CLOSE Violent storms produced flooding and tornadoes in parts of Texas and Louisiana. At least five people were killed by the severe weather. USA TODAY

Violent storms unleashed floods and tornadoes across Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving at least five people dead.

The threat for rough weather will continue Friday, the National Weather Service said. Severe thunderstorms are possible across the mid-Atlantic region, and strong winds and tornadoes are both possible in eastern portions of North Carolina and Virginia.

Two people were killed early Thursday in Ruston, in north-central Louisiana, after a tornado ripped through the town and the Louisiana Tech University campus around 2:30 a.m. local time.

"I've never seen it this bad in my 43 years. It's tragic, and it's going to be a while before we can get all this cleaned up," Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said.

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker confirmed the two fatalities.

"It's bad; real bad," Walker said. "We took a direct hit."

Late Thursday afternoon, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency for the entire state due to the fierce storms.

The National Weather Service said the tornado was rated an EF-3, which means its wind speeds were in the 136 to 165 mph range.

Weather service hydrologist C. S. Ross says it appears the tornado cut a track over 130 miles from eastern Texas to the Louisiana-Arkansas border.

The same cluster of thunderstorms produced flooding and severe weather in Texas on Wednesday, the Weather Channel reported.

THE AFTERMATH - We're live over Ruston as we get our first view of tornado damage seen in the daylight over the region. These storms did kill at least two people as confirmed by the mayor earlier. pic.twitter.com/kAK5vIHcUT — WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) April 25, 2019

About 75 miles southwest of Fort Worth, a woman and two children were killed when the family's car was caught in rushing flood waters, authorities said. The incident occurred at about 6 a.m. in what's usually a small creek just outside Dublin.

The Weather Channel said the threat of severe weather, including possible large hail and tornadoes, will continue to move into the Southeast on Thursday night before shifting toward the mid-Atlantic on Friday.

A long-tracked supercell thunderstorm crossed from Deep East Texas into west-central Louisiana and into the ArkLaMiss overnight. We will be surveying along this swath over the next several days. At this time, we cannot confirm a tornado was on the ground along this entire path. pic.twitter.com/Ieuk3yUZBw — NWS Shreveport (@NWSShreveport) April 25, 2019

Thursday's opening of the New Orleans Jazz Fest was delayed because of the storms, the event organizers said. The PGA golf tournament in New Orleans was also delayed for several hours because of lightning.

Contributing: The Associated Press; The News-Star (Monroe, La.)

Storms smashed through Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, early on April 25, 2019. (Photo: News-Star)

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/04/25/tornadoes-killer-storms-leave-death-destruction-texas-louisiana/3573446002/</s>Severe weather has struck parts of the southern United States, with apparent tornadoes causing damage in Texas and Louisiana. CBS News has confirmed five weather-related deaths in the two states.

The National Weather Service has issued tornado and severe thunderstorm watches for large portions of Louisiana and Mississippi as the storm moves east. "Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes will be likely Thursday into Thursday night over the Deep South and northern Gulf Coast," the service said.

A tornado is seen in Bryan, Texas, U.S. April 24, 2019 in this still image taken from a social media video April 25, 2019. Michael David Black via REUTERS

Three people — a mother and her two children — died in Erath County, Texas, early Wednesday when their car was swept away by what The Associated Press reported was flash flooding. Two people are also confirmed dead in the Louisiana city of Ruston after a tree fell on a home.

As of Wednesday morning, there were more than 15,000 power outages in Louisiana and more than 2,700 in Texas.

According to AccuWeather, heavy rain hit parts of western and northern Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some regions receiving up to 6 inches of rain. CBS Houston affiliate KHOU-TV reported that a likely tornado touched down in the city of Bryan on Wednesday, causing damage to homes and buildings.

A tornado also appeared to hit Ruston, Louisiana, where Louisiana Tech University closed on Thursday. It said in a tweet that significant damage occurred as the storm traveled through its campus Wednesday evening.

Louisiana Tech University is closed today, April 25, as the result of a tornado. The storm traveled through the Ruston campus on Wednesday night, April 24. No students on campus were injured, — Louisiana Tech University (@LATech) April 25, 2019

The National Weather Service expects the severe weather and heavy rain storms to shift toward the mid-Atlantic and southeast Friday.</s>The National Weather Service says at least nine tornadoes were formed during a two-day period of severe weather in eastern Texas and Louisiana.

Meteorologist Davyon Hill says seven tornadoes were part of the same parent storm that started in San Augustine, Texas, on Wednesday evening and stretched into northern Louisiana Thursday morning.

Separately, two tornados also touched down in Louisiana — one north of Shreveport and another near Jena.

The city of Ruston in northern Louisiana appeared to get the brunt of the bad weather. An EF3 tornado touched down there, ripping off roofs of buildings and homes, and severely damaging the sports facilities of Louisiana Tech University.

Two people in Ruston died when a tree fell onto their home Thursday.</s>NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The National Weather Service says at least nine tornadoes were formed during a two-day period of severe weather in eastern Texas and Louisiana.

