An outbreak of severe weather across the Southern United States over the last two days has claimed lives and left buildings destroyed in the state of Louisiana.

A large cut-off low pressure system passing over the United States this week has created the ideal ingredients for widespread severe weather across the country.

Image: Visible satellite image showing severe thunderstorms passing over the Southern United States late on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Source: RAMMB/CIRA

In addition to causing heavy snow and blizzards in the North, this dynamic weather pattern produced numerous severe thunderstorms in the South on Tuesday and Wednesday. Some of these powerful storms produced tornadoes, which caused extensive damage and at least three deaths in Louisiana.

Video: Tornado near Grenta, Louisiana on Wednesday. Source: @markverges / Instagram

According to reports, two people were killed on Tuesday when a tornado hit the town of Keithville, to the south of Shreveport. Then on Wednesday, another tornado another confirmed death in the St. Charles Parish, in the New Orleans region.

This was the second tornado so far this year to strike New Orleans, following another deadly twister in March.

This potent weather system will shift further east on Thursday and Friday, allowing dangerous storms to continue over parts of the South and Southeast. Meanwhile, heavy snow and blizzards will continue to affect the northern Plains and Upper Midwest on Thursday, with accumulating snow and freezing rain lingering over some areas into Friday.