More than 15 million people from Texas to Florida are facing the threat of severe storms and potential tornadoes, with many areas already impacted by one of the most active tornado periods on record. The national Storm Prediction Center has identified a high-risk zone spanning from southeast Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.
As of midday Monday, the Florida Panhandle experienced some of the worst weather conditions, with a tornado watch in effect and reports of flooded roads and stalled vehicles in Escambia County. Additionally, flash flood warnings were issued for Alabama's Gulf Coast, where over 3 inches of rain had fallen.
Power outages have affected more than 90,000 homes and businesses across the South, primarily in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. The recent storms come on the heels of a historically active period for severe weather in the U.S. from April 25 to May 10, during which at least 267 tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service.
Among the recent tornado events was a pair of twisters that caused significant damage in Tallahassee, Florida. These tornadoes traversed the city from east to west, resulting in destruction to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Notably, a construction crane collapsed, and the outfield fence at a baseball stadium in Florida State University was severely damaged.
