Heavy rain and thunderstorms are slamming the South, one day after storms bringing flash flooding, tornadoes, and giant hail ripped through the area.
The threat for severe weather today covers a large area, including Houston, New Orleans, Nashville and St. Louis, and up to southern Illinois and Indiana.
Flash flood watches and warnings are in effect for parts of east Texas and central Mississippi, while a severe thunderstorm watch is effect until this evening for eastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi.
Woman, 4 Grandchildren Killed in Texas FloodingThree inches of rain in 45 minutes. #TexasFloods @jimcantore pic.twitter.com/66Tecr32H9
— Phae (@motopixie) April 30, 2016
The weather turned fatal early this morning in eastern Texas, when a 64-year-old woman and four grandchildren were found dead amid flooding in Palestine. The town received nearly 8 inches of rain in less than 12 hours.
In Lindale, Texas, a tornado swept through the area Friday, destroying parts of the town and leaving several injured. Smith County, which includes the city of Lindale, issued a disaster declaration.
In Gulfport, Mississippi, the flooding was severe enough Friday to partially submerge a car.
In Oklahoma and Texas, hail -- some pieces bigger than a softball -- fell from the sky Friday.
In Kansas, a nickel-sized piece ricocheted off the ground and hit a woman in the tooth.
Rounds of heavy rain are expected to continue this evening along parts of the Gulf Coast. Areas of heavy rain are also expected to hit farther north in the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic.