The Latest on Tropical Depression Harvey’s effects on the South (all times local):
10:05 p.m.
The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Depression Harvey is starting to lose its tropical characteristics as its heavy rain spreads toward the Ohio Valley.
At 10 p.m. CDT, Harvey’s center was located about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Memphis, Tennessee. It had maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (50 kph) and was moving to the northeast at 14 mph (23 kph).
Flash flood watches and warnings remain in effect from northeast Arkansas into northern Mississippi, western Tennessee and much of Kentucky. Flood warnings also remain in effect for parts of eastern Texas into western Louisiana, where severe flooding is continuing.
The center says Harvey is expected to lose its tropical characteristics as it heads northeast twoward the Ohio Valley over the coming 48 hours. The storm is expected to dissipate Saturday evening.
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10 p.m.
Authorities say a likely tornado is to blame for damage to several homes in northwest Alabama where some minor injuries were reported.
Photographs published online by the Tuscaloosa News in Alabama showed huge trees splintered and toppled, houses with their shingles torn away and one mobile home so shattered it was barely recognizable. Men with chainsaws went out after the storm to clear toppled trees from roads as people surveyed the damage.
The photographs also showed people carrying supplies away from one area roughed up by the storms, walking on a road amid downed tree branches.
Jason Holmes, a meteorologist with The National Weather Service in Birmingham, said Thursday that a likely tornado caused damaged in the northwest corner of the state near Reform.
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7:00 p.m.
A tornado damaged several homes in northwest Alabama as the remnants of Hurricane Harvey came through the state.
Jason Holmes, a meteorologist with The National Weather Service in Birmingham, said Thursday that a likely tornado caused damaged in the northwest corner of the state.
Local media reported that several homes were destroyed in the city of Reform and several people were treated for minor injuries.
The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings on Thursday afternoon for the area. The Weather Service said there was an elevated risk of tornados through the evening as the remnants of former tropical storm moved northeast.
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5:15 p.m.
Officials say rainy weather caused by Tropical Depression Harvey contributed to the death of a motorist who crashed on Interstate 40 in Tennessee.
The Shelby County Office of Preparedness said a driver was killed in a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer on Thursday on I-40 in Memphis. The crash occurred as Harvey dumped heavy rain on Memphis as it made its way through West Tennessee.
The emergency management office said in a news release that law enforcement officials believe the bad weather contributed to the crash. The driver’s name was not immediately released.
Forecasters say some locations in Tennessee could get more than 10 inches of rain from Harvey, though most will get 4 to 8 inches. Flash flooding and tornadoes are possible.
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11:35 a.m.
The National Weather Service has issued flood alerts for much of Tennessee as Tropical Depression Harvey travels northeast.
The weather service issued a flood warning for areas along several rivers in West Tennessee while a flood watch included the whole region and stretched into Middle Tennessee.
Forecasters say heavy rain will begin on Thursday and some locations could get more than 10 inches, though most will get 4-8 inches. The say high winds from the storm could also produce tornadoes.
Harvey dumped nearly 52 inches of rain on Texas, where massive flooding has caused more than 30 deaths.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency says it is monitoring the storm and has staff prepared to deploy if necessary. In Memphis, crews are cleaning debris from storm drains and residents are being asked to clear gutters at their homes.
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