Tornado watches have been posted for much of Georgia, including the Gainesville area, as the state braces for more rain and stormy weather today.
Forecasters issued a tornado watch early today for a large part of Florida. Parts of south Georgia, including Valdosta, also were under a tornado watch. Then, about 10:00, a tornado watch was posted for most of the rest of the state. It includes the Gainesville area and is in effect until 6:00 this evening.
Storms were also expected to bring the threat of flash flooding. Flash flood watches cover large parts of Georgia (including Hall County) and the Carolinas.
In North Carolina, a state of emergency is in effect in a small town of Autryville in the eastern part of the state after a tornado damaged a fire station and several mobile homes late Tuesday afternoon. No serious injuries were reported.
Strong storms overnight in Gainesville downed trees and utility poles along historic Green Street, completely closing the street until at least noon, according to police and Georgia Department of Transportation officials.
Rainfall at Gainesville's Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport since last Thursday totaled 5.88 inches through yesterday. However, some places in outlying sections have reported unofficial amounts as high as seven inches.
(AccessWDUN's Ken Stanford contributed to this report.)
