Sprawling storm wallops US with tornado reports, damage and heavy snow, closing roads and schools

Updated January 9, 2024, 4:26 p.m.:

A sprawling storm hit the South with tornado warnings and high winds that blew roofs off homes, flipped over campers and tossed about furniture in Florida on Tuesday. Another storm brought cities across the Midwest to a standstill with more than half a foot of snow, stranding people on highways as it headed to the Northeast.

At least three deaths in the South were attributed to the storm, where 55 mph winds and hail moved through the Florida Panhandle and into parts of Alabama and Georgia by sunrise Tuesday, along with at least several reports of radar-confirmed tornadoes, the National Weather Service said. A wind gust of 106 mph was recorded before dawn near the coast in Walton County, Florida.

Near Cottonwood, Alabama, a small city near the Georgia and Florida borders, 81-year-old Charlotte Paschal was killed when her mobile home was tossed from its foundation, the Houston County coroner said. A suspected tornado had touched down in the area.

Police in Clayton County, south of Atlanta, say a man died during heavy rain when a tree fell on his car on a state highway in Jonesboro.

Storm-related injuries were reported in Florida, but no deaths. A section of Panama City Beach, Florida, showed parts of roofs blown away, furniture, fences and debris strewn about and a house that appeared tilted on side, leaning on another home.

Heavy rain across Georgia stopped air traffic at Atlanta’s busy airport for a time Tuesday morning and caused flash flooding, blocking some lanes on freeways around Atlanta during the morning commute. More than 80 public school systems across Georgia called off classes entirely while others taught students online or delayed the start of in-person classes.

More than 200,000 customers were without power in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, according to the PowerOutage.us website.

In North Carolina, one person has died and two other people were in critical condition after a suspected tornado struck a mobile home park in the town of Claremont, which is north of Charlotte, according to Amy McCauley, a spokesperson for Catawba County. The county has also been dealing with downed trees and flooding.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency before the storm approached so weight and size restrictions on large and heavy trucks containing emergency supplies or agricultural goods would be waived. Some schools were canceled or shut down early.

Meanwhile, in the Midwest, where a snowstorm started Monday, up to 12 inches of snow could blanket a broad area stretching from southeastern Colorado all the way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. That includes western Kansas, eastern Nebraska, large parts of Iowa, northern Missouri and northwestern Illinois, said Bob Oravec, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.

January 8, 2024, 8:55 p.m.:

Governor Roy Cooper Cooper issued a State of Emergency Monday night and, along with emergency officials, is urging North Carolinians to be cautious as flooding and power outages are expected as a strong weather system bears down on the state. The heavy rain, along with powerful winds, could saturate trees, leading to downed power lines. 

"This storm system has the potential to bring high winds and other dangerous storm conditions to North Carolina, and people should be aware and take precautions,” Governor Cooper said. "Be sure your emergency kits are up to date and pay attention to the weather in your area, especially any weather alerts such as flash flood warnings."

The order waives certain restrictions so that vehicles carrying necessary supplies can be more efficient in delivering food, medicine, fuel, and other items. 

"North Carolina Emergency Management is in communication with our local partners, and we have increased the readiness level of the State Emergency Response Team to provide support if events exceed local capabilities," said Will Ray, North Carolina Emergency Management Director. "We are also working with our utility and infrastructure partners to address any needs they may have as the situation develops."

Rain is expected to fall beginning in the southern mountain area and spreading northeast with some areas of the mountains experiencing sleet and freezing rain before transitioning to all rain by daybreak Tuesday morning. Areas, particularly in the eastern part of the state, could see storms capable of producing straight-line winds, and tornados. 

Schools are canceling classes ahead of the storm, including Guilford County Schools and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. A full list is available here.

State officials advise these tips to make sure your family is personally prepared:

• Have multiple ways to receive emergency info, including watches and warnings. Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your cell phone and download a weather app.
• Have an emergency plan. Know where you would go if you need to evacuate. Make a plan to stay with family, friends or at a hotel. Public shelters should be a last resort.
• Gather some emergency supplies or refresh your emergency kit. Visit ReadyNC.gov for info on how to build an emergency kit.
• Never drive through flooded roadways or around barricades.
• Make sure you know where to seek shelter if a tornado warning is issued for your area.
• Check to see if your community offers emergency alert services for its residents.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.