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Severe weather possible Wednesday afternoon
Converging systems may cause tornadoes, hail and heavy rains
WYNN Ted 052207
Ted Wynn
    Weather could get rough this afternoon and into the evening, with three different systems converging that could make conditions volatile.
    Bulloch County Public Safety Director Ted Wynn has been spending much of his time this week on conference calls with the National Weather Service in Tallahassee and Charleston, monitoring the warm front moving north, a cold front drifting south, and a low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico that are expected to converge, and could result in tornadoes, straight line winds of 70-75 miles per hours, hail, and heavy rains, he said.
    "Is everybody going to get that? Probably not," he said. But since the conditions are right for the dangerous weather, Wynn and others hope to warn citizens to be on the lookout for possibly dangerous weather developments.
    As of Tuesday afternoon, Wynn said expectations were that the rough weather could begin around mid afternoon today and last until midnight. But, the activity could arrive "even earlier depending on how fast the systems move," he said.
    School was planned as usual this morning, but if weather requires, early dismissal could be called, Wynn said, adding he keeps continual contact with the Bulloch County Board of Education regarding the weather. Conference calls with various agencies are scheduled throughout the day today to maintain constant monitoring of the weather.
    Wynn suggests citizens remove anything outside that could be blown away by high winds - chairs, toys or other outdoor items. Make preparations for pets, and have a family emergency plan in place in case of tornadoes, he said.
    Rainfall could be anywhere from two to six inches, and Wynn warned about possible flooding and advised drivers not to try to navigate flooded streets.
    The worse possible event the weather could bring is wind damage from tornadoes or straight line winds, he said. "When the warm air meets with the cold front, you always get that circulation." Hail is possible as well.
    Local emergency responders and public safety workers are ready for possible weather complications, he said. "They're prepared for the worst but hope for the best."
    Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.

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