Multiple rounds of severe weather expected for Middle Georgia starting early Thursday

Waves of severe weather that include the possibility of strong winds, tornadoes, hail and flash flooding are expected to advance across Middle Georgia starting Thursday morning, a National Weather Service meteorologist says.

“We’re expecting multiple waves of severe weather to come through: one in the morning time and then a line of storms to come through little bit later and then another (round of) potential storms to develop later in the afternoon,” said Nick Morgan of the NWS in Peachtree City. “So, it’s going to be an all-day event so far.

“The primary threats are going to be those tornadoes, some damaging winds and potentially some hail and ... potential for some flash flooding as well due to the heavy rains we’ve had recently as well as the increasing rain we’re getting from these storms,” he said.

All of Middle Georgia remains at an enhanced risk level of 3 with 5 being the greatest for the potential of severe weather, according to a Storm Prediction Center weather model.

The higher tornado probability remains around the Atlanta-Savannah line and southward toward Macon, Morgan said.

Chances of tornadoes were estimated at 10%, he said.

“Some could be strong in that area,” Morgan said.

Some uncertainty remained early Wednesday with the timing of the possible severe weather.

“It’s pretty difficult forecast to be honest, so to nail down an exact timing at this moment is pretty tough,” Morgan said. “Models don’t really have a great handle on it, and, so therefore, we don’t have a great view of the atmosphere at the current time.

“It’s just really going to be an all-day event per se — like I said multiple waves. So, once in the morning, once in the afternoon and probably again a bit later going into the evening hours,” he said.

Morgan recommended having multiple ways to receive weather warnings such as emergency alerts on cellphones and keeping up with weather developments on Thursday.

A EF-0 tornado touched down in south Houston County on Elko Road early Monday. The tornado was short lived and in an area where the only damage was to a wooded section of roadway, the Houston County Emergency Management Agency posted on Facebook.

The Monday before that an EF-1 damaged buildings in north Macon.