Multiple tornadoes ripped through various parts of the southern United States on Saturday afternoon, with one particularly devastating twister striking Liverpool, Texas, during the early afternoon hours.
A severe weather outbreak swept through the Gulf Coast states on Saturday afternoon, unleashing multiple tornadoes in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Thunderstorms began to develop in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi on Saturday afternoon and persisted into the night, moving eastward as the day progressed. The first tornado of the day was observed in Katy, Texas, a suburb located west of Houston.
As the twister loomed in the distance, a bystander exclaimed, “Listen, listen. It sounds like a train!”
A powerful storm system, located southeast of Houston, caused numerous tornadoes over several hours. The tornadoes began near Liverpool, Texas, resulting in one confirmed fatality and four injuries, according to local officials.
“A tornado touched down earlier in the area between Liverpool and Hillcrest Village,” Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook. “Deputies remain on the scene and are actively responding to assist with public safety.”
Around 1:45 p.m. CST, the storm that was capable of producing tornadoes tracked near Dickinson, before moving across Trinity Bay. It followed a northeast path, running almost parallel to Interstate 10. As the clock struck 4 p.m., a “confirmed, large and extremely dangerous tornado” was reported in the vicinity of Port Arthur. The storm maintained its eastward trajectory, passing to the south of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms swept through Mississippi on Saturday afternoon and into the early evening, leaving a trail of damage in their wake. One particularly powerful tornado tore through McCall Creek, a town located approximately 60 miles southwest of Jackson, destroying homes and uprooting trees.
Survivors of the tornadoes vividly recounted the harrowing experience they went through after the storms struck in the afternoon. They sought refuge in the bathrooms of their homes, praying for safety amidst the chaos.
According to PowerOutage.us, power outages were gradually increasing on Saturday evening. In Louisiana, over 51,000 people were in the dark, while Mississippi reported 35,000 outages and Texas recorded another 29,000 without power.
The severe weather that occurred on Saturday night will persist into Sunday, bringing with it the potential for damaging storms across the Southeast. These storms pose a risk of destructive winds, hail, frequent lightning, and even tornadoes.