Deep South Tornado Outbreak Damages Dozens of Homes
Updated 3/18/21: The Weather Channel published a report providing an update on severe storm activity that caused structural damage in portions of North Carolina.
Damage Reported in North Carolina As Possible Tornado Moves Through
Approximate locations (according to media outlets) sustaining structural damage:
North Carolina
Tornado/High Winds
– Burlington (Alamance/Guilford Counties, 27215, 27216, 27217)
– Cedar Grove (Orange County, 27231
– High Point (Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Forsyth Counties, 27260, 27261, 27262, 27263, 27264, 27265, 27268)
Updated 3/18/21: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper approved a state of emergency in advance of expected severe weather across the state.
Governor Cooper Issues State of Emergency in Advance of Severe Weather
Associated County ZIP Code List
Disaster Alert
March 18, 2021
Source: The Weather Channel
Additional Resources:
Office of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (State of Emergency: Severe Weather)
Associated County ZIP Code List (Statewide)
Clarion Ledger (See Mississippi Tornado Damage Caused by Storms Sweeping Through Wayne County, State)
WAFF 48 (Severe Storms Cause Flooding, Closed Roads in Parts of North Alabama)
WSFA NBC 12 (Homes Destroyed in Parts of Chilton Co.)
Approximate locations (according to media outlets) sustaining structural damage:
Alabama
Tornado/High Winds
– Autaugaville (Autauga County, 36003)
– Billingsley (Autauga County, 36006)
– Bluffport (Sumter County, 35470)
– Brookside (Jefferson County, 35036)
– Burnsville (Dallas County, 36749)
– Clanton (Chilton County, 35045, 35046)
– Cooper (Chilton County, 35453)
– Cottondale (Tuscaloosa County, 35453)
– Gardendale (Jefferson County, 35071)
– Moundville (Hale County, 35474)
– Mount Olive (Jefferson County, 35117)
– Oak Grove (Talladega County, 35150, 35151)
– Oneonta (Blount County, 35121)
– Silas (Choctaw County, 36919)
-South Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa County, 35404)
– Thomasville (Clarke County, 36784)
– Thorsby (Chiltin County, 35171)
– Verbena (Chilton County, 36091)
Flooding
– Sheffield (Cobert County, 35660)
*Home flooding reported on Norris Circle, Oakwood Boulevard and York Street
Tuscumbia (Colbert County, 35674)
*Home flooding reported on Avalon Avenue
Arkansas
Flooding
– Jonesboro (Craighead County, 72401, 72402, 72403, 72404, 72405)
– Paragould (Greene County, 72450, 72451)
Mississippi
Tornado/High Winds
– Brookhaven (Lincoln County, 39601, 39602, 39603)
– Whistler (Wayne County, 39367)
– Waynesboro (Wayne County, 39367)
– Woolworth (Lincoln County, 39665)
Missouri
Tornado/High Winds
– Elsey (Stone County, 65656)
– Galena (Stone County, 65624, 65656)
– Wheelerville (Barry County, 65633)
At a Glance
- Damage has been reported in many parts of Alabama and in Mississippi.
- Those in the potential path of severe weather should monitor conditions closely.
The threat of severe storms continues Thursday across the Deep South where dozens of houses have been damaged or destroyed by possible tornadoes and thousands are still without power.
In South Carolina, many government offices closed for the day and schools dismissed students early or moved to online instruction only.
Shortly before 9 a.m., a multivehicle crash involving several semitractor trailers shut down all but one lane in each direction of Interstate 40 east of Knoxville, Tennessee, according to the state Transportation Department. Traffic was backed up for miles in both directions. Rain was falling at the time of the accident. WOKI reported all lanes were reopened about two hours later.
Earlier in the day, the National Weather Service office in central Alabama said teams were heading out to assess damage in at least 12 counties where tornadoes may have touched down, according to the Associated Press.
Downed trees and power lines were reported in Houston County shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday CDT after radar confirmed a tornado near Dothan, Alabama. WTVY reported that a driver was trapped by fallen trees for a short time in the Highlands neighborhood south of U.S. 84.
At least three homes were destroyed in Alabama’s Chilton County, which saw two possible tornadoes Wednesday night.
“About a minute before it got here, we jumped in the hall closet, a little, small closet. And just we heard it. You know, the sound from the house coming down. We were saved. We thank the Lord for that,” Jimmy Baker told WSFA after his home in Chilton’s Fairview community was ripped away.
Another possible tornado caused damage east of Clanton in Chilton County, according to the National Weather Service.
For full report, please click the source link above.