Watch Issued: 'High Risk' of Strong, Long-Track Tornadoes Sunday as Outbreak of Severe Storms Continues in the Southeast

January 22,2017
An outbreak of severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, will pound portions of the South once again on Sunday.
A rare "high risk" severe weather outlook has been issued for today by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in parts of south Georgia far southeast Alabama and northern Florida where supercell thunderstorms could spawn strong and long-track tornadoes. Outside that high risk area, damaging winds, very large hail and tornadoes may impact other parts of Georgia and Florida along with Alabama and the Carolinas.

Storm Prediction Center Outlook

This is the first high risk severe weather outlook to be issued by SPC since June 3, 2014, which gives an idea of how unusual they are.
Since early Saturday morning, a preliminary 30 reports of tornadoes have been tallied up from Louisiana to southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and southern Georgia, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.
(NEWS: Latest Severe Impacts)
A deadly EF3 tornado touched down in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, early Saturday, which caused considerable damage. Possible tornadoes were also reported in Alabama, including near Toxey and Wetumpka, and in Georgia near Perry, Howard and Warner Robbins.
Saturday afternoon, a dozen homes were damaged in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and one man was sucked from his house in an apparent tornado while another was injured in a mobile home as it was struck by a tornado.
Early Sunday morning, a possible tornado touched down in Brooks County, Georgia, where two people were killed, according to WALB News 10.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued the following severe weather watches: 

• A tornado watch valid until 10 a.m EST for southern Georgia, inland portions of the Florida Big Bend and extreme southeastern Alabama. This watch area includes Tallahassee, Florida, Albany and Savannah, Georgia and Dothan, Alabama. Conditions are favorable for intense tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail.

Current Radar, Watches and Warnings

(MORE: Where January Tornadoes Occur | Tornado Central)
Here is our latest forecast timeline.

Sunday

• Severe weather, including the possibility of tornadoes continues this morning, mainly in south Georgia, northern Florida and southern South Carolina.
• Some areas will get a few hours of breathing time during the later morning hours on Sunday, but this may come with sunshine. Sun in Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas will likely fuel more storms late in the day. 
• Another round of severe storms will fire up Sunday afternoon and evening from parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida to the Carolinas. 
• Damaging straight-line winds, tornadoes and large hail are all threats.
• Strong and long-track tornadoes are most likely to occur in south Georgia and north Florida.
• Heavy rain and local flash flooding will also be concerns in some areas.
• Cities: Atlanta | Birmingham, Alabama | Tallahassee, Florida | Jacksonville | Orlando | Tampa | Charleston

(REMINDER: Overnight Tornadoes Are More Than Twice As Likely To Be Deadly)
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Sunday's Severe Forecast

Storm Reports

Storm Reports in the Last 24 Hours

Overnight Friday into early Saturday, golf ball-sized hail was reported in Orange, Texas, near Roxie, Mississippi, and near Pinebur, Mississippi. Friday night, a wind gust of up to 70 mph was estimated in Beaumont, Texas.
Even before organized large-scale severe weather could occur, three tornadoes occurred between Jan. 18-19. There was an EF1 in Burkeville, Texas, an EF1 southeast of Birmingham, Alabama, and an EF2 in Simpson and Smith counties in Mississippi.
Heavy rainfall and flooding was reported on Friday in southeast Texas, including the Houston metro area.

MORE: Severe Weather in the South, Jan. 2017 (PHOTOS)