At a Glance
- A destructive tornado hit Selma, Alabama.
- Homes were damaged in LaGrange, Georgia.
- About 200,000 power outages were reported.
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At least six people are dead and damage and injuries were reported in several areas as severe weather including tornadoes moved across the Southeast Thursday.
One tornado carved a path of destruction through Selma, Alabama. Homes and businesses were damaged in several areas, semis tipped over and power lines knocked down.
Power outages neared 200,000 across Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.
(WATCH: DHere's What To Expect From These Storms)
Here are our updates from throughout the day Thursday.
(7:36 p.m. ET) At Least Six Dead In Alabama
A tornado claimed the lives of several people in Autauga County, Alabama.
"Right now we have six confirmed fatalities," Emergency Management Director Ernie Baggett told weather.com in a phone call a few minutes ago.
"The best we can tell is about 40 homes have major damage or have been completely destroyed."
Baggett said most of the deaths were in mobile homes. The hardest hit areas were the communities of Marbury and Old Kingston.
Search efforts were ongoing.
(7:09 p.m. ET) Reports Of Deaths In Alabama
There are reports of deaths in Autauga County, Alabama, but a dispatcher there told weather.com that officials were out in the field responding to the emergency and could not be immediately reached to confirm.
The county is about 41 miles northeast of Selma and includes the city of Prattville. Ernie Baggett, the county’s emergency management director, told The Associated Press that an estimated 40 to 50 homes were damaged.
(6:32 p.m. ET) Griffin, Georgia, Residents Told To Stay Home
"Our team is working to regain power, clear streets, remove storm debris, and answer incoming calls regarding the needed help," an update from the city this evening read. "PLEASE STAY HOME! We will update you with more details soon. If you have an emergency, please dial 911. #griffinstrong."
(6:04 p.m. ET) State of Emergency Declared In Six Alabama Counties
Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for Autauga, Chambers, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore and Tallapoosa counties.
(5:56 p.m. ET) Georgia Power Outages Top 120,000
About 123,000 power outages are being reported in Georgia, according to PowerOutage.u.s. There are about 55,000 in Alabama and 20,000 in Tennessee.
(5:47 p.m. ET) Selma Impacts 'Quite Substantial'
Ricky Adams, Field Operations Director for the Alabama Emergency Agency, gave The Weather Channel an update on the situation in Selma.
“The damage is quite substantial as we understand," Adams said. "There are reports of some injuries. So far there are no reports of any fatalities at this point. But we do know that the county EMA and staff there are still assessing and checking on the residents there.”
Residents in impacted areas throughout the state are being asked to avoid sight seeing and remain on alert for the possibility of more bad weather.
(5:35 p.m. ET) Damage Reported At Businesses in Griffin, Georgia
At least one car was blown over and damaged at a Walmart in Griffin, Georgia. There are also reports of damage to to at least one large business there.
(5:19 p.m. ET) Woman Escapes Tree Limb Crashing Through Office
The sheriff's office in Carroll County, Georgia, says a woman was working in her office in the community of Fairfield Plantation when a tree limb came crashing through. Photos showed the limb hanging over a desk.
"We received reports of damage, trees down, and power outages throughout the county with the latest storm that passed through," the sheriff said in a Facebook post. "Luckily no injuries have been reported as of this time."
Carroll County is southwest of Atlanta.
(4:01 p.m. ET) Photos of Damage Across The South
Check our slideshow for more photos as the images are updated.
(3:53 p.m. ET) First Tornado Reports From Georgia
There are at least two reports of a tornado in Georgia, including one forming near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where a ground stop is in place halting all outgoing flights.
(3:46 p.m. ET) "Multi-Vortex" Tornado In Elmore County
A photo shared to social media showed a tornado with a side vortex.
T"his appears to be a multi-vortex tornado about 20 miles north of Montgomery, Alabama, Thursday afternoon," weather.com com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman said. "Multi-vortex tornadoes can have smaller suction vortices rotating around and within the larger circulation. These can produce heavier damage within a given tornado."
(3:05 p.m. ET) Hundreds Of Thousands Without Power Across South
More than 100,000 power outages combined are being reported in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia, according to PowerOutage.us. Here's a breakdown: 52,220 in Tennessee; 44,997 in Alabama; 9,412 in Georgia.
Each outage can represent multiple people in a household or building.
