Tornado Warning Across N. Georgia (UPDATE)

---UPDATE:

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HAS EXITED WALKER COUNTY.

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EST FOR MURRAY...SOUTHEASTERN WHITFIELD...GORDON AND NORTHERN BARTOW COUNTIES...

AT 545 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CHATSWORTH TO AUDUBON TO ADAIRSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ETON... REDBUD...RAMHURST...FARMVILLE...FORT MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...FOLSOM...SONORAVILLE...OAKMAN...CARTERS...RANGER...FUNKHOUSER AND FAIRMOUNT.

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A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5:45 PM EST FOR EASTERN CHATTOOGA AND FLOYD COUNTIES...

AT 524 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A LINE OF TORNADO PRODUCING STORMS. THESE TORNADO PRODUCING

STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM EVERETT SPRINGS TO ARMUCHEE TO ROME...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

A ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF A HOME NEAR HOLLAND! THIS IS A DANGEROUS LINE OF STORMS.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SHANNON AND PINSON.

Click here for detailed National Weather Service updates.

State tightens faucet as drought worsens (Updated)

Officials ratcheted up watering restrictions from level 1 to level 2 Wednesday as dry conditions widened across the state.

Georgia residents are now allowed to water their lawns only between midnight and 10 a.m.

Violators in Jones County are subject to a graduated series of verbal and written warnings, and increasing fines in upwards of $500.

The state has been in a level 1 drought since last summer, and midday watering was already forbidden between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The state climatologist says the driest areas include Polk, Floyd, Chattooga, Walker, Dade and Catoosa counties in northwest Georgia. Also dry are the counties lining the most southeastern corner of the state.

Firefighters in southeast Georgia are struggling to contain two wildfires that are engulfing 45-sq. miles. The blazes forced over 1,000 people from their homes, and torched 14 houses.

Eric Mosley, spokesman for the Georgia Forestry Commission says the fires are threatening the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

Updated GPB reports on the fires are here.

Updated Georgia Forestry Commission Fire Weather information is here.

NASA satellite image of the area.
The original image is here.

(Rickey Bevington contributed to this report)