Storms and Suspected Tornadoes Rip Across Southeast, 4 dead
Powerful thunderstorms and suspected tornadoes hit the southeast of the United States on Wednesday evening across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina killing at least 4 people.
Three of the deaths occurred in York County, South Carolina and one in Forsyth County, Georgia, according to a CNN report Thursday. Dozens more are injured, according to the Associated Press.
The identity of the victims in South Carolina was not revealed and authorities were conducting a search for other potential victims, reports South Carolina newspaper The State.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service couldn't confirm if a tornado touched down in York County, but said they had reports of downed trees and damaged vehicles, The State reports.
The fourth fatality was a 51-year-old man who died Wednesday when a large pine tree fell in his SUV as he was traveling on a highway. He was killed instantly, emergency crews said, according to local station WSBTV.
On Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service warned that a tornado watch was in effect through midnight Wednesday for the southeast region of the United States northward into North Carolina including Charlotte.
Forecasters at the Weather Channel said the storm remained a threat early Thursday. They said the areas that could be affected by severe storms were from Destin to Jacksonville in Florida to as far as Richmond, Virginia.