Meteorologist Davyon Hill says seven tornadoes were part of the same parent storm that started in San Augustine, Texas, on Wednesday evening and stretched into northern Louisiana Thursday morning.

Separately, two tornados also touched down in Louisiana - one north of Shreveport and another near Jena.

The city of Ruston in northern Louisiana appeared to get the brunt of the bad weather. An EF3 tornado touched down there, ripping off roofs of buildings and homes, and severely damaging the sports facilities of Louisiana Tech University.

Two people in Ruston died when a tree fell onto their home Thursday.

A Louisiana State Police helicopter is framed in the tornado-damaged scoreboard at the Louisiana Tech softball field in Ruston, La., on Thursday, April 25, 2019. The early morning tornado killed two people as it tore through the northern Louisiana city of Ruston early Thursday, sending trees into houses and ripping roofs off buildings. (Nicolas Galindo/The News-Star via AP)

Flanked by Ruston city officials and first responders, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards holds a news conference at the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office after flying over tornado-damaged areas of town on Thursday, April 25. The early morning tornado killed two people as it tore through the northern Louisiana city of Ruston early Thursday, sending trees into houses and ripping roofs off buildings. (Nicolas Galindo/The News-Star via AP)

First responders assess the best route around debris from a deadly tornado in Ruston, La., on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Crews had to search neighborhoods on foot since many were inaccessible to vehicles following the early morning tornado that tore through the northern Louisiana city. (Nicolas Galindo/The News-Star via AP)</s>Officials confirm eight tornadoes touched down in Louisiana, Texas

The Nation Weather Service in Shreveport says eight confirmed tornadoes tore through Louisiana and Texas Wednesday and Thursday.

According to the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, damage from the eighth tornado hasn't been surveyed yet. Officials say six of the eight developed from the same "parent supercell" over a 150-mile track.

"The survey of the tornado SE of Marion in Union Parish is still ongoing," officials said. "Additional surveys are likely over the next few days."

A total of five people were killed in the tornadoes, two in Louisiana and three in Texas.</s>Strong storms killed at least five people in Texas and Louisiana and left severe damage across parts of both states Wednesday and Thursday — including at Louisiana Tech University and in its host city of Ruston, where the mayor says a tornado struck overnight.

Two people were killed in Ruston as a tornado ripped through the college town around 2 a.m. CT, tearing through buildings in the city and damaging athletic facilities on the Louisiana Tech campus, Mayor Ronny Walker said.

The identities of those who died weren’t immediately released. No college students were hurt, the university said, but the school is closed Thursday as the city copes with power outages and debris.

“We’re sustained significant damage,” Walker, the mayor, told CNN. “Many homes have been damaged. A shopping center took a direct hit.

City officials have set up a shelter for residents at an elementary school. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is traveling to Ruston on Thursday to assess the damage, Walker said.

“Our prayers are with the people of Ruston today,” Edwards tweeted Thursday morning.

City streets and yards were littered with tree branches and other debris, video from CNN affiliate KTBS shows.

The storm ripped apart a scoreboard at Louisiana Tech’s softball field and left a few trees overturned nearby, including one that had fallen across the stands behind home plate, photos from Cory Diaz at the Monroe News-Star show.

Several tornado reports were made Wednesday and Thursday in Texas and Louisiana.

An apparent tornado was reported in San Augustine, Texas, late Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

Several businesses were damaged or destroyed in San Augustine, including a convenience store that appeared to have a wall ripped away, CNN affiliate KETK reported.

A gas station clerk there, Brenda Hall, told KETK that high winds pushed trash cans up the road at the beginning of the storm.

“I came outside to empty the trash can, and … the next thing I know the trash cans were going up (Highway) 21,” she said. “We knew then something was happening. Then the rain started swirling, the winds started blowing and the building started heaving.”

The weather service said it would send tornado survey teams to the San Augustine and Ruston areas on Thursday.

Further west, in the Texas city of Bryan near Texas A&M University, Ryan Ullman captured video of a funnel cloud forming late Wednesday afternoon.

Aerial footage recorded by CNN affiliate KPRC showed several buildings in the Bryan area ripped apart.

Three were killed as a creek swept away a car

In Texas’ Erath County, three people were killed during severe weather Wednesday when a car they were in was swept away in a creek, CNN affiliate KTAB/KRBC reported.

The car had contained a family of four. Maria Ramirez and her two children died — Ramirez was found dead inside the vehicle, and the bodies of the children — ages 3 and 7, were found downstream, the affiliate reported.

The children’s father was rescued, having clung to a tree, the affiliate reported.

Tornado and severe thunderstorm watches were in effect for parts of Louisiana and Mississippi Thursday morning.

Storms are expected in the afternoon along the Gulf Coast.

An area with a population of about 6.5 million people has a slight risk of severe thunderstorms Thursday, covering parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle, the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center said.

