Tornado Outbreak Kills At Least Six, Widespread Destruction In And Around Tennessee

Tornado damage in Tennessee from News Channel 5

The same storm system that is menacing the eastern United States including Vermont with heavy rain, snow and wind unleashed deadly tornadoes in the Mid-South Saturday. 

The tornadoes killed at least six people and injured dozens. 

The twisters caused widespread destruction, with the worst of it being in Clarksville, Tennessee and in the northern reaches of Nashville. Saturday's tornado came just three years after an even worse tornado trashed much of the northern side of the city. 

There were at least 25 tornado reports Saturday, and an additional three so far today in an area near where Alabama, Georgia and Florida meet. 

This storm is forecast to possibly spin off more tornadoes and severe weather from Florida to Virginia this afternoon and evening.  As of 1 p.m. today, areas near Raleigh, North Carolina were under a tornado warning. 

Video from Tennessee Saturday shows one tornado creating power flashes as it moved across the landscape, probably created from electrical transformers it was destroying. Then the tornado sets off a large explosion and fireball, which were then ingested into the swirling mess.

Tornadoes often occur in the South during the winter. In fact, today is the second anniversary of a much more serious tornado outbreak, which killed 88 people, and all but destroyed the city of Mayfield, Kentucky. 

An El Nino is ongoing. During winters with an El Nino, tornadoes, severe weather and flooding become more likely across the South.

Which means Saturday's tornadoes might be the opening salvo in what could be a long, terrible winter from Texas to the Carolinas.