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Augusta, Georgia Faces Major Power Outages Amid Severe Storms

Severe storms cause damage and power outages in Augusta.

News Summary

Severe storms are causing significant power outages in Augusta, Georgia as thousands remain without electricity. Local authorities report fallen trees and hazardous travel conditions while residents are urged to stay vigilant. The storm system includes strong winds and potential hail, leading to a declared First Alert Weather Day. While previous outages had been addressed, current forecasts signal continued severe weather, prompting safety responses from the community.

Augusta, Georgia Faces Power Outages as Severe Storms Sweep Through CSRA

Augusta, Georgia, is experiencing significant power outages as severe storms sweep through the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). As of late afternoon, thousands of residents are without electricity, with Georgia Power confirming that 3,147 customers in Richmond County are affected. In nearby Columbia County, 581 reported outages were documented. Additionally, Dominion Energy indicates that 2,046 customers are also without power across its service areas.

Authorities are responding to the harsh weather conditions, with Aiken County dispatch reporting numerous trees down on various roads, further complicating travel and safety for residents. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has received reports of hail measuring between 1 to 1.5 inches in Burnettown, which lasted approximately four minutes. Given these developments, local weather officials have declared a First Alert Weather Day for the region.

The storm system is characterized by strong wind gusts, the potential for hail, and isolated tornadoes, with straight-line winds posing the most significant threat as the storm progresses. Current forecasts suggest that a line of storms will move into the area from the northeast around 2 p.m. and exit the coast around 7 p.m., prompting residents to remain vigilant.

In an update on recent weather-related events, earlier on Saturday morning, reports indicated about 60 power outages affecting nearly 2,300 customers in Augusta, Waynesboro, and Thomson following a winter storm. By 9:30 a.m., Georgia Power had restored electricity to over 300 impacted customers, while Dominion Energy had resolved a minor outage in Aiken affecting 19 customers by 9:45 a.m.

While a winter storm warning was expected to conclude at 7 a.m. on Saturday, a state-of-emergency declaration remains in effect through Tuesday. The National Weather Service also predicts a cooling trend following the severe storms, forecasting clearing skies with temperatures peaking at 44 degrees during the day and dropping to a low of 21 degrees at night. Sunday is expected to bring sunny conditions with a higher temperature of 47 degrees.

In response to hazardous travel conditions resulting from recent weather events, the Department of Transportation has deployed snowplows to maintain clear thoroughfares. Residents are urged to limit travel and, if necessary, drive with extreme caution due to potentially dangerous road conditions.

In light of the adverse weather, Augusta University’s scheduled basketball games against USC Aiken have been postponed and are now set to take place on Sunday, January 12. As the community deals with the impact of the storms, local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates to residents.

All citizens are encouraged to stay tuned to local advisories for further information about restoration efforts and safety precautions as the storms progress through the area.