Strong Storms Splinter Trees, Cause Damage in Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Storms that moved across the Deep South early Wednesday knocked down trees and caused other scattered damage in Alabama before prompting tornado warnings in Georgia.

No injuries or deaths were reported from the storm system, which also kicked up tornado watches for a tim across dozens of counties in south Georgia, northern Florida and the southeastern corner of Alabama.

West of Mobile, part of the roof of Joe Clarke’s house was ripped off moments after the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning.

“We got in the hallway and it was over. It lasted 10 seconds,” Clarke told WKRG-TV. “You hear the rush, the wind, stuff hitting the windows. By the time we got into the living area, my wife was calling her mom. It was over.”

The Storm Prediction Center said there also were reports of damage along the Georgia line in Barbour County, where trees were knocked down and at least one home was reported hit.

Images shared on social media showed a truck overturned and twisted metal at a business in Clayton, where John Earl Marshall said he covered his head as trees fell around his home and trash cans flew.

“The main thing is I am glad God is in charge. Because if it wouldn’t have been for him I know I would have been gone,” Marshall told WSFA-TV.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday said a survey team confirmed that an EF1 tornado touched down, packing winds between 90 and 100 mph (145-160 kph).

Forecasters issued multiple tornado warnings in the Florida Panhandle and southwestern Georgia as the storms moved eastward.

The storms moved across parts of the Panhandle where hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate over the weekend because of wildfires around Panama City, Florida. It remained unclear whether the area would get enough rain to douse the blazes, though fire officials said it would help.

The storms were associated with a cold front moving across the Southeast, forecasters said. Light snow is possible as far south as southern Mississippi on Saturday, according to the weather service.