Global Courant
Multiple storms moved through Mississippi overnight, killing at least one person and injuring nearly 20 others, according to state officials.
The storms had cut power to nearly 50,000 customers in the state as of Monday morning, Mississippi’s emergency management agency said in a press release.
The agency confirmed the death of one person in Jasper County, an area about 70 miles east of Jackson. The victim has yet to be publicly identified.
The National Weather Service was scheduled to map damage in Mississippi on Monday, as residents in the South braced for more intense heat ahead.
The storm was the latest in a series of extreme weather incidents over the holiday weekend that killed a total of six people, injured more than 100 others and knocked out power to nearly 500,000 homes.
As of early Monday afternoon, nearly 468,000 utility customers were still without electricity in parts of the South, including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, according to the online fault locator. PowerOutage.us.
Oklahoma appeared to be the hardest hit, with nearly 200,000 customers still without power as of Monday afternoon.
Thunderstorms expected in the southeast
While people in the US celebrate the Juneteenth holiday on Monday, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the Southeast, some severe.
“Juniteenth will be stormy and rainy this year across much of the Southeast,” the National Weather Service said, adding that severe weather is expected to continue for the next several days.
Texas and Louisiana, meanwhile, are experiencing a “scorching heat wave,” according to the weather service.
At least 12 million people in parts of the Gulf Coast and the Southeast are at risk from severe storms that could bring large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Cities facing these threats include Mobile, New Orleans, Savannah and Tallahassee.
A damaged billboard in Ridgeland, Miss., on Friday after severe weather swept through the region.Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Flash flooding could be a concern in some of the same areas, with flooding orders for up to 4 million people in parts of Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle. Rain can fall from 1 to 2 inches per hour.
By mid-week, the heavy rain could increase the risk of additional flooding in western Florida, the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Appalachian Mountains.
A possibility of record-breaking heat in Texas
Texas, which killed three people and injured more than 50 on Thursday after a tornado hit the town of Perryton, faced a possibility of record-breaking heat on Monday.
The heat wave is also expected to cover nearby states: At least 31 million people were under heat warnings on Monday, including parts of Texas, Louisiana and southern Mississippi.
In those areas, temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s, combined with high humidity, are expected to lead to heat index readings approaching 120 degrees.
The heat is likely to continue past Monday, with Texas cities including Austin, Houston and San Antonio gearing up for possible record highs this week.
“Juniteenth Is Gonna Be a Torrid One!” the National Weather Service in Houston warned in a tweet.
The weather service urged people to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activities and take breaks in the shade whenever possible when working outside. It also advised local residents to check in with the elderly, infirm or without air conditioning and reminded drivers never to leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
A number of cooling centers will be open throughout Texas, Governor Greg Abbott’s office said.
“The State of Texas continues to work around the clock to rapidly provide needed resources to communities in Northeast Texas impacted by these horrific storms,” Abbott said in a statement. rack on Sunday. “State and local officials are on the ground to restore power and ensure the safety and well-being of our fellow Texans.”
Daniel Arkin contributed.
