The Latest: Storms diminish, but flood watches remain

ATLANTA – The Latest on severe weather in the South (all times local):

7:50 a.m.

Many of the severe storms that rolled through southern states overnight have diminished, but flood watches remained in parts of Alabama, Georgia and the Florida panhandle early Friday.

The National Storm Prediction Center says a large part of Georgia and the Carolinas will be at a slight risk of more storms later Friday. Forecasters say damaging wind gusts and the potential for a few tornadoes will be the main threats.

Parts of three Georgia counties were under a tornado warning early Friday. The National Weather Service said a severe storm capable of producing a tornado was being tracked on radar south of Macon. There were no immediate reports of any tornadoes on the ground or damage from that storm.

Earlier, tornadoes swirled through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Thursday as storms headed east.

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4:55 a.m.

Tornadoes swirled through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as the severe storms head toward the Carolinas.

Emergency management officials Rita White and Harry Markham say one tornado touched down in Eldridge in central Alabama around 8 p.m. Thursday and another hit about hour before in Ardmore in the northern part of the state. There were no immediate reports of damage or any injuries.

The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes touched down in southeastern Louisiana, bringing down trees and power lines but causing no injuries.

An apparent tornado also damaged homes and downed trees near Columbus, Mississippi.

Lowndes County Emergency Management director Cindy Lawrence says reports indicated at least a dozen homes were damaged near New Hope, between Columbus and the Alabama state line.