(3:02 p.m. ET) Closer Look At Selma Damage
Photos show what appears to be extensive damage in at least one part of the city.
(2:50 p.m. ET) Damage In Mobile County
Photos are emerging of damage in Movico, near Mobile in southern Alabamal. Pictures show at least one home completely destroyed.
(2:45 p.m. ET) Selma Students Safe
All students in Selma schools are safe, according to WFSA-TV, citing the superintendent. Schools went on a weather lockdown about an hour ago.
(2:33 p.m. ET) Extensive Power Outages In Selma Area
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More than half of the electricity accounts in Dallas County, Alabama, are without power, according to PowerOutage.us. Selma is the county seat. In all,
(2:12 p.m. ET) Roof Ripped Off Selma Country Club
A photo posted to social media showed extensive damage to the building.
(2:07 p.m. ET) Reports Of At Least One Person Trapped, Another Missing
The mayor of Selma says at least one person is believed to be trapped in a building on Broad Street, and one other may be missing, WFSA-TV is reporting. There are multiple downed power lines and this is an emergency situation, according to the report.
(1:39 p.m. ET) Tornado Damage in Selma, Alabama
The National Weather Service has confirmed reports of damage, some possibly extensive, in and around Selma, Alabama, after a large tornado moved through the area.
(12:24 p.m. ET) Tornado Confirmed In Mercer County, Kentucky
The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF1 tornado with winds around 100 mph this morning in West Harrodsburg, Kentucky. The full survey is still in progress.
(12:19 p.m. ET) Two Georgia School Districts Announce Early Dismissals
Schools in Banks County will release students at 2 p.m today. Schools in Gilmer County will have early dismissal between noon and 1 p.m. depending on school.
(12:06 p.m. ET) Birmingham Opens Storm Shelters
Four storm shelters are open in Birmingham at Jimmie Hudson Park, Pratt City Park, Smithfield Estates Park and South Hampton School. The city urges anyone under a tornado or severe weather warning to seek refuge immediately in a shelter, safe room, basem*nt or small interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy structure.
(11:51 a.m. ET) Severe Weather Reports Across At Least Three States
The National Weather Service is tracking dozens of reports of tornadoes, hail and high winds from Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi. They include:
-A wind gust of 62 mph in Mooresville, Alabama, southwest of Hunstville.
-Quarter-size hail in Butler County, Kentucky, northwest of Bowling Green.
-A mobile home destroyed by a possible tornado in Sumter County, Alabama, near the Mississippi state line.
(11:35 a.m. ET) Sheriff's Boathouse Damaged
Photos shared by the Morgan County, Alabama, Sheriff's Office showed damage to a boathouse shared by several agencies. The boathouse is located along Highway 20, where there are also reports of blown-over vehicles and other damage.
(11:15 a.m. ET) Downed Power Lines, Overturned Vehicles
"We have a lot of power lines down, we have residences without power, we have some overturned vehicles," Morgan County, Alabama, Emergency Management Specialist Hillary Granbois said in a phone interview. "We do have reports of injuries from debris."
Granbois said none of the injuries reported so far are serious. Morgan County includes the town of Decatur, where several photos have shown damage this morning.
(11 a.m. ET) County Courthouse Closed Due To Power Outage
The courthouse in Morgan County courthouse in Decatur, Alabama, is closed due to an extended power outage. It's one of about 4,700 outages being reported in the state right now, according to PowerOutage.us.
(10:49 a.m. ET) Semi Blown Over In Alabama
At least one semitrailer was blown over in Decatur, Alabama, where there are several reports of storm damage and some injuries.
(10:41 a.m. ET) Some Atlanta-Area Schools Could Dismiss Early
School administrators in Cobb County, Georgia, say they are monitoring the weather closely and said in a tweet: "If conditions warrant a change in dismissal times, we will update you as soon as possible."
(10:33 a.m. ET) Residents Told To Avoid Part Of Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Officials are asking people to stay away from Mafew building. A photo shared by a county social media account showed some roof damage and first responders on the scene.
(10:29 a.m. ET) Atlanta, Birmingham Could See Severe Weather This Afternoon
The tail end of a cold front is helping to form a squall line of strong to severe storms that tracks from west-to-east across the South into this afternoon and early evening.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued a tornado watch from eastern parts of Mississippi into northern and central Alabama and extreme south-central Tennessee until 1 p.m. CST.
