The National Weather Service received over 600 reports of extreme wind over the last couple of days in the Southern States during storms which have claimed the lives of eight people. Six died in Georgia as a direct result of the storms, while local authorities are reporting one death in both Mississippi and Tennessee.

From early reports which are still coming in, the main causes for the loss of life appear to be falling trees and downed power lines. Amongst the loss of life there has been massive devastation across the Southeast, including over 200,000 homes across Georgia left without power earlier on today. It is understood that Georgia Power are currently responding to 2,800 separate instances of power outage. Mississippi has also reported significant damage caused in twenty counties.

The National Weather Service also noted 19 instances of possible tornado damage and a further 72 reports of heavy hail.

While the severe storms have subsided, much of north Georgia and the Metro area is still under a wind advisory warning and gales of around 40kph are continuing until late this evening.

Reported by Sam Doving.

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