Winter weather brings dangerous conditions to Northeast as deadly storm slams South

A tornado watch remains in effect in Florida and Georgia through Tuesday night.

ByMax Golembo, Emily Shapiro, and Melissa Griffin
December 17, 2019, 4:03 PM

The South is cleaning up after deadly storms swept through the region.

Fifteen confirmed tornadoes have touched down in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

Mississippi's governor declared a state of emergency after the torrential rain, wind and flooding damaged homes.

On Monday, when tornadoes struck, a husband and wife were killed in Lawrence County, Alabama, according to the coroner, and a 59-year-old woman was killed in her mobile home in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, according to the sheriff.

PHOTO: Storm damage is pictured in a photo posted to social media by the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Department, Dec. 16, 2019.
Storm damage is pictured in a photo posted to social media by the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Department, Dec. 16, 2019.
Det. Sylvester Denmond/Vernon Parish Sheriff's Dept.
PHOTO: This photo shows some damage by a tornado in Alexandria, La., Dec. 16, 2019, after storms went through the area.
This photo shows some damage by a tornado in Alexandria, La., Dec. 16, 2019, after storms went through the area. Strong storms moving across the Deep South killed at least one person Monday and left a trail of smashed buildings, splintered trees and downed power lines the week before Christmas.
Brad Kemp/AP

Teacher Stacey Cudd was at her small Louisiana schoolhouse as a tornado approached. So faculty directed the students to their designated spot -- the church sanctuary.

"We could hear, like, sounds of wood cracking and things hitting the roof," Cudd told ABC News. "It was all so chaotic and scary."

"When we could hear the noises getting louder, all of us crawled under the pews to try to keep cover," she said. One frightened student grabbed her hand.

"There was crying, there was screaming," Cudd said. "I just keep praying and asking God to please protect us."

While the building suffered major damage, no one was seriously hurt, Cudd said.

"A few of us got hurt a little bit, just minor things," she said. "There's gonna be some recovery time emotionally."

A tornado watch remains in effect in Florida and Georgia through Tuesday night.

That same storm is bringing snow to Missouri, Ohio and the Northeast.

PHOTO: A traffic sign is dusted with snow, Dec. 17, 2019, in Louisville, Ken.
A traffic sign is dusted with snow, Dec. 17, 2019, in Louisville, Ken.
Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal via USA Today

The Northeast saw a mix of rain, snow and freezing rain Tuesday morning, making for a tough commute.

Winter weather advisories remain in effect from Pennsylvania to Maine as more snow and ice are expected.

Residents from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts should be mindful of icy roads and black ice during their commute home.

Snow is continuing to fall from Albany, New York, up to Maine Tuesday afternoon with snow totals reaching 4 inches. Up to 6 inches of snow is possible through Tuesday night.

PHOTO: Aura Rodriguez clears the ice from her car in Beacon, N.Y., Dec. 17, 2019.
Aura Rodriguez clears the ice from her car in Beacon, N.Y., Dec. 17, 2019.
Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal via USA Today

As the storm moves out of the Northeast by late Tuesday night, an arctic cold front will move in on Wednesday afternoon, which will send temperatures plunging Wednesday night.

Thursday morning will bring the coldest air of the season for the Northeast. Wind chills are forecast to fall to minus 4 degrees in Syracuse, 0 degrees in New York City, 4 degrees in Philadelphia and 10 degrees in Washington, D.C.

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