Gulf Coast threatened by heavy rain, flooding
Savage storm system retains power as it moves east
States along the Gulf Coast faced severe weather threats Monday from a storm system that spun up ferocious tornadoes across the central U.S. over the weekend, killing at least four people and inflicting widespread damage.
Powerful thunderstorms rolled across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana, raising the threat of damaging wind gusts, large hail and flash floods with up to 2 to 3 inches of rain falling every hour in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.
In Houston, floodwaters overtook roads, affecting Monday-morning commuters, according to the state transportation department. The National Weather Service in Houston posted on X, formerly Twitter, warning of closed and “almost impassable” roads.
Authorities in eastern Texas posted a photo to social media Monday morning showing a pickup truck in the town of Lufkin that appeared to be abandoned between the lanes of a highway, surrounded by floodwaters. In the coastal town of Cove, east of Houston, waters flooded highways, transportation officials said.
As of Monday morning, more than 84,000 homes and businesses were without power in Texas and Louisiana as the storms passed over the region, according to a USA TODAY database.
Meanwhile, temperatures rocketed up throughout the mid-Atlantic. Baltimore’s Inner Harbor hit a scorching 96 degrees, Dulles Airport outside Washington reached 90 and Philadelphia and New York City’s Central Park topped out at 87, the National Weather
Service said.
Recovery underway in Okla.
Recovery efforts began Monday in communities across the central U.S. where a slow-moving storm system unleashed tornadoes, flattened entire streets, tossed cars and was responsible for the deaths of at least four people over the weekend, including a 4-monthold baby.
More than 100 people were injured in the storms, Oklahoma’s Office of Emergency Management reported Sunday afternoon. The city of Sulphur, about 80 miles southeast of Oklahoma City, had “definitely the most damage since I’ve been governor,” said Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt at a news conference.
“I’ve seen a lot of damage, I’ve been around the state,” Stitt said. “This is my sixth year. But what I saw in downtown Sulphur is unbelievable.”
Stitt declared a state of emergency to free up funds for recovery effort, while federal authorities including FEMA were coordinating with state officials.
Other states lashed by the storms include Nebraska and Iowa, where many businesses and homes were completely destroyed.
More tornadoes and large hail are possible Tuesday as a low pressure system is expected to bring thunderstorms across the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley, according to the weather service.