Tornado
A tornado hit the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay (NSBKB), Kingsland, Georgia. In this photo, lighting strikes outside of Joliet, Illinois from a tornadic supercell that produced a tornado that struck Coral City in Joliet, Illinois, June 22, 2015. Getty Images/ Jon Durr

KEY POINTS

  • The U.S. Storm Prediction Center reported damaged power lines and broken tree limbs
  • Around 92,000 people are still without electricity
  • Georgia has declared a statewide state of emergency

Authorities have raised several tornado warnings across Georgia after Alabama recorded six deaths due to a severe weather outbreak on Thursday.

In its latest update, the United States Storm Prediction Center reported damaged power lines, broken tree limbs and street debris across Georgia, Kentucky and Alabama.

At least 45 preliminary tornado reports were recorded as of 10 p.m. on Thursday.

The National Weather Service posted several warnings across Georgia with the latest Tornado Warning continuing for Ty Ty City in Georgia until 8:45 p.m.

Earlier, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey confirmed the State's casualties following more than two dozen tornadoes that battered the South.

"I am sad to have learned that six Alabamians were lost to the storms that ravaged across our state. My prayers are with their loved ones and communities. We are far too familiar with devastating weather, but our people are resilient. We will get through it and be stronger for it," Ivey said in a Twitter post.

Gary Weaver, the emergency management deputy director of Autaga County – where most deaths were recorded – said that at least 20 homes in the area were damaged or destroyed, according to CNN.

Meanwhile, NWS Meteorologist Gerald Satterwhite told CNN that the tornado was possibly on the ground for at least 50 miles and caused damage in seven counties across the state.

"It was a pretty significant tornado [with] debris lofted in the air to about 10,000 to 15,000 feet," Satterwhite said.

The tornado was likely an EF-2 or EF-3, he added.

Around 92,000 customers in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, California, North Carolina and South Dakota are reported to have no power yet, as of Friday 3:40 a.m., according to PowerOutage.us.

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Georgia's governor has declared a statewide emergency following the severe storm and tornadoes.

"I have declared a State of Emergency and ordered all relevant agencies to respond with an all-hands-on-deck approach to the affected communities," Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said.

Damage left by a tornado which touched down in New Orleans, Louisiana, in March 2022
AFP