Brad Brooks
(Reuters) – Storms that spawned tornadoes and torrential rain swept across parts of the southern U.S. on Friday, killing at least nine people and knocking out power to more than a million customers , the authorities said.
The National Weather Service said the severe storm had mostly left the south late Friday and was moving northeast, with heavy snow and sleet expected in eastern southeastern Michigan to New York state. Parts of central New York and southern New England could see more than a foot (30 centimeter) of snow by Saturday afternoon.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said two tornadoes sparked by the storm system swept through the western part of his state at least Friday. The governor said on social media that at least three people had died in the severe weather, but he gave no further details. A fourth person died from the Kentucky storm, the Fayette County coroner’s office said, with a woman killed when a tree fell on top of the car she was traveling in.
In addition to the tornadoes, Beshear said Kentucky is generating 80 miles per hour(128.80 kph), “enough to blow a tractor trailer away
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said on social media that three people were killed in the storm in her state, but she did not provide Any details.
In Arkansas, a man died after being swept into a swollen river by flood water after driving on a flooded street, according to the Scott County Sheriff’s Department .
In Mississippi, Gov. Tet Reeves said on social media Friday that strong winds from the storm overnight killed one person, but he gave no further details.
More than 1.4 million homes and businesses were without power in storm-affected states, data shows from PowerOutage.us.
Winter is often violent in the southern U.S., meteorologists say The storm, as warm, moist air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico collides with cold air coming down from the north said.
