Tornado watch: Which US states are affected?
Residents in the southern states are advised to stay alert, monitor local weather updates, and be prepared to take immediate shelter if warnings are issued.
The Southern United States is bracing for a potentially dangerous weekend as a severe weather system threatens multiple states with tornado activity. Seventeen million people are currently under threat of destructive weather conditions.
The tornado watch spans a wide region, primarily affecting states from eastern Texas to Georgia. Key states in the danger zone include:
- Texas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Georgia
- The Carolinas
- Virginia
The most intense tornado activity is expected late Saturday afternoon into the evening, with the Storm Prediction Center warning of “large hail, damaging winds, and potentially significant tornadoes”. Cities like Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Birmingham are particularly at risk.
This December has been unusually active for tornado formation. Typically, the month sees an average of 40 tornadoes, but as of December 26, there have already been 1,777 tornado reports - significantly above the average of 1,347. Recent days have already seen multiple tornado touchdowns, including an EF-1 tornado near Fullerton, Louisiana, with winds ranging from 86 to 110 miles per hour.
Intensity guidance of the tornado that just struck Fullerton, Louisiana last night (Dec. 26, 2024).
— Nick Krasznavolgyi (@NickKrasz_Wx) December 27, 2024
The tool suggests high-end EF1 (105 mph), with the range possibly somewhere in between 95-115 mph (pending NWS damage surveys).
*This is an estimation, not an official rating* pic.twitter.com/fas9qqxN1r
The National Weather Service has issued a Level 3 severe weather zone covering parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, with a Level 2 zone extending from Texas to Florida. Forecasters predict multiple rounds of storms with various severe weather hazards possible.
While the tornado threat is most pronounced in the South, the West Coast is simultaneously experiencing its own severe weather, with atmospheric river-fueled storms bringing dangerous waves, powerful winds, and heavy rainfall across the Pacific Northwest and Rockies.
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