Twin States Weather Blog

Severe Weather Threat Ends...

* The threat of severe weather in our area has ended. That is good news. A quick point: there has been no official determination of what caused this damage. It could have been a tornado, it could have been very powerful wind gusts. We'll know that in a day or two, after the NWS sends a survey team out to evaluate the damage. Here is a summary of what we know at this point regarding damage and injuries:

Sheriff Sam Tisdale has confirmed damage in the Kemper County community of Blackwater. As best as we know, Blackwater was the hardest hit community in our area.

• We do not yet officially know if this was a tornado or straight-line wind damage.

• Update…Still unknown number of total injuries…2 signficant injuries as of right now and possibly a few people missing. 2 to 4 homes destroyed. Source: NWS

• Emergency response personnel have had a hard time reaching those who need help.



Newton County EMA Director Gary Galloway has confirmed damage in the Conehatta and Prospect areas.

• Chicken houses were destroyed.

• At one point, there was a person trapped in a home. That person was rescued, no word on any injuries.

* We will most likely have more on the storms and their impact throughout the day, beginning at 6:00 with Good Morning Meridian. We will likely have a complete and thorough report tonight at 5,6, and 10, but all of that is for the News department to decide.

* This has certainly been an interesting and challenging night. This event was not forecast well at all (my fault), our equipment and data structure had some problems, and a skeleton night staff made for more work than could be done. I will write a complete post later in the day (sometime after noon, most likely) detailing the "behind the scenes" of the night...Should be an interesting read.

posted by WTOK Weather Staff @ 4:09 AM