After a relatively slow start to tornado season across the U.S., reports out of North Carolina show this season's first taste of the potentially deadly weather.
"You're looking at video from the damage when it came through portions of North Carolina. It damaged more than 150 homes. There were even some injuries, 16 injuries in fact." (Via The Weather Channel)
Fortunately no one was killed. Reports vary from three twisters to as many as nine in the state Friday and Saturday, one reaching an estimated EF-3 status. (Via WDTV)
A spokesperson told CNN in one county alone there are almost 1,800 people without power.
But as a meteorologist for HLN points out, the severe weather that hit North Carolina is only a preview of what the Midwest and east coast can expect in the coming days.
"All the way from Iowa to the Huston,Texas area. Monday it shifts to the east... and Tuesday all across the deep south here. So this is going to be a three-day event."
And as the National Weather Service shows, much of that weather system is expected to be severe with a chance of tornados in some ares.
A writer for USA Today reports this has been the "safest start to tornado season in almost a century." No deaths have been reported so far in 2014.
The last time the nation made it this far into the season without a tornado-caused death was in 1915. Be sure to check your area's forecast and prepare accordingly.
