.png)
Senior digital meteorologist Jonathan Erdman contributed to this article.
Tornado warning sirens sounded as lightning lit up the skies before dawn across parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas Wednesday morning.
(MORE: What To Expect From These Dangerous Storms)
A powerful line of severe storms is bringing dangerous winds, hail and tornadoes from the South to the East Coast. Damage is being reported across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and hundreds of thousands of people have lost power. Here’s the latest news.
(09:25 AM EST) It’s Snow, Now. Blizzard Conditions Ahead
Within the past hour or so, rain has quickly changed over to wet snow from eastern Colorado and far northwestern Kansas to parts of South Dakota.
Winds are also gusting from 30 to 55 mph in this zone. Conditions are deteriorating along stretches of Interstate 70, 80 and 90 in these areas. Whiteout conditions are possible in these areas, at times.
(09:11 AM EST) Damage Reported In Southeast Oklahoma
A home is reported destroyed and several campers are overturned in Kingston County, Oklahoma. In Nida, Oklahoma, a trailer home is left destroyed, according to Johnston County Emergency Management.
Marshall County Emergency Management reports power lines down and structural damage in the county. In Durant, a house collapsed, but no injuries are reported, according to Durant Emergency Management.
(08:59 AM EST) Squall Line Threats Today
Today is a good example why you should take severe t-storm warnings as seriously as tornado warnings, as weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce wrote.
Wind gusts capable of downing trees and knocking out power are likely within the line of severe t-storms rolling through the South. It doesn’t take a tornado to do that. A falling tree can be life threatening. And as we’ve already seen earlier this morning, tornadoes can quickly form within the line of severe t-storms. Seek shelter with any severe t-storm or tornado warning today.
(08:43 AM EST) Flights Cancelled, Power Outages In Dallas-Fort Worth
FlightAware.com reports more than 200 flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are cancelled as the area sees severe weather.
In North Texas, more than 200,000 customers are without power, according to PowerOutage.com. Some structures in the area have sustained damage from the storms.
(08:30 AM EST) What's Happening Right Now
A line of severe t-storms is near the Oklahoma-Arkansas border southward into northeast Texas. Damaging t-storm winds are the main threats right now with this line, with wind gusts strong enough to down trees and knock out power.
The severe threat has ended in both Dallas-Ft. Worth and Oklahoma City, though gusty winds are persisting.
(08:12 AM EST) Mardi Gras Events Canceled
Today is Fat Tuesday, the traditional peak of Louisiana Mardi Gras parades. But weather is getting in the way.
Parades are officially canceled in Jefferson Parish, which is part of the greater New Orleans area.
As of Monday evening, police in New Orleans said they were watching the weather closely. Some parade times were changed, but they said cancellations could be called closer to the events. At least one was canceled.
English (US) ·