Louisville, Indiana – A powerful storm system wreaked havoc across the South to the Ohio Valley, causing destruction to homes and businesses, injuring multiple individuals, and leaving tens of thousands without power on Wednesday. The severe weather system spawned tornadoes, damaging storms, and even blizzard conditions with snowfall in the Great Lakes region.
In Jeffersonville, Indiana, just north of Louisville, severe storms inflicted injuries on at least 10 people, with several homes sustaining significant damage. Photos shared by the city’s mayor displayed chunks ripped out of rooftops and debris scattered throughout the neighborhood. The town’s mayor emphasized the extent of the destruction caused by the storm.
Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia declared a state of emergency in Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Nicholas counties due to severe thunderstorms that brought flooding, downed trees, power outages, and road blockages. In Fayette County, West Virginia, at least 13 homes suffered damage, resulting in non-life-threatening injuries to some residents. The Emergency Management director noted that some homes were destroyed or severely damaged by the storms.
Reports indicated that multiple tornadoes touched down across several states, including Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, alongside numerous damaging wind incidents, such as gusts exceeding 100 mph in Kentucky. In Georgia, a tornado tore through Conyers, causing power lines to fall and resulting in various damages, including a tree falling on a teenager’s car.
In Proctorville, Ohio, an elementary school was left in ruins following a tornado-warned storm passing through the area. Fortunately, students were on spring break at the time, but the school remained closed due to the extent of the damage. The severe weather outbreak also left over 100,000 utility customers in West Virginia without power, with gusty winds exceeding 90 mph reported in some areas.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a statewide state of emergency as the Lexington region experienced substantial damage from the storms. The severe weather system continued to impact various states across the country, with reports of multiple tornadoes hitting Missouri, vehicles overturned in Indiana due to high winds, and ongoing threats of twisters, strong winds, and large hail in parts of the Southeast and East Coast.
Furthermore, a long-duration winter storm was forecasted to bring significant snowfall and gusty winds to the Great Lakes and Northeast regions. Winter weather alerts were issued for nearly 12 million people, primarily in northern New England, as heavy, wet snowfall persisted across Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and other areas. The combination of heavy snow and strong winds posed travel disruptions and power outages in affected areas, with coastal flooding expected in portions of the Northeast coast. The National Weather Service warned of hazardous travel conditions and potential damage to structures due to the storm’s impacts.