Deadly severe storms raced through the Southeast on Thursday, Jan. 12 spawning tornadoes across the region.

The Associated Press reports at least nine people were killed from Thursday’s storms.


What You Need To Know

  • Severe weather raced through the Southeast, spawning several tornadoes

  • Storms killed multiple people in Alabama

  • The NWS confirmed tornadoes in Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky

  • Storms generated more than 200 reports of strong winds or wind damage

From Alabama to Kentucky to the Carolinas, at least eight states dealt with nasty weather.

A preliminary report from the National Weather Service (NWS) shows over 40 reports of tornadoes. That number will become clearer as surveys show where multiple reports came from a single tornado. 

Tornadoes in Alabama

The NWS confirmed that an EF-2 tornado touched in Winston County, Alabama, just northwest of Double Springs.

They’ve also reported EF-2 damage in Selma, one area hardest hit by the fierce storms.

EF-3 damage was reported in Autauga County. However, in their tornado report, meteorologists are trying to determine if the same storm caused damage in both areas.

The tornado ripped the roof off of homes and uprooted trees through parts of the state. 

tornado damage
A damaged home is seen in the aftermath of severe weather, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, near Prattville, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has issued to a state of emergency for six counties in the state due to storm damage. Seven deaths happened in Autagua County, where the county's emergency management director says a tornado damaged or destroyed an estimated 40 homes.

Meteorologists say it will take many days to survey the damage.

Severe weather moves into Georgia

The same weather system sent storms across parts of Georgia, including the Atlanta metro area, bringing damaging winds, localized flooding and tornadoes.

Strong winds knocked a tree onto a vehicle in the town of Jackson, killing a passenger. Powerful winds also damaged a warehouse complex in Austell, Georgia.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has also declared a state of emergency because of Thursday’s storms.

Before causing damage in Alabama and Georgia, the NWS confirmed at least three tornadoes in Kentucky.

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