USA TODAY International Edition
TORNADOES SET DEADLY MARK IN THE SOUTHEAST
At least 16 killed in worst January day since 1969
The Southeast took stock Monday of the wide swath of destruction wrought by the deadliest January day for tornadoes in 48 years.
With 16 deaths, Sunday became the USA’s worst January day for tornadoes since Jan. 22, 1969, when 32 people died, ac- cording to the Storm Prediction Center.
Such destructive storms are rare for January, and Sunday’s storm was particularly deadly, killing 15 people in Georgia and one in Florida. It was also the deadliest day overall since April 27, 2014. Four people were killed Saturday in another tornado in Mississippi.
January 2017 is now the second- deadliest January for tornadoes in the U. S. since accurate records began in 1950. Only January 1969 had more.
Survey teams were examining damage Monday to determine
Dozens of tornadoes were reported through the weekend at a time of year when storms of such power and destruction are rare.
how many tornadoes hit Georgia, the length of their path and their strength. The tornadoes and storms left dozens injured and destroyed homes, businesses and communities.
President Trump pledged to aid Georgia’s recovery.
“I just spoke with Gov. Nathan Deal,” Trump said at the White House. “Georgia is a great state, great people. … The tornadoes were vicious and powerful and strong, and they suffered greatly. So we’ll be helping out the state of Georgia.” The president also expressed condolences for victims in surrounding states.
Deal declared a state of emergency Monday for 16 Georgia counties. He added that “all indications suggest” a request would be made for federal assistance.
“These storms have devastated communities and homes in south central Georgia, and the state is making all resources available,” Deal said.
About 4,700 Georgia residents were without power as of Monday evening, the state’s emergency management agency said.
There were 37 preliminary reports of tornadoes from Friday through Sunday, said Patrick Marsh, warning- coordination meteorologist with the prediction center. An average January sees only 21 tornadoes. The all- time record number of January tornadoes is 212, set in 1999.
There is no more danger of severe weather or tornadoes anywhere in the USA for at least the next several days, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Elsewhere Monday, separate storms were slamming California and the Northeast with heavy rain and snow and howling winds. Flood watches and warnings were in effect from San Francisco to San Diego, and high- wind watches and warnings were posted in New England and portions of the Mid- Atlantic coast as a potent nor’easter cranked up.
A hurricane- force wind warning was in effect for the waters south of Long Island, where gusts of up to 74 mph were forecast, the National Weather Service said, calling it “a dangerous storm for mariners.”
“The wind along with the drenching rain and soft soil could knock down trees and power lines,” AccuWeather meteorologist Brett Rathbun said. “The coastal flood threat will be greatest at times of high tide.”
Ferry service was halted Monday between Cape Cod and Nantucket in Massachusetts as wind gusts to 60 mph were expected.
Snow was forecast for interior portions of the Northeast, where winter storm warnings were in effect. One to 2 inches of rain was forecast from Pittsburgh to Washington, New York and Boston by Tuesday night, AccuWeather said.
In the West, yet another storm walloped California Sunday and Monday, dumping rain along the coast and a couple of feet of snow in the mountains. Two to 4 inches of rain fell on coastal Southern California on Sunday alone, which had first responders busy setting up roadblocks, rescuing people from the water, clearing debris and repairing power lines, AccuWeather said.
Mammoth Mountain, a ski area in the Sierra, announced Monday that it set a record for its snowiest month on record, according to its website. So far in January, the ski area has picked up more than 20 feet of snow, “and it’s STILL DUMPING!,” Mammoth announced Monday.
After lingering storms Tuesday, dry weather will settle over much of the western U. S. for the middle and latter part of this week and will stretch into early next week, AccuWeather said.