Powerful storms ravaged the Southern United States over the weekend, claiming two lives and leaving nearly 150,000 residents without electricity as authorities race to restore power amid warnings of more severe weather to come.
At a Glance
- Two people were killed when trees fell on their vehicles in Mississippi and Georgia during severe weekend storms
- Nearly 150,000 people across southern states from Texas to South Carolina lost power
- An EF-1 tornado damaged multiple homes in Arkansas, injuring one person
- Austin, Texas saw over 72,000 homes without power, with some outages lasting more than 24 hours
- Another round of severe weather is expected in the southern Plains with potential for 100 mph winds and giant hail
Deadly Storms Leave Trail of Destruction
Weekend storms packing powerful winds and heavy rainfall swept through the Southern region, resulting in the deaths of two individuals when trees fell on their vehicles. In Mississippi, one person was killed in Lafayette County, while a second fatality occurred in Banks County, Georgia. Multiple tornado warnings were issued across northern Mississippi on Saturday as the storm system intensified. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp acknowledged the tragedy on social media, asking residents to join in prayers for the victim’s family.
The destructive weather system also spawned an EF-1 tornado in Van Buren, Arkansas, that damaged multiple homes and injured one person. Weather experts note that these severe storms are part of a larger pattern affecting several southern states, causing widespread damage to homes, vehicles, and infrastructure. Emergency responders have been working around the clock to assist affected residents and clear roadways of fallen trees and debris.
SUNDAY MORNING THOUGHTS:
Good morning! As we have talked about over the years, even though we typically think of our “severe” weather season as being primarily a Spring & Fall affair, the month of June has always been unique in that we see a fair share of events almost yearly… pic.twitter.com/9W2dns1r2G
— Doc Deason (@docdeason) June 8, 2025
Widespread Power Outages Affect Thousands
The severe weather system knocked out power to nearly 150,000 people across southern states from Texas to South Carolina. In Austin, Texas, the situation was particularly dire with over 72,000 homes losing electricity Wednesday night. Some neighborhoods, including a row of homes on Shoal Creek Boulevard, remained without power for nearly 24 hours, creating significant hardships for residents trying to maintain normal daily activities.
“We have dogs and animals and stuff. So that is inconvenient, but we’ve had our power go out a lot.”, North Austin resident Carlene Wegmann-Todd said.
Austin Energy reported that powerful storms, broken tree branches, and high winds were responsible for the extensive outages. Hundreds of linemen have been deployed to restore power, with crews working continuously to repair damaged infrastructure. As of Thursday afternoon, power was restored to over 50,000 customers in Austin, though many remained in the dark. Mutual aid crews from surrounding areas have arrived to assist with the massive restoration efforts.
There have been some scattered power outages across north AL and southern middle TN. Lauderdale and Madison Counties of north AL have the highest numbers in our viewing area. Even counties not colored in on the map across the area have seen a few, but the counties don't color in… pic.twitter.com/dwj4uneiCY
— Tennessee Valley Weather (@tnvalleyweather) June 7, 2025
Ongoing Challenges and Future Weather Concerns
Utility companies across the affected regions have faced significant challenges in their restoration efforts. The darkness following the initial storm made accurate damage assessment difficult, delaying repair work. Many residents have expressed frustration over prolonged outages and communication issues, with some receiving incorrect notifications that their power had been restored when they were still experiencing blackouts.
“It’s been a tremendous challenge, one because when that microburst hit late last night, it then immediately was followed by darkness. And there was a ton of devastation out there that until we saw the light of day, we couldn’t accurately assess.”, added the Austin Energy spokesperson Matt Mitchell.
Weather forecasters are warning that another round of severe weather is expected in the southern Plains and the South on Sunday evening and Monday. The highest risk areas include southwest Oklahoma and northern Texas, where the National Weather Service predicts destructive wind gusts up to 100 mph, giant hail up to five inches in diameter, and potentially several tornadoes. Residents in these areas are being advised to prepare emergency plans and stay informed about changing weather conditions.