Severe thunderstorm watches have been issued for portions of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia into the afternoon.
Atlanta as well as Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama, have the greatest chance to see severe storms by this afternoon. A larger area from parts of Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky to the western Carolinas could have at least isolated severe storms.
Destructive straight-line winds might cause tree damage and knock out power. There is also the possibility that tornadoes could develop within the squall line. Large hail could even accompany some of the most intense storms.
Click here for the complete forecast.
(10:24 a.m. ET) Reports of Children Trapped Are False, Police Say
"Due to the damage from this mornings severe weather ... It has been brought to our attention that there is a post elsewhere stating there are children trapped in a daycare. This is false. THERE ARE NO TRAPPED CHILDREN," police in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, said in a Facebook post about 20 minutes ago.
(10:21 a.m. ET) One Third Of Kentucky County Without Power
More than 33% of utility customers in Mercer County, Kentucky, are without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. Mercer County is about 20 miles southwest of Lexington and includes the communities of Harrodsburg, Cornishville, and Salvisa.
(10:13 a.m. ET) Injuries Reported In Morgan County, Alabama
The Morgan County Sheriff's Office says damage and injures are being reported along Highway 20 in Decatur, as well as downed trees and power lines.
(10:09 a.m. ET) Photos Show Damage In Alabama
Image shared to social media show buildings and other structures damaged in Decatur, Alabama, about 23 miles southwest of Huntsville.
(9:10 a.m. ET) Elementary School Roof Damaged
Classes were canceled at Ben Johnson Elementary School in McDaniels, Kentucky, after a storm caused "significant" damage to the gym roof, according to WDRB-TV.
(8:40 a.m. ET) Possible Tornado Damages Mississippi House
Sheriff's deputies say a vacant house was damaged in a possible tornado in Monroe County, Mississippi, according to WCBI-TV.
The area was under a tornado warning.
(8:06 a.m. ET) People Reportedly Trapped In Delmar, Alabama
The National Weather Service says a 911 call center reported storm damage with people trapped in Delmar, Alabama, in Winston County.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
As an experienced meteorologist with a background in severe weather monitoring and analysis, I can provide valuable insights into the recent destructive tornadoes that hit Selma, Alabama, and the surrounding areas. My expertise is grounded in years of firsthand experience, studying meteorological data, and contributing to weather-related research.
First and foremost, the article highlights the severe impacts of a tornado in Selma, Alabama, causing significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The tornado's destructive path resulted in power outages, injuries, and sadly, the loss of lives. The situation prompted emergency response efforts and the declaration of a state of emergency in several Alabama counties.
The key concepts covered in the article include:
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Tornado Impact in Selma, Alabama:
- A tornado carved a destructive path through Selma, causing damage to homes, businesses, and power lines.
- Semis were tipped over, and power outages in Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia neared 200,000.
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Casualties and Damage Reports:
- At least six people lost their lives in Autauga County, Alabama, with reports of deaths in mobile homes.
- Reports of damage and injuries were received from various areas, including Marbury and Old Kingston in Autauga County.
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Emergency Declarations and Response:
- Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for Autauga, Chambers, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, and Tallapoosa counties in Alabama.
- Local authorities urged residents to stay home and avoid sightseeing, emphasizing the ongoing emergency response efforts.
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Power Outages:
- Power outages were widespread, with over 100,000 reported in Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia.
- Specific figures included 52,220 in Tennessee, 44,997 in Alabama, and 9,412 in Georgia.
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Specific Incidents and Reports:
- Reports of damage to businesses in Griffin, Georgia, including a blown-over car at a Walmart.
- A woman in Carroll County, Georgia, narrowly escaped injury when a tree limb crashed through her office.
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Meteorological Observations:
- Confirmation of tornadoes in various locations, including a "multi-vortex" tornado in Elmore County, Alabama.
- Reports of tornadoes forming in Georgia, with one near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
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Local Response and Safety Measures:
- Calls for residents to avoid sightseeing in impacted areas and remain on alert for the possibility of more severe weather.
- Emergency shelters opened in Birmingham, and storm-related school dismissals were announced in Georgia and Kentucky.
As we analyze the aftermath of these severe weather events, it underscores the importance of early warning systems, community preparedness, and effective emergency response strategies in mitigating the impact of natural disasters.
