In a severe weather event spanning several Southern states, at least one person has died due to tornadoes that have been battering the region. The storms have placed approximately 24 million people under severe weather alerts, while also causing significant disruptions with hundreds of flight cancellations.

The fatality was reported in Manville, Texas, following a tornado touchdown, as confirmed by the city’s Mayor Dan Davis via social media. The states affected by this weather event include Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, where conditions have worsened with reports of tornadoes, high winds, and hail.

Tornado warning NW Harris County. Tornado on the ground moving toward Bridgeland #houwx pic.twitter.com/RH8DUowh7h

— Jeff Lindner (@JeffLindner1) December 28, 2024

The National Weather Service has warned of a regional outbreak of severe storms continuing into Saturday night, predicting large hail, damaging winds, and strong tornadoes particularly from East Texas to the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys. This has led to over 5,000 flight delays and 175 cancellations across the United States, as reported by FlightAware.com.

The Storm Prediction Center has escalated the tornado threat to a level 4, indicating a high risk of severe weather, with tornado watches issued across parts of eastern Texas and neighboring areas.

Residents in the affected regions are urged to stay vigilant and follow emergency protocols as the threat of further severe weather persists, with potential impacts extending into Sunday across parts of Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia.