By Ian Simpson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Torrential rain and strong winds threatened to snarl travel and cause more destruction on Monday as a major storm roared up the U.S. East Coast after killing at least 20 people in the South.

The weather system, which formed deadly tornadoes in the deep South, is turning colder as it moves northeast, where residents face potential flooding, downed power lines and high tides overnight, said Tim Morrin, the National Weather Service's New York Observation Program Leader.

"The best place to be is inside," Morrin said.

Two train lines operated by NJ Transit, which serves about 100,000 commuters daily, were suspended during evening rush hour between New York City and parts of New Jersey due to downed power lines, the agency said on its website.

About 665 flights were canceled, with Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey the hardest hit U.S. airport, according to the air traffic website FlightAware.

New York City emergency management officials warned winds could reach 60 miles per hour (97 km per hour) through Monday night, with more than 3 inches (7.5 cm) of rain possible. Flood advisories and watches were issued for much of the region.

Northern Pennsylvania and parts of New England were expected to get more than 6 inches (15 cm) of wet snow, producing dangerously slick roads. Winds topping 50 mph (80 kph) could whip the East Coast from Delaware to eastern Maine.

The National Weather Service said the front would reach the Middle Atlantic coast by Monday evening. A flood warning was in place for part of southwestern Virginia, and a high wind advisory was issued for western North Carolina.

The storm is expected to take a north-eastward path away from the U.S. coastline by Wednesday evening, the weather service said.

The rain and snow will help ease a dry spell in the northeast United States, where much of the region is suffering from moderate to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Tornadoes and storms killed 15 people over the weekend in Georgia. In Dougherty County, four people were confirmed dead after a twister left a damage path at least a mile wide in spots on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Families were separated and many people left without homes, food or hope, officials said. A mobile home park was particularly hard hit.

"It literally looks like God took half of the mobile home park and threw it across the street into the woods," Dougherty County Commission Chair Chris Cohilas said at a news conference.

Mississippi reported four dead from a tornado on Saturday, and one death was reported in northern Florida's Columbia County.

(Additional reporting by Letitia Stein in Tampa, Fla., Laila Kearney, Frank McGurty and Chris Michaud in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and James Dalgleish)</s>GEORGIA (WJBF) – Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has declared a state for emergency for 7 South Georgia counties that have suffered death, injuries and severe damage.

Deal’s office said Sunday the emergency declaration includes Brooks, Cook and Berrien counties – where 11 people have been confirmed dead in south central Georgia near the Florida state line.

Also included were Atkinson, Colquitt, Lowndes and Thomas counties.

Deal said in a statement that state agencies are “making all resources available” to affected counties and “our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm’s impact.”



Count on WJBF NewsChannel 6 to bring you the latest on this developing story.</s>GEORGIA (WJBF) – Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has declared a state for emergency for 7 South Georgia counties that have suffered death, injuries and severe damage.

Deal’s office said Sunday the emergency declaration includes Brooks, Cook and Berrien counties – where 11 people have been confirmed dead in south central Georgia near the Florida state line.

Also included were Atkinson, Colquitt, Lowndes and Thomas counties.

Deal said in a statement that state agencies are “making all resources available” to affected counties and “our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm’s impact.”

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Find 8News on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram; send your news tips toiReport8@wric.com.</s>ATLANTA – The governor of Georgia has declared a state of emergency in seven counties that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms.

Gov. Nathan Deal’s office said Sunday the emergency declaration includes Brooks, Cook and Berrien counties — where 11 people have been confirmed dead in south central Georgia near the Florida state line.

Also included were Atkinson, Colquitt, Lowndes and Thomas counties.

Deal said in a statement that state agencies are “making all resources available” to affected counties and “our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm’s impact.”</s>ATLANTA (AP) – The governor of Georgia has declared a state of emergency in seven counties that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms.

Gov. Nathan Deal’s office said Sunday the emergency declaration includes Brooks, Cook and Berrien counties – where 11 people have been confirmed dead in south central Georgia near the Florida state line.

Also included were Atkinson, Colquitt, Lowndes and Thomas counties.

Deal said in a statement that state agencies are “making all resources available” to affected counties and “our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm’s impact.”

Cook County Coroner Tim Purvis said an apparent tornado “leveled” numerous homes before dawn Sunday in a mobile home park near Adel, killing seven people. He said emergency responders were still searching for survivors hours later</s>UPDATE : Following the recommendation from Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMHSA) officials and local Emergency Management Agencies (EMA), Gov. Nathan Deal is declaring a state of emergency for seven South Central Georgia counties impacted by severe weather and tornado touchdowns on January 21 and 22. The state of emergency is currently in effect and will remain so for the next seven days.

Click Here to See State of Emergency Order

“These storms have devastated communities and homes in South Central Georgia, and the state is making all resources available to the impacted areas,” Deal said. These storms have resulted in loss of life, numerous injuries and extensive property damage, and our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm’s impact. As we continue to assess the damage, I’m prepared to expand or extend this emergency declaration as needed. In addition to the state’s response, all indications suggest we will also be submitting a request for federal assistance as well.

“The National Weather Service predicts a third wave of severe weather today, which may reach as far north as metro Atlanta. I urge all Georgians to exercise caution and vigilance in order to remain safe and prevent further loss of life or injuries.”

Gov. Deal plans to visit the affected areas in the coming days.

State agencies assisting in the seven counties include:

GEMHSA, which is coordinating all disaster response

Department of Public Heath, which has deployed trauma trailers

There are five Good Samaritan shelters now open, and additional information may be found here.

Read the executive order here. For more information on GEMHSA preparedness efforts, contact Catherine Howden or visit www.gema.ga.gov.

WALB in Albany, GA has provided WSAV News with information regarding the severe weather. WSAV will update you with more information as it comes in.

(CNN) Eleven people were killed in severe weather that struck southern Georgia in the overnight hours Saturday into Sunday.

At least two of the deaths were in Brooks County.

The deaths were confirmed by Georgia Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Catherine Howden. Howden said the agency was working to assess the damage.

 The National Weather Service said most of south Georgia remains under a tornado watch; some under a severe thunderstorm warning; and, in the extreme southern portion north of Tallahassee, Florida, a tornado warning.

 The weather service has not classified Georgia’s deadly weather as a tornado.

 It followed a fatal tornado Saturday in southern Mississippi, as severe weather gripped much of the Southeast. Preliminary damage assessments conducted in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on Saturday showed the tornado packed winds reaching between 136 and 165 mph.

 It killed four people and injured at least 20 more in Forrest County, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said. Most damage was near the cities of Hattiesburg and Petal.

 Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant declared a state of emergency.</s>The governor of Georgia has declared a state of emergency in seven counties - after 11 people were killed in tornado storms on Sunday.

Governor Nathan Deal's office said the emergency areas includes Brooks, Cook and Berrien counties, south central Georgia, near the Florida state line - where the 11 died.

Also included were Atkinson, Colquitt, Lowndes and Thomas counties.

Deal said in a statement that state agencies are "making all resources available" to the affected counties and "our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the impact of the storm".

Twenty-three people were also injured and weather experts warn of more deadly storms to come.

The National Weather Service said that south Georgia and also north Florida and parts of Alabama could face more "intense and long-track" tornados on Sunday evening - with strong winds and large hailstones.

A coroner confirmed seven people died at a mobile home park in south Georgia after the storm tore through the area on Sunday morning.

Cook County Coroner Tim Purvis said a tornado "levelled" numerous mobile homes before dawn in the park near Adel. He said emergency services were still searching for survivors hours later.

Purvis estimated the park has about 40 mobile homes and half of them were destroyed.

Catherine Howden, of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, put the death toll from severe weather in the state to 11. She said the deaths occurred in Cook, Brooks and Berrien counties.

On Saturday, four people were killed in a tornado in Mississippi.</s>Severe weather has killed 11 people and injured 23 in the US state of Georgia, emergency officials say.

Governor Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency in seven counties in south-central Georgia.

“I urge all Georgians to exercise caution and vigilance in order to remain safe and prevent further loss of life or injuries,” Deal said in a news release.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency said the 11 victims were in the southern Cook, Brooks and Berrien counties.

More storms and a “tornado outbreak” are expected in northern Florida and southern Georgia, the National Weather Service says.

Four people were killed by tornadoes in Mississippi on Saturday.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has pledged federal assistance for Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

Trump said during a White House ceremony that he had spoken to Georgia Governor, Nathan Deal and planned to speak with Florida Governor, Rick Scott about the storms.

Trump said he expressed his condolences.

“The tornadoes were vicious and powerful and strong and they suffered greatly,” he said. “So we’ll be helping out.”</s>Severe weather has killed least 15 people in the southern United States, and forecasters warn of more deadly storms to come.

The National Weather Service said Sunday that southern Georgia, northern Florida and the corner of southeastern Alabama could face forceful tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail. Long track tornadoes, which plow on for kilometers, also are a real risk.

Eleven people were killed and more than 20 injured as violent storms and tornadoes rolled through parts of Georgia over the weekend. Another four people were killed in Mississippi by a tornado on Saturday.

Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia declared a state of emergency in seven counties that suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from the storms. Deal said that state agencies are "making all resources available'' to affected counties, and that "our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm's impact.''</s>Overnight in southern Georgia, near the border with Florida, severe weather swept through the region. At least 11 people were killed and 23 more were injured as the area was racked with storms, according to local officials.

Now, Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency Sunday morning for seven counties in the state.

"These storms have devastated communities and homes in South Central Georgia, and the state is making all resources available to the impacted areas," Deal said in a statement.

"These storms have resulted in loss of life, numerous injuries and extensive property damage, and our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm's impact. As we continue to assess the damage, I'm prepared to expand or extend this emergency declaration as needed. In addition to the state's response, all indications suggest we will also be submitting a request for federal assistance as well."



The Georgia Emergency Management Agency has also issued a warning that there is "a HIGH RISK for severe weather" for much of the state Sunday.

The deaths overnight in southern Georgia occurred in Cook, Brooks and Berrien counties, according to Catherine Howden of the GEMA.

National Weather Service Atlanta had issued a flash flood watch and a tornado watch in the region Saturday, but officials could not clarify further whether tornadoes were to blame for the loss of life overnight.

This is not the first time the weather turned deadly in the Southeast this weekend. As WABE's Elly Yu reports, at least four people died when a tornado swept through southern Mississippi.

That predawn tornado had winds above 136 miles per hour, according to The Associated Press.

Storms also tore through homes and buildings in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas in the past two days.
The death toll in the southern United States rises to 18 with the Governor of Georgia Nathan Deal declaring a state of emergency in seven counties.