The latest deadly outbreak of severe weather battered the East Coast throughout the day and evening Friday, killing one child as it spawned tornadoes, high winds, flash flooding and thunderstorms across Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas and Virginia, and then turned north. At least four people were killed and there have been at least 30 reports of tornadoes since the storms started their trek across the southern U.S. on Wednesday.
A likely tornado destroyed homes and knocked down trees and power lines in Franklin County, Virginia, south of Roanoke on Friday afternoon, according to the Roanoke Times.
Higher res photos: Tornado pics coming in from southern Franklin County. We're NOT done with the storms by a long shot today. Take all warnings seriously! From Tami Woody. #vawx #tornado #franklincotornado pic.twitter.com/SSIxFI9ohZ
— Jamey Singleton (@jameysingleton) April 19, 2019
Mike Dodson lives in this home in Orange Co. He says he and his family got in the basement and about 10 seconds later, this happened. They are all safe and he says there’s no damage to his home. He estimates 30 trees on his property are down. @wralweather #WRAL pic.twitter.com/QoAxHDYS4z
— Sarah Krueger (@WRALSarah) April 19, 2019
Here the consequences of a tornado in Mississippi:
HEARTBREAKING: We have new video from #Morton, MS tonight. Here's a look at the destruction left behind after #storms ripped through the community. Our field crews spoke with a woman who was home at the time of the storm, and thankfully, she is okay. #MSwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/QB33BbSFO0
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) April 18, 2019
Earlier, an 8-year-old girl was killed when a tree fell through a home in Woodville, Florida, just south of Tallahassee, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office told WPTV. A 12-year-old boy was also injured in the incident.
At least 8 tornado warned storms in progress in central/eastern NC into southern VA as of 415 pm! @breakingweather pic.twitter.com/1ELkxZCzuC
— Reed Timmer (@ReedTimmerAccu) April 19, 2019
AFD is asking people in and around Biltmore Village to leave the area as soon as possible and go to higher ground. The river will crest it's highest around 8:00 p.m. tonight. You can visit the City of Asheville's blog for more information https://t.co/IRJi76AoTx pic.twitter.com/CIVz1ZmeQq
— ASHEVILLE FIRE DEPT (@AshevilleFD) April 19, 2019
A tornado was reported on the ground around 4:45 p.m. in Orange County, North Carolina, just north of Chapel Hill. Several local TV news outlets reported downed trees and damage to buildings. Much of the state was under severe weather warnings, including tornadoes, flash floods and thunderstorms throughout the evening.
Damage & debris scattered in Hillsborough, NC.
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) April 19, 2019
Likely from a tornado that moved through moments ago. pic.twitter.com/meeE9k0g4P
Wow. Cathy Waller said this is what the tornado warned storm did to her backyard in Halifax County! pic.twitter.com/BRzQEH2lrI
— ABC 13 News – WSET (@ABC13News) April 19, 2019
A child was injured when a tree fell on a mobile home in Sumter, S.C., TV station WACH reported. Fire fighters had to pull off part of the top of the home to rescue the boy, who was unresponsive, according to the report.
NEW: Tornado damage in Sydnorsville, Virginia. pic.twitter.com/NUYsd3nu9t
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) April 19, 2019
Roads washing out in West Georgia as heavy rains move through. This is at Wright Rd in Troup County. #GAwx pic.twitter.com/8GlJ3JjJ4J
— Parker Branton (@ParkerBranton) April 19, 2019
By Friday evening, the storms had trekked through Georgia and the Florida Panhandle into the Carolinas and Virginia, where there was still a strong risk of damaging winds and rain, forecasters said.
ICYMI: On Friday, a tornado caused major damage in Hillsborough, #NorthCarolina. #NCwx #SevereWeather pic.twitter.com/dXqYDFwj8G
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) April 20, 2019
Four firefighters injured in wreck, structure fire:https://t.co/XWPogVNM9B pic.twitter.com/MFGU8cwWtH
— Forsyth County News (@forsythnews) April 19, 2019
Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed Friday afternoon and evening at airports in Charlotte, Newark, Atlanta, Boston and other locations along the East Coast as travelers prepared to leave for the holiday weekend.
Radar Update: 2:45pm…Tornado warning INCLUDES the JACKSON metro area.
— NWS Jackson MS (@NWSJacksonMS) April 18, 2019
Also near Harrisville heading towards Braxton
Finally near Bogue Chitto heading toward Monticello.
If you are in or close to these areas, take your tornado precautions now. pic.twitter.com/iWIoLDnwHw
More than 183,00 homes and businesses across six states were without power Friday evening, according to poweroutage.us. Nearly 53,000 of those were in North Carolina, and almost 30,000 in Florida. The rest were in Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia and South Carolina.
Unbelievable radar signature. Prayers to anyone in the path of this extreme tornado in Mississippi pic.twitter.com/l08WsMARYC
— Eric Rice WX (@ericrice_wx) April 18, 2019
Airlines are slammed right now having to deal with loads of passengers, canceled and delayed flights. Major storm moving through Central Fla but widespread impacting airports throughout east coast @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/kSBnOo8bPv
— Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) April 19, 2019
There were at least 10 reports of tornadoes on Thursday, although the exact number has yet to be determined by the National Weather Service.
Be patient and enjoy your Easter !
