A deadly storm that spawned 2 tornadoes now threatens millions with flooding, heavy snow and ice

By: CNN

Posted: Feb 6, 2020 12:47 PM EST

A house was severely damaged by a tornado near Bay Springs, Mississippi. Credit: Bay Springs Fire Department

By Holly Yan and Chuck Johnston, CNN

(CNN) -- From the Gulf Coast to New England, brutal winter weather has already killed one person and could hammer millions with ice, torrential rain and more tornadoes.

A tornado in Marengo County, Alabama, killed one person Thursday morning and left another person injured, Demopolis Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Pope said.

He said the small tornado briefly touched down around 2:15 a.m. and destroyed two mobile homes in Marengo County.

Another twister caused major damage in Mississippi, the Jasper County Sheriff's Department posted on Facebook.

"Tornado damage in Jasper County. Numerous trees down. PLEASE stay off the roads!!!!" the department said.

Tornado watches continue Thursday in parts of the Florida Panhandle, Alabama and Georgia.

At the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, severe weather is causing widespread delays.

For departing flights, gate holds and taxi delays are up to 1 hour and 30 minutes "and increasing," said the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control System Command Center.

Across the Southeast, millions of people are also under a flash flood warning as a lengthy band of torrential rain marches east.

"Flash flooding will continue from the Gulf Coast north to New York City," CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said.

And in the Northeast, "snow is pounding New England along with ice, bringing dangerous travel," Hennen said.

This nasty mix of winter weather is caused by a storm that's engulfing much of the eastern United States.

"The winter storm will shift north along the Appalachians Thursday," the National Weather Service said.

"Snow and ice is expected north and west of the storm track. Severe (thunderstorms) will again bring a risk of damaging winds and tornadoes in the Southeast while heavy rainfall poses a risk for flooding for the E. Coast."

The storm's colder drier air will clash with warm moist air across the East through the end of this week.

This clash will lead to a swath of snow from Texas to New England and sleet from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic.