Sat Jan 04 13:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Deadly Storms Ravage Southeast and East Coast, Leaving Four Dead and Widespread Damage
**CHARLOTTE, NC** – A devastating series of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes swept across the Southeast and East Coast on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming at least four lives. The storms, following deadly tornado outbreaks in Texas and Mississippi on Saturday, caused significant damage, power outages, and flight disruptions.
In Mississippi, two fatalities were reported: a high school student killed by a falling tree in Natchez, and another in Lowndes County. Texas saw one death in Brazoria County, where multiple tornadoes touched down, ripping roofs off houses and leveling structures. A fourth victim perished in North Carolina after a tree fell on their vehicle in Iredell County.
The storms’ impact extended far beyond the immediate casualties. Brazoria County, Texas, experienced particularly intense damage, with Sheriff Bo Stallman describing the devastation as “extremely devastating.” Drone footage revealed homes with roofs torn off and widespread debris. Walt Disney Elementary School in the county also sustained significant damage. In Montgomery County, Texas, a possible tornado completely destroyed a two-story home.
The destructive weather system also affected parts of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi on Saturday, with storm chaser video capturing a long-track tornado in McCall Creek, Mississippi. Over 150 storm reports were filed Saturday, including more than 30 reported tornadoes.
The severe weather continued its eastward march on Sunday, bringing damaging winds, large hail, and the potential for tornadoes to cities from North Florida to the Carolinas. A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for parts of South and North Carolina, including Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, and Wilmington. Tornado watches were in effect for parts of southern Georgia, North Florida, and the Carolinas.
The widespread power outages affected an estimated 120,000 customers across several states, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina. Flight disruptions were also significant, with over 6,600 flight delays and more than 380 cancellations across the US, impacting major airports including Charlotte Douglas International Airport. A partial power outage at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Mississippi caused further delays and cancellations.
The National Weather Service warned that severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall would impact much of the eastern US throughout Sunday. The unusually high number of tornadoes this December – over 1,783 reports compared to an average of around 40 for the month – underscore the severity of the current weather pattern. Recovery efforts are underway across the affected areas.
First Piper 