ICYMI: Mississippi tornado prompts rare warning, a forecast for Atlantic hurricane season and why COVID-19 is similar to second-hand smoke
Tuesday evening took a terrifying turn across northern Mississippi as a damaging tornado hit the area - and drone footage captured the jaw-dropping aftermath from a bird's-eye view. As the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, AccuWeather meteorologists reveal what could be in store for the Atlantic Basin. Meanwhile, a historic earthquake devastated one country's capital amid a COVID-19 lockdown. Here's a look back at the biggest stories of the week.
Damaging tornado tears destructive path through Mississippi
People living in the northern parts of Mississippi and Alabama were lucky to escape with their lives Tuesday night as a "large and destructive" twister ripped through the region.
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed a tornado touchdown in Tishomingo, Mississippi, around 5:35 p.m. CDT, not long after severe storms began brewing over the Tennessee Valley.
Only minor injuries were reported, but some of the town's homes and buildings were left in a scattered mess, including a Dollar General store that was all but destroyed. From there, the tornado continued its destructive path into northern Alabama.
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Storm damage in Tishomingo, Mississippi, in the wake of a tornado-warned thunderstorm on Tuesday evening. (Twitter photo/@nmscasStan) |
The storm that spawned it led to a tornado warning being issued in Decatur around 7 p.m. CDT, and the NWS made an extremely rare tornado emergency announcement. Those are reserved for significant severe weather events and only issued a few times annually across the United States.
The NWS confirmed Wednesday that the Tishomingo tornado was an EF1 with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph. A drone captured a bird's-eye view of the trail of destruction it left behind. Click here for the full video of the damage and here to see the tornado develop over a river.
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On March 24, a large tornado moved across Tishomingo, Mississippi, in a destructive path. (AccuWeather/Brett Adair) |
AccuWeather meteorologists unveil 2020 Atlantic hurricane season forecast
The start of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season on June 1 is fast approaching, which is why AccuWeather meteorologists have gotten a head start on taking a close look at what factors could influence tropical activity. This week, the team led by AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski unveiled their 2020 Atlantic hurricane season forecast.
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They're predicting the formation of around 14 to 18 named storms this season, which ends on Nov. 30. Between seven and nine of those could reach hurricane status, while two to four of the storms are forecast to strengthen into major hurricanes - that means they could reach Category 3 strength or greater.
Kottlowski says the season ahead is likely to see above-normal tropical activity. "[In] a normal year, we have around 12 storms, six hurricanes and roughly three major hurricanes," he said.
For a look at how the predictions for this upcoming season compare to what we've seen in years past, check out the full 2020 Atlantic hurricane forecast here.
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In the midst of an uncertain time as the coronavirus pandemic continues to unfold globally, AccuWeather, Inc., wants to help. That's why the company is donating its severe weather and local storm-warning services to the groups that need it most right now.
The goal is to reduce risk to vulnerable structures like hospitals, medical institutions and public health agencies where people are working tirelessly to combat the spread of COVID-19.
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Wes Thrift, with Roper St. Francis Healthcare, is reflected in a car window wearing a protective mask as he talks to a possible coronavirus patient at the hospital's North Charleston office Monday, March 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) |
Medical sites will receive a specialized version of AccuWeather's SkyGuard® warning service that includes advanced warnings for severe weather events like lightning, wind gusts, flash floods and tornadoes that could impact temporary hospital structures.
Medical institutions in the hardest coronavirus-hit states will be the first to receive the service - those states are California, Washington, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
"It is vital we do all we can to protect patients and the healthcare workers who are on the front lines of this war against the coronavirus, battling it to save lives and prevent further spread," said AccuWeather for Business Vice President and Meteorologist Jonathan Porter.
Hospitals and medical facilities are able to register for this donated service by visiting hospital.accuweather.com.
Expert, new study explains how COVID-19 can spread to others
Speaking of the new coronavirus, have you wondered exactly how it is spread from person to person? When aerosols, which are tiny air particles, contain viruses like the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2, they can carry the potentially deadly illnesses into the air and into a person's body.
A New England Journal of Medicine study found that aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2 can linger in the air for several hours when a person breathes, sneezes or coughs them out.
"If viruses are released from people by breathing or talking, coughing or sneezing, they come out not as the naked virus, but they come out associated in these little respiratory droplets which can then travel through the air," Virginia Tech aerosol scientist Dr. Linsey Marr told AccuWeather.
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Infections also happen when a person places their hands or fingers on a virus-infected surface and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth. The study found that the virus can live on copper for up to four hours, on cardboard for up to a day and on plastic and stainless steel for up to two or three days.
Marr says several factors can impact how long viruses like SARS-CoV-2 can live in the air, including droplet size. "The large ones settle quickly onto surfaces, the floor, and the smaller ones can stay afloat for a while," Marr said, adding that air movement and ventilation can play a role.
To learn more about the study's findings and why they're crucial in the understanding of the virus's transmission, click here.
DC mayor orders National Guard ordered to restrict access to cherry blossoms amid COVID-19 outbreak
Even though many of the National Cherry Blossom Festival events have been canceled this year in Washington, D.C., it hasn't stopped people from showing up in droves to take in the beauty of the cherry blossoms and enjoy the warmer-than-normal weather during what is usually a popular annual event.
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A screen shot of footage captured by EarthCam showed authorities patrolling the area along the National Mall on Monday morning. (EarthCam) |
However, amid the new coronavirus pandemic, such crowding is a bad idea. It led Mayor Muriel Bowser to announce that she's ordered the National Guard to help restrict access to those crowded areas.
"We strongly urge anyone considering a visit to see the cherry blossoms to reconsider and to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases," the National Mall said in a statement Saturday afternoon.
The festival was scheduled to take place from March 20 and April 12. The official festival site has launched a virtual festival experience to provide a safer way to enjoy the cherry blossoms this year.
At least 1 killed in Croatian capital's strongest earthquake in 140 years
A historic earthquake rocked Croatia's capital of Zagreb early Sunday, claiming at least one life - a teenage boy who died after a roof collapsed. The 5.4 magnitude earthquake was the city's strongest in 140 years.
It struck 5.7 miles to the north of Zagreb at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 km), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake damaged the Croatian Parliament building as well as the Zagreb Cathedral.
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The star marks the epicenter of a strong earthquake that rattled Croatia on Sunday morning, local time. (USGS) |
Before it happened, the city was under a lockdown to prevent further spread of the new coronavirus. "Now everyone's outside grouped in front of their buildings. This won't help," wrote one person on Twitter after the earthquake struck.
"Regardless of the situation, we emphasize once again the importance of keeping a distance and following the instructions to combat #COVID ー 19!," government officials wrote on Twitter.
The Office of Emergency Management stated they'd offer shelter and food to those who couldn't return home, and that none of the city's hospitals suffered major damage.
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