused widespread damage, highlighting the importance of preparedness and community resilience in the face of severe weather.
