Multiple storms tore through Mississippi overnight, killing at least one person and injuring nearly two dozen others, according to state officials.
The storms had cut off power for nearly 50,000 customers in the state as of Monday morning, Mississippi’s emergency management agency said in a news release.
The agency confirmed the death of one person in Jasper County, an area about 70 miles east of Jackson. The victim has yet to be publicly identified.
The National Weather Service is expected to survey the damage in Mississippi on Monday as residents in the South brace for more intense heat ahead.
The storm was the latest in a series of extreme weather incidents over the holiday weekend that have left a total of six people dead, injured more than 100 others and cut off power for nearly 500,000 households.
As of early Monday morning, more than 487,000 utility customers were still without electricity across a swath of the South, including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, according to the online outage tracker PowerOutage.us.
Oklahoma appeared to be the hardest hit, with nearly 300,000 customers without electricity on Sunday. By Monday morning, more than 210,000 customers remained without power.
Thunderstorms expected in the Southeast
As people across the U.S. observe the Juneteenth holiday on Monday, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, some severe, are expected across the Southeast.
“Juneteenth will be stormy and rainy across much of the Southeast this year,” the National Weather Service said, adding that the severe weather is expected to continue over the next few days.
Texas and Louisiana, meanwhile, face a “blistering heatwave,” according to the weather service.
At least 12 million people across parts of the Gulf Coast and Southeast face a risk of severe storms capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Cities facing those threats include Mobile, New Orleans, Savannah and Tallahassee.
Flash flooding may be a concern in some of the same areas, with flood watches in effect for up to 4 million people in parts of Mississippi, Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle. Rain could fall at 1 to 2 inches per hour.
By midweek, the heavy rain may raise the risk of additional flooding across western Florida, the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Appalachian Mountains.
A possibility of record-breaking heat in Texas
Texas, where three people were killed and more than 50 injured on Thursday after a tornado struck the city of Perryton, faced a possibility of record-breaking heat on Monday.
The heat wave is also expected to blanket nearby states: At least 31 million people were under heat alerts on Monday, including parts of Texas, Louisiana and southern Mississippi.
Across those areas, temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s, combined with high humidity, are expected to lead to heat index values approaching 120 degrees.
The heat is likely to persist beyond Monday, with Texas cities including Austin, Houston and San Antonio preparing for possible record highs this week.
“Juneteenth will be a scorcher!” the National Weather Service in Houston warned in a tweet.
The weather service urged people to stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activities and take breaks in the shade as much as possible if working outside. It also recommended that local residents check in on anyone elderly, sick or without air conditioning and reminded drivers never to leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
A number of cooling centers will be open across Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott’s office said.
“The State of Texas continues working around the clock to swiftly provide the necessary resources for Northeast Texas communities impacted by these horrific storms,” Abbott said in a statement on Sunday. “State and local officials are on the ground to restore power and ensure the safety and well-being of our fellow Texans.”
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
