Severe Weather Leaves 13 People Dead as Tornadoes, Flooding Batter South US

Severe weather has rampaged across the South US in recent days and brought tornadoes and flooding due to torrential rain. At least 13 people have been reported killed as powerful wind gusts downed trees, where it hit some of the victims while they are still in their vehicles. It also left millions of Americans without electricity as the severe storm damaged power lines, according to local reports.

The same storm system is reportedly responsible for bringing heavy snow in some parts of California, which left some residents trapped in their homes last week. Now, the system is moving to the Northeast just in time as the country is heading towards it spring season, which spans from March to May or June each year. Last year, the same US season was marked by severe thunderstorms, twisters, and hail.

Multi-State Severe Storm Leaves Dead

A total of at least 13 people died in several states due to the multi-state severe storm that is part of a powerful storm system that brought golf-ball sized hail and twisters across the southern US on Friday, March 3, according to CNN.

The storm toppled tractor-trailer trucks and causing widespread power outages to over 1 million people as it continues to threaten to bring tornadoes, heavy rain, and heavy snow while heading to the Northeast as of Sunday, March 5.

Local authorities confirmed the storms that produced tornadoes and heavy rain across the South US on Friday killed at least nine people. The National Weather Service (NWS) stated the powerful storm left the region later that day and was headed to the Northeast, where it was forecasted to bring heavy snowfall and sleet from southeast Michigan to New York, as cited by Reuters.

Deadly US Storm

In Kentucky, at least five peopled died due to the severe weather, as stated by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear during a news conference on Saturday, March 4, as cited by CNN. The US media organization previously reported four deaths across the state, including in the countries of Fayette, Logan, and Simpson. Beshear said the additional death involved an 84-year-old man from Bath County.

In Alabama, three people died due to falling trees as the large storm system swept through the state, The Associated Press reported. In addition, a woman died while inside her SUV after it was struck by a tree branch. A man also drowned after he drove into floodwaters, AP news says.

Furthermore, two people died in Tennessee as well due to fallen trees, news outlets reported, as cited by the said US news agency.

The latest severe weather in the US comes after the country experienced a mixture of polar vortex-driven winter storms and other weather systems during the first two months of the year. As the winter season nears its end, temperatures are expected to get warm in the coming weeks.