On Wednesday, the storm's high winds knocked out power to more than 250,000 customers across the South, with the highest number in Louisiana. More than 125,000 customers were in the dark Thursday morning from Louisiana to the Carolinas.
The storm also triggered more than 120 flash flood warnings and nearly as many flood reports, including in New Orleans. Mobile, Alabama; and Tallahassee.
The risk is toward the Ohio Valley and East Coast as the system moves northeast on Thursday, with the storm producing damaging winds, scattered hail and flooding in some areas. there's a possibility that. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said tornadoes were most likely to occur in southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia, but were also monitoring areas from central Florida to southeastern Georgia, and by 3 p.m. He said a tornado watch is in effect.
The damaging storm, which began erupting late Tuesday, developed from a well-defined area of ​​low pressure near the Gulf Coast. The storm concentrated into a severe squall line that traveled more than 1,000 miles from East Texas to Florida.
The squall line produced numerous damaging winds with multiple peak gusts of at least 70 to 80 mph from southeastern Texas to the Florida Panhandle.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said it received preliminary reports that one person was killed in Scott County, one person was injured in Grenada County, and 72 homes were damaged across the state. Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee told The Associated Press that a 64-year-old woman died after the storm knocked out power to his home and his electric oxygen machine stopped working.
Rainfall totals of at least 2 to 4 inches were widespread, with isolated rainfall totals exceeding 10 inches.
A flash flood emergency, the National Weather Service's most severe flood warning, was issued for New Orleans and Tallahassee, near the Texas-Louisiana border. New Orleans had the third-wettest April on record, with more than 6 inches of rain, and Tallahassee has seen more than 7 inches of rain since Wednesday night.
High water flooded roads and underpasses, leaving cars stranded in several locations and prompting rescue efforts.
In Mobile Bay on the Alabama coast, strong winds from the south caused water to build up on the shore ahead of the squall line, stranding vehicles over the road along both U.S. Highway 90 and Interstate 10. It withstood a significant increase in water.
Severe thunderstorms possible Thursday
More storms are expected Thursday as the low pressure system moves northeast toward the eastern Great Lakes.
A Level 3/5 severe weather threat covers parts of the Ohio Valley, including Canton, Ohio, and Charleston, West Virginia, according to the Storm Prediction Center. There is a Level 2/5 danger zone surrounding it, encompassing Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Columbus, Ohio. Another level 2/5 risk covers all of Florida from Jacksonville to Orlando to Tampa.
Washington, Baltimore, Virginia Beach, Charlotte, and Fort Myers, Fla., are in the Level 1 danger zone out of 5.
The risk of tornadoes is highest near low pressure systems that are building toward the eastern Great Lakes.
“This threat is likely to be greatest from southeastern Ohio to western West Virginia,” the Storm Prediction Center wrote. “Further east, parts of northwestern Virginia will see a somewhat weaker convective signal.”
Widespread, sustained rainfall is expected, with 1 to 2 inches expected in many parts of the region, with the possibility of isolated flooding.
Rain and storms will also become more intense in the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic region this afternoon, and are expected to continue into the evening in the east. However, the heaviest storms will pass near Interstate 95 during the night, so they won't be able to pick up as much heat and severe weather is expected to be more limited.
The drop in the jet stream that caused the storm will only move slowly through the Northeast into the weekend. Parts of New England could remain under the effects until Sunday.
When the storm ends, strong northwesterly winds will develop in both the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with widespread gusts of 35 to 45 mph, with locally stronger gusts in the mountains and near the coast. .
More rain and storms are possible Friday and Saturday, and they will likely be concentrated in the mid-Atlantic and further northeast.
The storm will pass early next week. However, the new disturbance moving into the West Coast is likely to bring significant severe weather to the central states on Monday and Tuesday.
Annabelle Timsit contributed to this report.