More than 38 tornadoes sliced through the southern states of U.S.A declaring a state of emergency
A severe weather outbreak across the southern states of the U.S.A. spreaded tornadoes, tornadic winds, and torrential rains from the southwestern states to the southeastern. On Monday 21/03 and Tuesday 22/03 an elongated QLCS (system of multiple thunderstorms) created 38 tornadoes which hitted Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. The weather system also spreaded big hail and flash floods.
Two fatalities, one from Arabi, and over two dozen injuries are being blamed on the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that struck the states. From the 38 confirmed tornadoes, the 8 were EF0, 20 EF1, 8 EF2 and 2 EF3. The EF Scale is the Enhanced Fujita Scale which rates the tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. The rating starts from 0 (105 - 137 km/h) to 5 ( over 322 km/h). In Arabi 2 to 3 tornadoes EF3 observed with winds 255 to 332 km/h.
A large tornado, rated at least EF3 strength, sliced through New Orleans on Tuesday evening, ripping roofs off houses, destroying cars, injuring people and at least one person lost his life. The tornado's path was measured to approximately 18 km! Nearly 12.550 structures suffered damages in the suburb of Arabi and New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward as the strong tornado tore through the city, according to Stephen Strader, an assistant professor in the department of geography and environment at Villanova University.
Damage in Arabi tonight from the tornado. @FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/wO4BhY2ljT
— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) March 23, 2022
Extensive #Tornado #damage in Arabi, La after a violent tornado ripped through the New Orleans metro last night. #NOLA #LaWx #Arabi pic.twitter.com/cE9giCLeuN
— WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) March 23, 2022
On Tuesday night in Alabama the storm and the flash floods created severe damages. Floodwaters swamping streets in Birmingham and roads were washed out.
Seeing many more images of roads partially washed out from flooding early this morning/late last night in parts of Calhoun, Talladega, and Chilton counties. Be careful out there! pic.twitter.com/HKtFkic16D
— James Spann (@spann) March 23, 2022
Weather outlook:
A swath of showers and embedded thunderstorms is ongoing across the eastern Carolinas, Florida and the east coast of Maryland and New Jersey. The system will head northeastwards the next few hours, bringing severe thunderstorms to the eastern coastal states, but overnight as it will head further east will spread dry and bright spells to the southeastern states. On Friday will still influence northeastern and eastern Canada bringing heavy rain and snow, turning heavy across Massachusetts and Nova Scotia with wind gusts reaching up to 90-100 km/h.