Tornadoes wreaked havoc in Texas and Mississippi on Saturday, killing two people and injuring six others. The storms caused significant damage to homes, overturned vehicles, and left thousands without power as the system continued moving east into Alabama early Sunday.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) tracked the storm system advancing through Alabama into Georgia by 4 a.m. Sunday, issuing severe thunderstorm warnings with potential tornadoes for parts of western Georgia and Florida’s northwestern Gulf coast.
In Texas, one fatality occurred near Liverpool, south of Houston, while four others sustained non-critical injuries, according to Madison Polston of the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office. Several tornadoes touched down in areas including Liverpool, Hillcrest Village, and Alvin, damaging around 10 homes, with assessments ongoing.
Mississippi also reported one death in Adams County and two injuries in Franklin County, according to the state’s emergency management agency. Tornadoes near Bude and Brandon caused significant damage, including ripping roofs off buildings.
Meteorologist Josh Lichter of the NWS warned the storms could intensify further as they moved east. Preliminary reports suggested at least six tornadoes touched down in the Houston area, with damage caused by both tornadoes and strong winds. Mobile homes were destroyed in Katy and Porter Heights, where a fire station also sustained damage.
The severe weather disrupted flights at Houston’s two main airports, Bush Intercontinental and Hobby, causing delays of over an hour.
Power outages affected approximately 71,000 utility customers in Mississippi on Saturday, with numbers peaking at 93,000 before improving slightly to 81,000 early Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us.
First responders prioritized safety and accountability over damage assessments, with thorough evaluations expected to begin Sunday morning. Overnight, the NWS issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of Alabama, urging residents to seek shelter due to winds reaching up to 60 mph.
