Holiday revelers returning home this weekend could be hit with delays across the South as severe tornadoes threaten air travel.
Severe weather across is expected to ramp up again across the South from Texas to Alabama.
States including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were all hit with tornadoes, high winds and hail on Thursday and Friday.
The National Weather Service is predicting a similar band of bad weather to sweep those parts of the country on Saturday.
Due to the incoming bad weather, 24 million people are now under weather alerts across the states according to NBC News.
More than 5,000 flights have been hit with delays and 175 canceled in or out of the US as of Saturday afternoon, according to FlightAware.com.
The National Weather Service said: ‘A regional outbreak of severe storms, with large hail, damaging winds, and strong tornadoes is possible Saturday into Saturday night from East Texas, the Lower Mississippi Valley, and parts of the Tennessee Valley.
‘Storm development is possible during the early morning with more development possible during the afternoon in East Texas/western Louisiana.’
Severe weather across is expected to ramp up again across the South from Texas to Alabama
Over 5,000 flights have been hit with delays and 175 cancelled in our out of the US as of Saturday afternoon. A flight information board is seen here on Christmas Eve
States including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were all hit with tornadoes, high winds and hail on Thursday and Friday
They added: ‘The strongest storms and greatest strong tornado threat will exist during late afternoon/early evening.
‘Some uncertainty still exists as to the timing of when the strongest storms will develop in East Texas/western Louisiana.’
‘The northern/eastern extent of the greatest severe risk in the Mid-South/Tennessee Valley is also uncertain.’
The Storm Prediction Center has increased the risk of a tornado to a level 4, with a tornado watch issued for parts of eastern Texas and beyond.
The Storm Prediction Center said: ‘Thunderstorms will intensify rapidly through the afternoon, with a few severe storms expected.
‘Large hail and damaging winds are the main concerns, but a few tornadoes are also possible later today as winds aloft strengthen.’
The threat of storms shifts to the Southeast and East Coast of the country on Sunday, and could hit Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia.
In the West, a series of river-fueled storms are bringing high wands, heavy rain and mountain snow across the Pacific Northwest and Rockies.
The National Weather Service is predicting a similar band of bad weather to sweep those parts of the country on Saturday
Vehicles make their way on a rain soaked highway in Dallas, Thursday, on December 26
Footage has already emerged on social media showing tornadoes forming across parts of Texas.
One video shared by a Robert Perry showed a twister passing his home near Brookshire in the The Lone Star State.
Other social media users have reported widespread damage in Porter Heights, Texas, after a tornado swept through the area.
It comes after Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated state emergency response resources because of the increased severe weather threat earlier this week.
‘As Texans and out-of-state visitors begin traveling after the Christmas holiday, it´s crucial that everyone regularly monitor road conditions, make an emergency plan and heed the guidance of state and local officials,’ Abbott said in a statement.
A ground stop earlier this week which affected all American Airlines flights also had a knock-on effect, setting back hundreds of festive travel plans.
At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the departure board was not a welcome sight for many travelers.
Elsewhere passengers could be seen imploring gate staff for answers as they waited in ever-increasing lines.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .