Southeastern U.S. faces severe thunderstorms Wednesday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 30 (UPI) -- About 37 million people in the southeastern U.S. are at a slight risk of hail, damaging winds and tornadoes as severe thunderstorms are expected Wednesday to hit Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, among other places.

The National Weather Service said residents of places like Jacksonville, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Atlanta, Georgia should expect severe weather and at least heavy rains throughout the day.

The warning comes three days after a severe weather outbreak began in the the central U.S. on Sunday. On Tuesday it was reported that the storm would be heading south. At least 36 people have died across the nation since the storms began.

The South was struck by heavy rains Tuesday night, leaving thousand of people without power. Florida's Escambia County issued a state of emergency alert after 9 inches of rain.

At least 17 people were killed after the severe weather tore though Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, and 18 others were reported dead in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Iowa Sunday. The Florida Highway Patrol reported one weather-related drowning Tuesday.