Water rescues reported in Atlanta as millions face severe weather, flash flood threats in South

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has highlighted three areas of concern where strong to severe thunderstorms could fire up Wednesday – North Texas, the Florida Peninsula and South Carolina. The main threats are large hail and damaging wind gusts. However, there is a small risk of tornadoes along Florida’s east coast.

ATLANTA – Flash flooding and water rescues were reported in the Atlanta metro area Wednesday morning, and millions of people will continue to be at risk of seeing severe weather across the South through the rest of the week.

FOX 5 Atlanta reports that emergency crews were out in full force throughout the day responding to requests for help, including residents of a home that was damaged by a falling tree, as well as from people who became trapped by rapidly rising water.

Several crashes were also reported on local roads and highways, which led to slower travel times during the Wednesday morning commute.

Atlanta’s iconic Mary Mac’s Tea Room was severely damaged after the roof collapsed as torrential rain was falling.

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Severe weather threat continues for millions through the rest of the week

A three-hour radar loop showing where showers and thunderstorms are ongoing. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are indicated in yellow. Tornado Warnings are indicated in red, while Tornado Warnings with a confirmed tornado are indicated in purple. Flash Flood Warnings are indicated in green, while Flash Flood Emergencies are indicated in pink.
(FOX Weather)


 

The Southeast is getting a brief break from the heavier action Wednesday before the next round of showers and storms Thursday.

There are a few exceptions, however.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has highlighted three areas of concern where strong to severe thunderstorms could fire up on Wednesday – North Texas, the Florida Peninsula and South Carolina.

The main threats from any thunderstorms that develop on Wednesday will be large hail and damaging wind gusts. However, there is a small risk of tornadoes along Florida’s east coast from Melbourne southward through Vero Beach, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

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Threat for severe weather grows on Thursday, Friday

The end of the workweek could be interesting as more severe storms with the potential of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts and possible tornadoes could develop from Texas in the southern Plains to the Deep South and Gulf Coast.

Nearly 9 million people from Central Texas, western Oklahoma and southern Kansas have been placed in a Level 2 risk on the SPC’s 5-point severe thunderstorm risk scale Thursday.

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This includes the Texas cities of Abilene, Dallas, Waco and Wichita Falls. In Oklahoma, the cities of Fort Sill and Woodward will be at risk.

Additionally, more than 8 million people are in a Level 1 out of 5 risk of severe weather on Thursday, and that includes cities such as San Antonio and Austin in Texas and Oklahoma City and Tulsa in Oklahoma.

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The severe thunderstorm risk on Friday will expand farther to the east, with more than 12 million people in a Level 2 out of 5 risk.

That includes Waco and Lufkin in Texas, Shreveport, Alexandria and New Orleans in Louisiana, Jackson in Mississippi and Mobile in Alabama.

A much larger Level 1 risk encompasses more than 25 million people from Central and East Texas into the lower Mississippi Valley, mid-South and along the central Gulf Coast as far east as the Florida Panhandle.

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