One person died in the Liverpool area, located south of Houston, and four people suffered injuries that weren’t considered critical, said Madison Polston, spokesperson for the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office.

Polston said there were “multiple touchdown points” in the county between Liverpool and Hillcrest Village and Alvin. She said that so far officials knew of around 10 damaged homes but were still working to determine the extent of the damage.

Aslo read: 62 killed as plane explodes on landing at South Korea’s Muan airport, 2nd deadly crash this week

In Mississippi, one person died in Adams County and two people were injured in Franklin County, according to a spokesperson for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. The National Weather Service said two tornadoes hit around Bude and the city of Brandon, ripping the roofs from several buildings.

“These storms are probably going to get a lot worse this evening and overnight the further east you go,” said Josh Lichter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

It appeared that at least six tornadoes touched down in the Houston area, though they may discover there were more when crews go out to survey the damage, Litcher said. He said there was damage in the area from both tornadoes and straight-line winds.

North of Houston, mobile homes were damaged or destroyed in Katy and Porter Heights, where the doors of a fire station were blown in, the weather service said.

The storms also caused departure delays of over an hour Saturday afternoon at Houston’s two main airports — Bush Intercontinental and Hobby — according to the website FlightAware.

About 71,000 utility customers were without power in Mississippi, and that number was expected to rise, said Malary White, chief communications officer for the state’s Emergency Management Agency.

Also read: Over 7,000 flights delayed as tornadoes and snow impact US holiday travel

The agency did not have any official damage reports but expected them to come in later. First responders were focused on ensuring people’s safety and making sure everyone was accounted for, according to White.

“We do anticipate more thorough damage assessments starting in the early morning hours,” she said.

The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory at 9:11 p.m. on Friday in effect until Saturday at 9 a.m. The advisory is for Ashley, Chicot, Morehouse, West Carroll, East Carroll, Richland, Madison, Franklin, Catahoula, Tensas, Concordia, Bolivar, Sunflower, Leflore, Grenada, Carroll, Montgomery, Webster, Clay, Lowndes, Choctaw, Oktibbeha, Washington, Humphreys, Holmes, Attala, Winston, Noxubee, Issaquena, Sharkey, Yazoo, Leake, Neshoba, Kemper, Warren, Hinds, Rankin, Scott, Newton, Lauderdale, Claiborne, Copiah, Simpson, Smith, Jasper, Clarke, Jefferson, Adams, Lincoln, Lawrence, Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones, Marion, Lamar and Forrest counties.

The NWS describes, “Visibility of one quarter mile or less in areas of dense fog.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” comments the NWS. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Guidance from the NWS for navigating foggy conditions

If a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility often drops to just a quarter-mile or less. These conditions can make driving challenging, so exercise extreme caution on the road, and if possible, consider delaying your trip.

If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:

Moderate your speed:

Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility matters:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Keep your distance:

Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.

Zero visibility strategy:

In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.

Limited parking options:

If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these recommendations from the NWS, you can navigate foggy conditions with greater safety, mitigating the risk of accidents and prioritizing your well-being.

Source: The National Weather Service

Severe storms are headed for Mississippi Saturday, with forecasts estimating a high likelihood of tornadoes, hail and damaging winds across most of the Magnolia State tomorrow, lasting into the night. Emergency management services are warning Mississippians to expect power outages as storms batter the state.

The Weather Channel predicts that the greatest threat of strong tornadoes faces central Mississippi, including Jackson and the surrounding area, passing east through the state and toward the eastern seaboard into Sunday.

Presently, the precise timing for when the most severe weather is expected is not available. A National Weather Service update from this afternoon explained that the breadth of the severe weather made such a prediction difficult. “This event will likely (include) multiple rounds of severe weather … will likely have a larger window to see severe weather, and will have a longer duration,” NWS explained. 

Malary White, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency chief communications officer, provided the Mississippi Free Press with a statement from the agency.

“(MEMA) is on standby and ready to respond with local emergency managers if the need arises. In the meantime, we urge all residents to stay weather aware Saturday. Have multiple ways to receive weather alerts by downloading the free MEMA App and prepare your home and family for potential power outages.”

December, though not traditionally considered a part of tornado season, has generated severe tornado outbreaks in the past. In 2021, an outbreak of 71 tornadoes centered just north of Mississippi killed 89 people and injured hundreds more.

Mississippi will likely see multiple rounds of severe weather tomorrow (12/28/2024). Now is the time to prepare!
🌪️Tornadoes are likely and some could be strong tornadoes
🌬️Damaging winds up to 70 mph
⛈️Golf ball-size hail
❗Stay Weather Aware
📻Have multiple ways to receive… pic.twitter.com/m7UMElzwXb

— msema (@MSEMA) December 27, 2024

The following is a list of tips MEMA provides for staying safe amid tornadoes:

What to Do if You Are in Your Home During a Tornado

• Go to the lowest level of the home, an inner hallway, or smaller inner room without windows, such as a closet or bathroom.
• Get away from windows and go to the center of the room. Avoid corners, because they tend to attract debris.
• Get under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a workbench or heavy table.

If You Are in a Mobile Home

• Evacuate the mobile home, even if it is equipped with tie-downs. Take shelter in a building with a strong foundation, or if one is not available, lie in a ditch or low-lying area a safe distance away from the mobile home. Tornadoes cannot change elevation quickly enough to pick someone up out of a ditch, especially a deep ditch or culvert.

If You Are at Work or School

• Go to the basement or to an inside hallway at the lowest level of the building.
• Avoid places with wide-span roofs, such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways or shopping malls.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck.

If Outdoors

• If possible, get inside a sturdy building with a concrete foundation.
• If shelter is not available, or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building.
• Be aware of the potential for flooding.

If You Are in a Vehicle

• Never try to out drive a tornado in your vehicle. Tornadoes can change direction very quickly and can lift a vehicle and toss it in the air.
• Get out of the vehicle and take shelter in a nearby building.
• If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the vehicle and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle.

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