That area includes the cities of New Orleans; Jackson, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and Tallahassee, Florida.</s>Texas is under threat from a major storm system, which is pouring heavy rain over the state. Flash flooding and hail have resulted in water rising up to four feet above cars, stranding them in garages and roads. Two people were killed after the storm hit Ruston, Louisiana.

Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said fatalities occurred in a home near the Interstate 20 motorway.

He said: “The situation is bad, real bad.

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker confirmed the deaths, talking to the Louisiana-based News-Star newspaper.

Louisiana Tornado PATH: Where is deadly tornado now as 5 dead in Texas

He said: ”I’ve never seen it this bad in my 43 years.

"It's tragic, and it's going to be a while before we can get all this cleaned up."

The tornado has now subsided in Ruston, and residents of Union County believe another tornado brought down trees.

One Marion resident was trapped inside their home after a tree fell outside their property.</s>The National Weather Service has issued tornado and severe thunderstorm watches for large portions of Louisiana and Mississippi as the storm moves east. “Severe thunderstorms capable of damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes will be likely Thursday into Thursday night over the Deep South and northern Gulf Coast,” the service said.

A tornado is seen in Bryan, Texas, U.S. April 24, 2019 in this still image taken from a social media video on April 25, 2019. Michael David Black via REUTERS

Three people — a mother and her two children — died in Erath County, Texas, early on Wednesday when their car was swept away by what The Associated Press reported was flash flooding. Two people are also confirmed dead in the Louisiana city of Ruston after a tree fell on a home.

As of Wednesday morning, there were more than 15,000 power outages in Louisiana and more than 2,700 in Texas.

According to Accuweather, heavy rain hit parts of western and northern Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some regions receiving up to 6 inches of rain. CBS Houston affiliate KHOU reported that a likely tornado touched down in the city of Bryan on Wednesday, causing damage to homes and buildings.

A tornado also appeared to hit Ruston, Louisiana, where Louisiana Tech University closed on Thursday. It said in a tweet that significant damage occurred as the storm traveled through its campus Wednesday evening.

The National Weather Service expects the severe weather and heavy rain storms to shift toward the Mid Atlantic and Southeast on Friday.</s>SAN AUGUSTINE, Texas — At least two tornadoes tore through East Texas on Wednesday night, with the storm system going on to produce additional tornadoes as it moved through Louisiana.

WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED: Widespread damage, flooding reported after storms hammer down on East Texas

Mother and son dead after tornado rips through Ruston, Louisiana Tech campus

The strongest of the two tornadoes to hit East Texas ripped through San Augustine around 11:13 pm Wednesday. The tornado touched down 3 miles west southwest of the city, pushing through San Augustine, eventually lifting 6 miles east northeast of town. The tornado was on the ground for 8.61 miles and was 800 yards wide at it's largest point. It packed a maximum wind of 130 mph, gaining an EF-2 rating.

The tornado touched down along FM 1277, causing damage to trees in the area, before growing larger and moving across Cedar Road, damaging 54 structures in a neighborhood. The storm then damaged a gas station and an electrical transmission tower near US-96 and Texas 21. A laundromat, and several other buildings, were severely damaged as the tornado moved through the northern side of downtown San Augustine.

This tornado continued off to the northeast, doing more tree damage, before eventually lifting near CR 131, close to the Shelby County line.

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The second tornado to hit East Texas was in Shelby County, 6 miles south of Huxley. This tornado touched down at 11:42 pm, near Forest Service Road 126, and moved northeast toward the Toledo Bend Reservoir. This tornado caused damage to numerous trees, before heading out over the reservoir. No structures were reported to be damaged in Shelby County by this tornado.

The tornado would continue into Louisiana, before lifting 8 miles north northeast of Pleasant Hill. This was a long track tornado, staying on the ground for 31.36 miles. The tornado was 75 yards wide at its largest point, reaching EF-1 damage levels, with a max wind of 105 mph.

Structural damage was limited to trees falling on homes and cars, with the tornado itself doing damage numerous trees, uprooting many. Additionally, one person was injured as a tree fell on their car while they were traveling along Louisiana 175, just south of Louisiana 483.

As of now, 8 tornadoes were confirmed from this storm system as it pushed through Texas and Louisiana Wednesday night. 6 of those 8 were from the lone supercell storm that formed in San Augustine County. The National Weather Service office in Shreveport will have additional storm survey teams out Friday in Louisiana, so the official number of tornadoes and details of the damage may change.

CBS 19 will have you covered as new information comes in!

Do you have a weather report or pictures you would like to submit to the CBS19 Weather team? You can email news@cbs19.tv and visit our Facebook or Twitter pages.</s>A long tracked tornado or series of tornadoes hit several towns in Texas and Louisiana. None harder than the City of Ruston, La where numerous buildings and homes were completely destroyed. The La Tech campus was also hit doing significant damage to the baseball field.
Tornadoes spawned by severe weather in Texas and Louisiana cause at least five deaths and over 17,000 power outages.