Severe weather sweeps across the South

By Amir Vera, CNN

Updated 3:52 PM ET, Wed March 30, 2022

What we're covering

Exactly one week after the Deep South faced a deadly tornado outbreak, another round of severe weather is taking shape Wednesday in the same areas.
Over 38 million people are at risk, down from 50 million earlier in the day.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jackson, Mississippi, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, are all under a level 4 out of 5 risk for severe weather.
This includes the risk of significant winds — gusts over 75 mph — large hail and the possibility of strong tornadoes — EF-2 or stronger.

Our live coverage of the severe weather has moved here.

9:37 p.m. ET, March 30, 2022

Tennessee fire fueled by strong winds grows to approximately 1,000 acres, affecting 35 structures

From CNN’s Jamiel Lynch

The Hatcher Mountain/Indigo Lane fire, which has been fueled by high winds, has grown to approximately 1,000 acres, according to Perrin Anderson, the Assistant County Mayor in Sevier County.

At least 35 structures have been affected, he said.

The blaze location is about 30 miles southeast of Knoxville.

At least one person was injured and airlifted to an area hospital. The condition of that person is unknown.

The wind fueling the fire is part of the system wreaking havoc across the Southeast and Texas this week.

9:02 p.m. ET, March 30, 2022

New tornado watch for parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida

From CNN's Taylor Ward

A new tornado watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) for southeast Mississippi, southern Alabama and the western portions of the Florida Panhandle.

The watch is in effect until 4 a.m. CDT and includes Gulfport, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and Pensacola, Florida. Wind gusts up to 75 mph and hail up to an inch in diameter are also possible.

Nighttime tornadoes are more than twice as likely to be deadly compared to daytime tornadoes, according to the SPC. When tornadoes occur during the day, people are awake, alert, and make a conscious effort to seek out weather alerts. At night, it is imperative to have a weather radio, weather app on your phone or any other alerting system to wake you up if you live in an area expecting severe storms.

This is the seventh tornado watch issued Wednesday.

8:42 p.m. ET, March 30, 2022

A look at storm damage in Springdale, Arkansas

From CNN's Erica Lee

A powerful storm ripped through Springdale, Arkansas, early Wednesday as part of a dangerous system that’s continuing to threaten much of the Southeast with more severe weather, flash floods and potential tornadoes.

Here's a look at some of the destruction the storm caused in the city:

The side of a Brashears Furniture store off Thompson Street in Springdale sustained heavy damage. (Todd A. Price/Southwest Times Record/USA Today Network)

A large tree fell on a house after a powerful storm ripped through the area on Wednesday. (Todd A. Price/Southwest Times Record/USA Today Network)

A row of houses behind George Elementary School were heavily damaged. (Todd A. Price/Southwest Times Record/USA Today Network)

Workers begin cleanup at the George Elementary School gym in Springdale, Arkansas, on Wednesday. (Flip Putthoff/The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/AP)

7:43 p.m. ET, March 30, 2022

Over 148,000 utility customers without power

From CNN's Dave Alsup

At least 148,101 utility customers were without power Wednesday evening as a line of powerful storms moved across the Southeast, according to the website poweroutage.us

The states with major outages are:

Louisiana: 54,361
Mississippi: 54,231
Tennessee: 14,675
Alabama: 14,156
Arkansas: 10,678

7:28 p.m. ET, March 30, 2022

High winds fueled brush fire in Sevier County, Tennessee

From CNN’s Taylor Ward, Jamiel Lynch and Amanda Musa

(HearthSide at the Preserve)

A brush fire fueled by high winds led to the evacuation of several residents in Sevier County, Tennessee, on Wednesday.

The fire has been named the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. The wind fueling the fire is part of the system wreaking havoc across the Southeast and Texas this week.

At least one person has been injured in the fire that has burned at least 250 acres, the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency said in a Facebook post.

“The Forestry Department reports that the fire area covers approximately 250 acres, there has been 1 injury, and the fire is 0% contained,” the agency said in its post.

The injured person was airlifted to UT Medical Center, said Perrin Anderson with Sevier County.

The worst of the winds will be centered on the midnight hour, from a few hours before to a few hours afterward, according to CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward. By 4 a.m., the gusts should be back down to the 30-40 mph range, except for the highest peaks.

Rain is also expected to move in, but probably not until around 2 a.m.

Air operations are underway on the fire as well as evacuations of Hatcher Mountain, Shagbark, Little Valley Road and Black Bear Resort off of Lost Branch Road.

A mandatory evacuation has been issued for the Black Bear Ridge Resort Wednesday near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the agency said in a Facebook post.

Jeannie Greenlee, a wedding planner at the Black Bear Ridge Resort, told CNN Wednesday the resort comprises more than 100 cabins that were evacuated by Sevier County Emergency Management around 4 p.m. because of a brush fire in the area.

Greenlee said that at most, 300 guests have been evacuated from the resort.

Greenlee said the fire is not visible from the resort but that she could smell smoke and see ash falling.

All resort guests are being transferred to the Pigeon Forge Community Center, where they will stay until the evacuation is lifted, Greenlee said.

7:34 p.m. ET, March 30, 2022

Tornado warning issued for Jackson, Mississippi

From CNN's Taylor Ward

The Mississippi Department of Transportation digital message board warns drivers along I-55 southbound in Jackson of a tornado warning during a rainstorm on Wednesday. (Rogelio V. Solis/AP)

A tornado warning is in effect until 5:30 p.m. CDT for Jackson, Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service.

A line of storms with embedded rotation is moving toward the city and a tornado is possible at any moment.

4:29 p.m. ET, March 30, 2022

New tornado watch for parts of Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana

From CNN's Brandon Miller

A new tornado watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center for portions of Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Indiana.

The watch is in effect until 10 p.m. CDT Wednesday and includes the cities of Paducah, Kentucky, and Evansville, Indiana. The watch includes Mayfield, Kentucky, which was devastated by an EF-4 tornado last December.

This is the fifth tornado watch issued Wednesday.

5:17 p.m. ET, March 30, 2022

Seven people injured, two critically, in Arkansas severe weather

From CNN’s Gregory Lemos and Caroll Alvarado

Damage is seen in Springdale, Arkansas after a possible tornado on March 30. (Springdale School District)

The mayor of Springdale, Arkansas said seven people were injured, two critically, after a possible tornado touched down shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday.

“Many residents have been displaced from their homes and numerous businesses have reported significant damages,” Mayor Doug Sprouse said in a Facebook post.

Sprouse said he has issued a disaster emergency proclamation as multiple local and county agencies continue rescue, recovery and cleanup efforts.

Springdale is in the northwest corner of the state, near Oklahoma and Missouri.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said while there have been no reported fatalities, the damage and injuries in its wake are “significant.”

“While some of the school buildings in Springdale were damaged, no students were inside, and no deaths have been reported,” Hutchinson tweeted. “Search and rescue teams have been deployed, as there are significant damages and injuries.”

Hutchinson urged residents to identify a safe location as the state braces for more potentially severe weather.

Watch CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam break down this extreme weather and who might be impacted by it next:

3:37 p.m. ET, March 30, 2022

New tornado watch includes New Orleans

From CNN's Brandon Miller

A new tornado watch has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center that covers southeast Louisiana and portions of southern Mississippi. The watch is valid until 9 p.m. CDT and includes New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The risk for tornadoes comes eight days after an EF-3 tornado with winds up to 160 mph hit portions of the New Orleans metropolitan area, causing extensive damage along its 11-mile path.

This is the fourth tornado watch issued, three of which are currently active, stretching from the Louisiana coast up to the Missouri Bootheel.

Outbrain