Deadly winter storms sweep north in U.S.
Rare December twisters that flattened houses, heavy snow in New Mexico and west Texas and flooding in the Plains and Midwest caused chaos and left at least 43 dead after several days of extreme weather. Torrential downpours have now swollen the Mississippi River Dec. 30 2015, threatening 18 million people in states from Louisiana to Minnesota.
In this photo, a heavily damaged house is seen Dec. 27 in the aftermath of a tornado in Rowlett, Texas. At least 11 people lost their lives as tornadoes tore through Texas, authorities said, as they searched home to home for more possible victims of the freak storms lashing the southern United States. An 81-year old grandmother and her two dogs survived the storm inside this house.
Deadly floods
Volunteers prepare to transport sandbags which will be used to protect homes from flooding, following several days of heavy rain in Arnold, Missouri, Dec. 30, 2015.
At least 20 deaths have been caused by flooding in Missouri and Illinois.
Deadly floods
Submerged roads and houses are seen after several days of heavy rain led to flooding, in an aerial view over Union, Missouri Dec. 29, 2015.
A storm system that triggered deadly tornadoes and flooding in the U.S. Midwest and Southwest pushed north on Tuesday, bringing snow and ice from Iowa to Massachusetts and another day of tangled air travel.
Deadly floods
A view of floodwaters after several days of heavy rain led to flooding in Arnold, Missouri, Dec. 30, 2015.
Torrential rains over the past several days pushed already swollen rivers and streams to virtually unheard-of heights in parts of Missouri and Illinois.
Deadly floods
Floodwater from the Bourbeuse River surrounds a McDonald's restaurant, Dec. 29, 2015 in Union, Mo.
Missouri residents faced mandatory evacuations.
Deadly floods
Submerged roads and houses are seen after several days of heavy rain led to flooding, in an aerial view over Union, Missouri Dec. 29, 2015.
A storm system that triggered deadly tornadoes and flooding in the U.S. Midwest and Southwest pushed north, bringing snow and ice from Iowa to Massachusetts and another day of tangled air travel.
Deadly floods
Submerged roads and houses are seen after several days of heavy rain led to flooding, in an aerial view over Union, Missouri Dec. 29, 2015.
Deadly floods
Submerged roads and houses are seen after several days of heavy rain led to flooding, in an aerial view over Union, Missouri, Dec. 29, 2015.
Deadly storms
Debris and a damaged car are pictured at the Lake Village West apartment complex from a tornado in Garland, Texas, Dec. 28, 2015.
In Texas, at least 11 people were killed in the Dallas area over the weekend by tornadoes, including one packing winds of up to 200 miles per hour (322 km per hour). The twister hit the city of Garland, killing eight people and blowing vehicles off highways.
Deadly storms
A flag flies in front of the tornado-damaged Landmark at the Lake Village West apartment complex in Garland, Texas, Dec. 28, 2015.
Deadly storms
An unidentified resident of the Landmark at the Lake Village West apartment complex collects some of his belonging from his damaged home in Garland, Texas, Dec. 28, 2015
Deadly storms
A tornado touched down Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015 in northern Mississippi.
Southern U.S. states began digging out Dec. 24 after severe storms including tornadoes. The storm system packed high winds and triggered more than 20 tornadoes in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Michigan, authorities said.
Deadly storms
A heavily damaged in the aftermath of a tornado in Rowlett, Texas, Dec. 27, 2015.
Deadly storms
A heavily damaged residence seen in the aftermath of a tornado in Rowlett, Texas, Dec. 27, 2015.
At least 11 people lost their lives as tornadoes tore through the Dallas area, authorities said, as they searched home to home for possible more victims of the freak storms lashing the southern United States. The rare December twisters that flattened houses and caused chaos on highways raised the death toll from days of deadly weather across the South to at least 43.
Deadly storms
People run as weather sirens sound during a severe storm over downtown Dallas, Dec. 26, 2015.
Deadly storms
A sign sits underwater located in the downtown area of Elba, Alabama, Dec. 26, 2015.
Deadly storms
A Christmas tree lays in the wreckage of a family's home in the aftermath of a tornado in Rowlett, Texas, Dec. 27, 2015.
Deadly storms
Traffic goes across the bridge on Alabama Highway 87 at the Pea River in Elba, Alabama, Dec. 26, 2015.
Alabama has been hit with storms and heavy rain since Dec. 23.
Deadly storms
A house is under water on the banks of the Pea River in Elba, Alabama, Dec. 26, 2015.
Deadly storms
Neighbors prepare to check out the damage after floods waters entered their business in Elba, Alabama, Dec. 26, 2015.
Deadly storms
A storm damaged house is pictured outside of Atkins, Arkansas in this Dec. 23, 2015 photo. High winds and heavy rain caused a large tree to become uprooted and fall on the house, trapping an 18-year-old woman and an 18-month-old toddler. Emergency personnel were able to rescue the toddler, but the woman was pronounced dead.
Deadly storms
Damage caused by a tornado is seen in a neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama, Dec. 26, 2015.
A tornado struck Birmingham on Dec. 25, damaging houses, uprooting trees and injuring at least three people in the state's largest city, law enforcement and weather officials said.
Deadly storms
Damage of a house is seen after Saturday's tornado spread out in Rowlett, Texas, Dec. 27, 2015.
Snow in Texas
A highway worker tries to shield himself while walking to his truck on Dec. 27, 2015 in Lubbock, Texas.
Coming on the heels of several strong tornadoes, some northern parts of Texas are experiencing blizzard conditions with wind gusts up to 50 mph and as much as 13 inches of snow forecast.
Snow in Texas
Snow blankets Marsha Sharp Freeway on U.S. Highway 82 on Dec 27, 2015 in Lubbock, Texas.