Sweltering Heat Wave Hits US South, Devastating Tornado in West Texas and Waterspout in Florida Beach

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A scorching heat wave gripped the southern United States on Saturday, causing communities from Houston to New Orleans to open cooling centers for relief. In addition to the extreme heat, a waterspout made landfall on a Florida beach, prompting beachgoers to flee.

Governor Greg Abbott visited Perryton, a town in the Texas Panhandle, where a tornado claimed the lives of three people on Thursday night, leaving over 1,000 customers without electricity. To combat the high temperatures following the storm, the Perryton Ochiltree Chamber of Commerce announced the opening of a cooling center in the town of 8,000 residents, located approximately 115 miles (185 kilometers) northeast of Amarillo. Governor Perry signed a disaster declaration, ensuring that the state would provide all necessary resources for rebuilding.

Expressing his shock at the devastation, Governor Abbott commended the tireless efforts of healthcare providers who treated 160 injured individuals at the local hospital, which has just 25 beds.

W. Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, cautioned that more severe weather, including rain, strong winds, and potentially more tornadoes, was expected late Saturday in the affected area.

Excessive heat warnings were issued by the National Weather Service for the Gulf Coast, spanning from Brownsville, Texas, to Houston, lasting until Saturday night. Heat indexes were projected to range from nearly 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 Celsius) in Houston to nearly 120 F (49 C) in Brownsville and Corpus Christi, Texas. Cooling shelters were established in coastal cities and further inland to assist residents without electricity.

Allison Prater, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, attributed the intensified heat to high humidity levels. She stated that the Dallas area could experience an air temperature of 94 F (34 C) on Saturday, but due to the high humidity, it would feel like 105 F (40.5 C).

The tornado that struck Perryton resulted in the tragic deaths of two women and an 11-year-old boy. Authorities upgraded the tornado’s intensity to EF-3, revealing wind speeds of up to 140 mph (225 kph).

Sheriff Terry Bouchard of Ochiltree County confirmed that missing individuals had been located. The tornado inflicted significant damage to homes, businesses, and rental properties, requiring extensive cleanup efforts.

East Texas also suffered storm-related power outages on Friday evening, as the region braced for a weekend marked by sweltering temperatures and high humidity.

In Louisiana, the National Weather Service projected daytime temperatures around 94 F (34 C) until Monday, accompanied by high humidity and heat index values as high as 112 F (44 C). The City of New Orleans opened cooling centers and hydration stations, advising residents to take precautions such as wearing lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, taking frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas, and staying hydrated.

To assist residents, Entergy New Orleans and the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans suspended electricity shut-offs for delinquent accounts until Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in Florida, officials reported that a waterspout made landfall on Friday afternoon, causing beach-related items to be thrown into the air and injuring two individuals from Kansas. A 70-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.

The National Weather Service in Miami issued a heat advisory until 7 p.m. Saturday for most of South Florida, where the combination of heat and humidity was expected to create a “feels like” temperature of 105 F (40.5 C). The air temperature in Miami and Fort Lauderdale was anticipated to reach approximately 92 degrees (33 Celsius) on Saturday.

Contributors to this report include Ken Miller in Oklahoma City, Chevel Johnson in New Orleans, Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Julie Walker in New York. Ritter reported from Las Vegas.