There were at least a dozen lightning strikes in Hall and Habersham counties overnight, as strong thunderstorms move through northeast Georgia, with more rain and flooding on the horizon.
Hall County Fire Services spokesman Zachary Brackett says there were five reported strikes in Hall County, one each on Canberra Way, Gillsville Highway, Lee Drive, Skitts Mountain Road, and Shoal Creek Road. However, none "had any evidence of fire," Brackett added.
"The majority of the lightning strikes had an electrical odor with electrical damage to the wiring of the home and appliances," he wrote in an email. "On each, the power was secured and the homeowners advised to contact an electrician before restoring electrical service. No injuries were reported."
There were seven reported strikes in Habersham County, according to Chad Black, the county's Emergency Medical Services Director. Black added the lightning did cause some fires but he had no information on them.
Meanwhile, rainfall amounts continued to increase overnight across north Georgia and more rain is expected Thursday and Friday before things start to "dry out" over the weekend. Unofficial reports show five inches in the West Hall area and 4.5 inches in North Hall as of early Thursday morning. Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville reports 3.52 inches as of midnight Wednesday.
Some flooding has been reported but so far there have been no reports of any major problems associated with it. And, there have been reports, especially in the metro Atlanta, of trees falling onto houses and vehicles. In northwest Georgia, a mudslide was reported Wednesday next to a service station in Dade County.
Georgia is not the only part of the Deep South where rain and stormy weather are causing problems.
Floodwaters cover roads in parts of eastern Mississippi and northern Alabama.
Flood watches and warnings were in place for the northern parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Creeks, rivers and streams are swollen in many places.
The National Weather Service predicts as much as 8 inches of rain through Saturday in some places, and freezing rain and sleet are possible in western areas of South Carolina. The Tennessee River, forecasters say, may not crest for days.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
