The big storms that swept across the Plains and Midwest this week will move east on Thursday, bringing downpours to part of the country from New York to South Carolina.
Storms are expected to weaken after a tornado that slammed into Missouri on Wednesday caused at least five deaths. Tornadoes were also reported in nearby states, including Illinois and Iowa, less than a week after dozens of tornadoes struck parts of the Midwest and South.
Flooding is also possible in parts of the South Thursday, and a flood watch is in effect in parts of Texas and Louisiana. And farther north, snowstorm conditions that have impacted the Dakotas and surrounding areas eased Thursday.
Storms have spawned numerous tornadoes, mostly in the South and Midwest, that have killed more than 660 people this year. Just last weekend, confirmed or suspected tornadoes devastated neighborhoods across much of the country.
Developments:
►Nashville and central Tennessee were on a flood watch through 1 p.m. Thursday.
►Hundreds of homes in central Illinois were left without power Thursday after a tornado ripped through Fulton County late Tuesday, injuring at least five people.
WHAT DEFINES A BLIZZARD? Heavy snowfall and strong winds are expected to sweep across the country.
WHAT IS A FLASH FLOOD WATCH OR ALERT?: Here’s what you should know about this deadly weather hazard
Cleanup efforts underway after deadly Missouri tornado
The Missouri tornado made landfall around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday and sped through a rural area of Bollinger County, about 100 miles south of St. Louis. Five people were killed and at least five others injured when trees were uprooted, homes destroyed and a building thrown on its side. State Highway Patrol Superintendent Eric Olson said 12 buildings were destroyed and dozens more were damaged, most near the village of Glen Allen.
Charles Collier, 61, said he saw the coroner’s van drive by with the lights on in Glen Allen, where he has a warehouse.
The story goes on
“It was a sad, sad sight — knowing there were bodies there,” Collier said. “I was just numb thinking about all these other people, what they’re going through.”
Houston, New Orleans could experience flash flooding
Up to 8 inches of rain could overwhelm localized areas in southeast Texas and northern Louisiana amid a series of thunderstorms that will continue through Friday, Accuweather warns. Houston, College Station, New Orleans and Baton Rouge are among the cities where drivers should be wary of water collecting on streets and low-lying areas. Smaller streams and streams can overflow their banks. A flood watch is in place in parts of Louisiana and Texas through Saturday morning.
“Some strong storms are developing in the metro area (Friday),” New Orleans-based WDSU-TV meteorologist Margaret Orr warned. “So if you have to drive, there could be a problem here in town.”
Heavy storms hit the east coast
The storms that raged across the Plains and Midwest this week will move to the East Coast on Thursday, hitting areas from New York to the Carolinas, AccuWeather forecasters warned.
Tornado threats will be much less likely on Thursday compared to earlier this week, but the storms are still expected to cause damage and disrupt traffic in the area. In addition to hail and wind gusts of up to 60 km / h, local residents must expect downpours.
States expected to be impacted Thursday include:
Delaware
Maryland
new York
North Carolina
New Jersey
South Carolina
Virginia
West Virginia
Blizzard conditions, wintry weather persists in Midwest Plains
A blizzard warning is in effect in parts of North Dakota through Thursday morning. Though snow accumulations are expected to reach just 2 inches, wind gusts of up to 50 mph could occur. A winter weather warning was also in effect in parts of Minnesota and South Dakota Thursday morning.
Further south, parts of Kansas are on a 2am to 9am freeze warning, with freezing temperatures of up to 27 degrees forecast. Freezing conditions can kill crops, the National Weather Service has warned, in addition to potentially damaging outdoor installations.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Weather updates: Storms are moving east; South prepares for flooding
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