The Ohio Valley is bracing for a line of severe thunderstorms that could bring damaging winds and pose a threat of dangerous tornadoes.
Several schools in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana made the decision to close or dismiss early on Tuesday in anticipation of the approaching storms.
The forecast for Tuesday evening includes the possibility of intense, long-track tornadoes in Ohio and Kentucky, including the cities of Cincinnati and Louisville.
Tornado watches are currently in effect from northeastern Mississippi to southern Ohio, while eastern Ohio has experienced numerous reports of flash flooding on Tuesday.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressed deep concern about the current situation in Ohio, stating, “Ohio really has a bull’s-eye directly on us. It’s a very, very serious situation… People just need to be very, very careful.” Governor DeWine emphasized the need for utmost caution in light of the circumstances.
Tuesday night saw the extension of the tornado watch to encompass Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has issued a state of emergency in response to significant damage to several structures. Thankfully, there have been no reports of any fatalities at this time.
Severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes and powerful wind gusts, may occur in a significant portion of the country, spanning from Columbus, Ohio, to Charleston, West Virginia, and from Nashville, Tennessee, to Birmingham, Alabama, all the way to Columbus, Georgia.
Over 130,000 customers in West Virginia are currently experiencing power outages.
From Monday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon, there were reports of at least nine tornadoes in four states. Oklahoma experienced three tornadoes, while Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois each reported one tornado.
Cities such as Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia are expected to be hit the hardest as flood watches are in effect from Indiana to New Jersey.
Pittsburgh is currently experiencing heavy rainfall, with two to three inches of rain already causing flooding in the area. As a result, a flash flood warning has been issued for the city.
