Severe storm causes interstate crashes, flooding across Georgia
ATLANTA - Severe weather overnight left thousands of Georgians without power and caused major headaches for drivers heading to work Wednesday morning.
While the metro Atlanta area avoided most of the damage from the massive storm system that continues to pass through the South, the area was still hit with heavy rain and damaging winds that reached near;ly 40 mph.
Parts of the metro Atlanta area had seen over 5 inches of rain with more on the way as the storm moves eastward.
While most of the torrential rain has moved out of the metro Atlanta area, officials with the National Weather Service warned commuters of flooding and wet roads that may cause hazardous conditions. If you can wait to get on the roads, officials are recommending you delay your commute as much as you possibly can.
Crashes, traffic jams reported on Georgia interstates
A serious injury crash blocked all lanes of northbound Interstate 75 in northwest Atlanta Wednesday morning.
The crash happened shortly before 6:30 a.m. on I-75 northbound right past Howell Mill Road.
Officials say the crash reportedly involved a patrol vehicle, a HERO unit car, and two other vehicles.
One person was reportedly ejected in the crash and three people were transported by emergency medical services.
Drivers should plan alternate routes and expect major delays.
On southbound I-85, traffic was left at a crawling pace near Jimmy Carter Boulevard as standing water covering the right two lanes of the interstate.
In Clayton County, a slippery roadway caused a crash on Interstate 285 westbound at Riverdale Road that blocked all lanes of traffic.
Georgia Power reported over 2,000 people without power Wednesday morning as crews attempt to fix the damage caused by the weather.
While most of the torrential rain has moved out of the metro Atlanta area, officials with the National Weather Service warned commuters of flooding and wet roads that may cause hazardous conditions. If you can wait to get on the roads, officials are recommending you delay your commute as much as you possibly can.
The FOX 5 Storm Team says the downpours will be gone from the area by mid-morning
Storm damage across the South
There were no immediate reports of severe damage or injuries as multiple tornado warnings were issued staring Tuesday afternoon and continuing into the nighttime hours as heavy thunderstorms rolled from eastern Texas to Georgia and as far north as Indiana.
The National Weather Service confirmed that tornados hit the ground in Mississippi on Tuesday evening and Alabama was in the forecast path of the storms during the overnight hours.
More than 25 million people were at risk as the vast storm system. The national Storm Prediction Center said in its storm outlook that affected cities could include New Orleans; Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee; and Birmingham, Alabama.
In west Alabama, a suspected tornado damaged numerous homes in Hale County, according to storm damage reports to the National Weather Service. About 29,000 customers were without power early Wednesday morning.
In the town of Eutaw, Alabama, video showed large sections of the roof missing from an apartment complex, where residents stood outside in the middle of the night.
"We’ve got power lines, trees just all over the road," Eutaw Police Chief Tommy Johnson told WBRC-TV. "In the morning when we get a little daylight, we’re going to do a door-by-door search to make sure no one is trapped inside or anything like that."
Flood watches were issued for parts of southeast Mississippi and southwest Alabama, where 3 to 5 inches of rain could lead to flash flooding, the National Weather Service said.
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