‘Severe storms’ and ‘damaging winds’ strike as temperature hit 100F

Extreme heatwave conditions are gripping Alabama, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia and Texas – where the threat is greatest.

The National Weather Service (NOAA) has issued a heat advisory across southern Texas where warnings are in force for flooding and 80mph gales.

A spokesman said: “Corridors of severe wind of 60-80 mph and occasional very large hail, which could be in excess of two inches in diameter, can be expected with multiple convective clusters across east/southeast Texas and far southwest Louisiana.

“Widespread strong to severe storms are expected over much of Texas and in southern Oklahoma, with the potential for significant damaging wind and large hail.

“The threat of excessive rainfall could create localised areas of flash and urban flooding across Texas and southern Oklahoma on Tuesday and into Wednesday.

“A dangerous early-season heat wave continues over south Texas and southern Florida.”

A huge temperatures contrast between northern and southern states will plough energy into the storm assault.

Temperatures close to the Canadian border will be low enough this week to trigger damaging frosts.

The NOAA has a separate frost advisory in force in Minnesota and Wisconsin where the mercury could dip to just above freezing.

A huge temperature gradient across America will continue to whip up powerful storms which show no sign of relenting.

Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and US correspondent, said: “There is some serious heat now affecting the south, and we are looking at dangerous stuff, and this is feeding into southern States, particularly Texas.

“The heat is breaking records, and hot air clashing with cooler air to the north is providing the driver for the storms we are currently seeing.

“To the south, there is no let up in the temperatures, and I would now expect to see this continue through the start of the summer.”Powerful tornadoes have in the past fortnight torn down homes in their path and killed several people.

Severe weather warnings have been issued almost daily as storm after storm has ploughed the US.

Another deep storm system, boosted by surging heat and humidity, is gearing up to hit at the weekend, Dale warned.

He said: “We are looking at around Friday and into the weekend when there is another lot of storms coming in.

“This starts in Texas and then moves across southern states, including Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

“Cooler air coming down from the north meeting heat and humidity from Mexico will, once again, provide the ingredients for this dangerous weather.”

Severe storms at the weekend killed at least 22 people in Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama and Arkansas.

Around 80 people were injured at a truck stop near Valley View, Texas, while hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power.

Tornadoes continued to churn across Western Kentucky through the start of the week, according to The Weather Channel.

A spokesman said: “The storms are the latest round of severe weather to rip apart homes and lives across the Plains, Midwest and South this month, which is typically peak time for tornadoes in the US.

“May is living up to its reputation.”