A powerful storm system swept through Texas and Louisiana Thursday night, triggering tornado watches and disrupting holiday travel with widespread flight cancellations and delays.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport reported over 500 canceled flights and 200 delays as thunderstorms battered the region. Similar disruptions hit Houston’s George Bush International and Dallas Love Field airports.
“Given sufficient energy and a pronounced change in wind speed and direction with height in the atmosphere, all modes of severe weather are on the table, including hail, flooding, high winds and isolated tornadoes,” AccuWeather meteorologist Gwen Fieweger said.
Emergency officials reported a possible tornado near El Campo, Texas, about 70 miles southwest of Houston, damaging several barns but causing no injuries. The Wharton County Sheriff’s Office warned residents to seek shelter as the tornado moved northeast.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated emergency response resources. “Given the increased severe weather threat across the eastern half of the state, it’s crucial that everyone regularly monitor road conditions,” Abbott said.
The storms are expected to persist through the weekend in Texas while an atmospheric river simultaneously pounds the Pacific Northwest with up to 18 inches of rain in some areas by Sunday.
Winter storm warnings stretch from northern California to Utah, with forecasters warning of blizzard conditions and up to two feet of snow in mountain regions.
“Since the ground is already soaked from prior storms, any additional rainfall through Friday will increase the threat for flooding and mudslides,” AccuWeather meteorologist Tyler Roys said.