The Lafayette area is under a tornado watch as severe weather moves across Louisiana on Mardi Gras, bringing thunderstorms, damaging winds and the possibility for tornadoes, according to the National
Over much of south, central and west Texas, including Austin and San Antonio and far southeastern New Mexico, there is also an extremely critical risk of wildfires.
In an unusually early step, the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 3 out of 5 Enhanced risk for Tuesday.
An “unusually strong” storm system for March may bring a range of hazards that includes wildfires, blizzards and tornadoes.
Over two dozen reports of thunderstorm wind damage or high wind gusts have been received by the National Weather Service in the western Carolinas and far southern Virginia so far Wednesday. Most of those are for downed trees or power lines, some on houses.
Officials rushed to reschedule Mardi Gras celebrations and warned revelers as powerful storms were expected to strike Louisiana.
Forecasters warn of intense storms that could unleash damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi on Tuesday.