Dangerous tornado and flooding situation unfolding in South

The Masters has delayed opening its gates for the tournament on Thursday due to the forecasted weather, it announced on Wednesday.

Tournament organizers said the next update regarding Thursday's schedule will occur no later than 3 a.m. ET.

The 2024 Masters is scheduled to tee off Thursday and run through Sunday at Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia.

Some of the powerful storms tracking through parts of the southern United States on Wednesday night will likely be ongoing as the sun rises Thursday. These storms will push east before moving into the Atlantic Ocean later in the afternoon. 

The tornado that moved through Slidell, Louisiana, on Wednesday morning has preliminarily been rated an EF-1, according to the National Weather Service. 

“NWS Survey Crews in Slidell, LA report damage near Old Spanish Trail consistent with at least an EF-1 tornado,” the preliminary report said. “Additional surveys will be needed tomorrow (April 11, 2024) to assess path length, path width and wind speeds.”

An EF-1 tornado has winds of 86 to 110 mph.

At least 10 people are injured in Slidell, Louisiana, following a possible tornado, according to police.

Those injured were taken to the local hospital for treatment, Sgt. Jake Morris with the Slidell Police Department told CNN.

All the injuries are either minor or moderate and there are no reports of life-threatening injuries, he added.

The severe storm threat that impacted the Deep South and Gulf Coast today is decreasing, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

There is a small area of southeastern Alabama, southwestern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle that is now a Level 3 out of 5, but there is no longer a Level 4 of 5 risk. The Level 3 that remains is largely the same as the tornado watch that remains in effect until 9 pm. ET.

The population at risk of severe storms has been reduced to less than 5 million as the threat ends over the western and central Gulf Coast.

“Severe storms will continue along portions of the northern and northeastern Gulf Coast this afternoon and evening, and perhaps overnight as well,” the SPC said. “The potential will exist for a few tornadoes and damaging winds.”

The storms that caused hours of torrential rainfall and flood emergencies across the greater New Orleans area have moved east and brought an end to the life-threatening bout of flash flooding.

The deluge came in such a short period that it overwhelmed New Orleans' drainage system and turned some roadways into rivers.

More than half a foot of rain pounded New Orleans in less than 12 hours and rainfall amounts approached double-digits just to the west of the city in Laplace, Louisiana.

Top rainfall reports in the state Wednesday as of 2:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. CT):

• Laplace: 9.89 inches
• Lutcher: 7.62 inches
• Matairie: 7.33 inches
• New Orleans (west side of the city): 7.21 inches

Flooding issues will linger. Even after the last raindrops cease it takes floodwaters hours or even days to recede depending on their depth.

Severe thunderstorms will threaten the South once again Thursday. Some powerful storms from Wednesday night will likely be ongoing as the sun rises Thursday. These storms will push east before tracking into the Atlantic Ocean later in the afternoon. 

A Level 2 of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms is in place Thursday from Florida to far southern South Carolina. The main threats with any storms will be damaging winds and drenching rain, but a tornado or two is also possible.

Unlike today, areas farther north will also be at risk for severe thunderstorms. A separate area of storms will center on the Ohio Valley from early Thursday afternoon to Thursday evening. These storms could pack a bigger punch than the ones farther south Thursday. 

A Level 3 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms is in place in western West Virginia and eastern Ohio. Multiple tornadoes are possible in this area, mainly during the late afternoon and evening. Damaging wind gusts and hail are likely in any storm.

Severe storms are pounding the southern United States on Wednesday, triggering powerful thunderstorms and tornado warnings. The worst storms will slowly track out of Louisiana and Mississippi but persist in Alabama this afternoon.

Parts of the New Orleans metro area are at risk for deadly flash flooding as the city and surrounding towns are inundated by heavy rainfall.

Here's a look at what happened so far:

Louisiana

• A flash flood emergency is in place in the New Orleans metro area amid "destructive storms" with hurricane-force winds, according to the National Weather Service. The extreme rainfall is overwhelming the city' complex network of pumps and other "aged" floodwater-mitigating infrastructure, according to the agency that manages it.
• Meantime, multiple people in nearby Slidell, Louisiana, were taken to the hospital after a possible tornado hit on Wednesday morning, according to St. Tammany Parish. The police department said it is working on rescuing people, according to public information officer Daniel Seuzeneau, who added that water is rising and trees and powerlines are down.
• At least 11 school districts across the state are closed. Classes at Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University are being held online, the universities said.

Texas

• Torrential rain in Kirbyville, Texas, caused rapid rises on area waterways, submerging local roads and forcing multiple water rescues. Flooding damage was reported in homes and businesses, the Jasper County Sherriff's office said.
• The National Weather Service said an EF-1 tornado struck the Houston suburb of Katy, damaging a strip mall and neighboring car maintenance business.

Mississippi

• At least one person was killed in Scott County because of the storms, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) said. One person was also injured in Grenada County, and there are damaged homes, downed trees, blocked roads, and ongoing power outages due to the storms, MEMA said.
• Homes were either damaged or destroyed in several counties after an initial round of severe thunderstorms Tuesday night, Gov. Tate Reeves said

Why flash flooding is so dangerous: Flash flooding is weather’s number-two killer, claiming more lives than anything but heat. It can happen when storms roll over the same areas for hours, with intense rain falling faster than the soil can absorb. Dangerous flash flooding turns roads into rivers and can wash out entire sections of seemingly solid ground.

Thunderstorms will continue to pound the southern US on Wednesday, but the greatest risk of damaging, dangerous storms will slowly shift east during the remainder of the afternoon and through the evening.

The worst storms will slowly track out of Louisiana and Mississippi but persist in Alabama this afternoon. Severe storms should clear Louisiana by 6 to 7 p.m. CT and Mississippi by 7 to 8 p.m. CT.

Fierce storms pushed into the Florida Panhandle just a short time ago and will continue to track across the northern half of the state through Wednesday night.

Parts of Georgia could face a few severe thunderstorms from Wednesday evening into Thursday.

Any storm could produce damaging wind gusts, hail, flooding rainfall and even a tornado. The greatest risk for tornadoes -- some reaching at least EF2 strength -- for the remainder of the day will center on southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

The line of storms will start to lose potency Wednesday night, but some storms will survive and create additional concerns Thursday.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) said there was at least one storm-related death in Scott County as severe weather impacts the area Wednesday.

MEMA also said one person was injured in Grenada County, and there are damaged homes, downed trees, blocked roads, and ongoing power outages due to the storms. 

“I’m sad to announce that as a result of the severe weather, one death has been reported in Scott County, as well as one injury in Grenada County. Please pray for them and their families during this difficult time,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a post on X.

Statewide, counties have reported that 72 homes were damaged, ranging from “affected” to “destroyed” in Grenada, Hinds, Marshall, Scott, Warren and Yazoo counties, according to MEMA.