The Lee County EMA warned on its Facebook page the storms could intensify in to something unsafe “very quickly”.
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Practice your Plan: Put your family’s severe weather drill in action regularly so everyone knows what to do if a damaging wind or large hail is coming.
A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and SC faced a heightened chance of tornadoes and potential flash flooding during the day.
Some tornadoes are likely with a couple of intense tornadoes also possible.
For the remainder of the day, the Storm Prediction Center has the majority of our parts of the Carolinas under a Slight risk for severe weather, with an Enhanced threat across our SC counties (meaning numerous severe storms are possible). Thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds and hail are possible.
There is a good chance of very large-sized hail.
A third wave of storms was expected to hit the area later in the evening.
National Weather Service meteorologist John De Block says some locations within the state Wednesday have already received around an inch of rain.
Flash-flood watches were issued for several counties in northeast Georgia and SC until 2 a.m. ET Thursday.
A severe thunderstorm was moving northwest into Macon County from Elmore County at 45 miles per hour.
– The National Weather Service on Thursday morning issued a tornado watch for many central North Carolina counties as strong storms rumbled through the region.
The FAA has issued a ground stop at Charlotte Douglas International Airport due to weather moving in.
A statement from the state Department of Natural Resources warned that an expansive, deepening, low-pressure system over Missouri was tracking northeast with a strong cold front in tow. A wintry mix is likely early tomorrow before changing briefly back to rain through the afternoon and then snow again by late tomorrow night.
Round three is expected to come in the evening with storms developing through 9 p.m. All told, at least nine possible tornadoes had been reported across Alabama, Georgia and SC as the day wore on.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for some counties in the Midlands. However, the Lee County EMA said the event is “far from over”.
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“We share in the disappointment of our patrons, but the safety of everyone on our grounds is always our primary concern”, Billy Payne, chairman of the Masters golf tournament, said after players were ordered off the course in Augusta, Georgia. If you are in a vehicle when severe weather arises, leave the vehicle and get away from it.
