The entire state of Georgia is now covered in rain from Irma

Doppler radar from the National Weather Service now shows the entire state of Georgia being drenched in rain from Tropical Storm Irma. The storm is now about 60 miles northwest of Gainesville, Florida and moving at about 17 mph toward the Chattahoochee Valley area.

The threat of tornadoes and flooding in southeast Georgia is decreasing, the National Weather Service says, but strong winds of tropical storm force — and gusts to hurricane force — are expected to continue.

Columbus is still looking at experiencing damaging winds and 2-4 inches of rainfall, with more possible in the afternoon.

Tropical-storm-force winds remain the most dangerous and severe possible impact from this storm, experts say.

“The greatest impacts from Irma will be felt with winds increasing to 40 to 50 mph with gusts near 70 mph along and east of the center of the storm track by early this afternoon. Because of the wet spring and early summer, the forecasted wind speeds “will easily bring trees down across the area which will also lead to widespread power outages,” the National Weather Service said.

The National Weather Service advised Columbus residents to prepare for damage to porches, sheds, unanchored carports and other freestanding constructs. Roadway signs and fences could be blown over, and some roads could become impassable due to debris from snapped tree trees and branches.

There have been isolated reports of downed tree limbs in the early hours of the storm, and Columbus Fire Marshall Ricky Shores said he expects far more downed limbs and power lines later in the day.

Mayor Teresa Tomlinson urged drivers to stay off the roadways from 4 a.m. Monday until further notice, and to secure all garbage receptacles so that trash does not blow around, clog storm drains and cause flooding. The mayor’s office predicts the greatest potential damaging winds could come between 3 p.m. and late Monday night.

The storm is expected to further weaken as it moves through Columbus and then northwest through Alabama and into Tennessee. It could remain a dangerous storm throughout that time.

This story was originally published September 11, 2017 at 11:55 AM with the headline "The entire state of Georgia is now covered in rain from Irma."