The National Weather Service issued a tornado emergency Wednesday afternoon for Webster and Sumter counties in southwest Georgia, a rare incident only used when confirmed tornadoes are likely to cause catastrophic damage.
The emergency warning stemmed from a system of storms barreling through the Southeast that is expected to leave nearly 60 million people at risk of tornadoes, damaging winds, thunderstorms and flooding, according to a CNN forecast.
The storms will affect Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina before moving into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys, according to the National Weather Service. The storms were expected in two waves: one in the morning, and another in the afternoon and evening.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for a broad area, which means that conditions are favorable for severe weather.
In Sumter County, a tornado up to a mile and a half wide was spotted, county emergency management director Nigel Poole told CNN.
“We are still taking cover and actively watching the storm,” Poole said. “There have been reports of damage, but we have not been able to access them yet.”
Strong winds and baseball-size hail were expected in parts of Alabama, where Gov. Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency ahead of the weather event.
Eufaula police, in southeast Alabama, posted photos of significant street flooding and asked residents to stay home.
Jake Reed, a meteorologist for CNN affiliate WHNT-TV in Huntsville, Alabama, issued a stark warning of the coming storm on Facebook, saying it was “far and away the biggest threat Alabama has seen in quite some time.”
In Georgia, there was a chance for isolated tornadoes and hail, National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Sena told CNN. Metro Atlanta was hit by a deluge of rain.
Rainfall amounts will average 1.5 to 2 inches, and a flash flood watch has been issued for that area, according to the weather service.
At the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, the Par 3 Contest was closed for the day due to the inclement weather.
In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The ground stop was lifted in the afternoon, but delays are expected as the storm hits the area.