18 Die Amid Winter Tornadoes

The US Southeast was pounded with wicked weather throughout the day Sunday, spawning tornadoes and causing devastation throughout Georgia and Mississippi, with authorities predicting Florida would take a beating later Sunday night.

At least 18 people were killed and many more injured from severe storms in central and South Georgia and Mississippi on Sunday, as officials in Florida raised tornado watches Sunday night and warned residents of the potential for hurricane-force winds overnight as the storm system passed over the state, UPI reported.

The third round of severe weather in as many days was expected to hit farther south than what has been felt in Mississippi and Georgia, as well as Alabama, with predictions for the Sunday night storm expected to affect people throughout Florida and as far north as Atlanta.

In Georgia, 14 have been killed and at least 23 others injured during the storms. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency Sunday.

In Mississippi, four deaths were reported and nearly 60 were injured as storms and at least one tornado, reported as an EF-3 strength, struck parts of Lamar, Forrest and Perry counties Saturday. As a result of the storm, nearly 500 homes were damaged and 7,600 residents were left without power once the storms passed.