Severe storms tear through parts of north Georgia

ATLANTA — Strong storms moved through much of north Georgia Monday night, leaving behind a path of damage.

For several hours, Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns and Meteorologist Brad Nitz tracked Tornado Warnings, Tornado Watches and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings.

Severe Weather Team 2 declared Monday a "Severe Weather Alert Day" because of the dangerous storms.

We have a team of reporters and photographers spread out across metro Atlanta looking at some of the hardest hit areas. WATCH Channel 2 Action News This Morning starting at 4:30 a.m. for updates.

12:30 p.m.: All Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in north Georgia are set to expire by 1:15 a.m.

11:55 p.m.: We're starting to get reports of damage in some of the hardest-hit areas.

11:45 p.m.: The storm is moving toward Henry County. Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns said, "there will be damage."

11:30 p.m.: All Tornado Warnings in north Georgia have expired.

11:25 p.m.: Haralson County School District will be closed on Tuesday due to storm damage.

11:20 p.m.: The Tornado Warning in Douglas County has been dropped. The Tornado Warning is still active in South Fulton County.

11:15 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns says a tornado is likely on the ground in South Fulton County.

11:10 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 says the storm is moving into some of the most populated parts of metro Atlanta.

11:05 p.m.: The Tornado Watch has been canceled for some counties in northwest Georgia.

11:00 p.m.: A Tornado Warning has been issued for South Fulton and Douglas counties. Seek shelter immediately!

10:55 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for several counties, including Fulton, until 11:45 p.m.

10:45 p.m.: The Tornado Warning in Haralson County has expired. A Tornado Watch remains in effect for dozens of counties.

10:35 p.m.: Some areas are seeing 2 to 3 inches of rainfall per hour, according to Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Katie Walls.

10:30 p.m.: The Tornado Warning in Polk, Floyd and Cleburne counties has expired. A Tornado Warning remains in Haralson County.

10:20 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Cobb, Paulding and Polk counties.

10:10 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns says this is a very serious situation.

9:59 p.m.: A Tornado Warning has been issued for Haralson County.

9:47 p.m.: A tornado has been observed in Cleburne County, Alabama.

9:45 p.m.: A Tornado Warning has been issued for parts of Floyd, Polk and Cleburne counties.

9:40 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Floyd, Polk and Haralson counties.

9:34 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz says two possible tornadoes in eastern Alabama are approaching Floyd, Polk and Haralson counties.

9:30 p.m.: Lightning is picking up in Rome.

9:25 p.m.: The storm is moving east and should reach Floyd County soon.

9:05 p.m.: A Tornado Watch has been issued for parts of north Georgia.

8:45 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns and Meteorologist Brad Nitz are answering your questions LIVE on the official WSB-TV Facebook page.

8:35 p.m.: Tornadic thunderstorm less than 50 miles away from NW Georgia.

8:10 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns says he expects a supercell cluster to approach northwest Georgia around 9 p.m.

7:30 p.m.: Tornadic thunderstorm about 90 miles from Georgia, moving east.

6:55 p.m.: There are numerous Tornado Warnings in Alabama.

6:40 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 reports a confirmed tornado in Alabama.

5:57 p.m.: Fulton County Schools have canceled all after-school activities on except for extended learning and after-school care.

5:45 p.m.: Heavy rain is moving from Carroll County into South Fulton County.

5:10 p.m.: Cobb County Schools have canceled all evening activities due to the threat of severe weather.

5:05 p.m.: "This is not your average Tornado Watch. It is a P.D.S. -- a particularly dangerous situation," Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns said LIVE on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m.

5:00 p.m.: The latest updated models show most of the storms holding off in metro Atlanta until after 10 p.m.

4:35 p.m.: Reinhardt University has canceled all on-ground, evening classes starting at 6 p.m. due to the threat of severe weather.

4:30 p.m.: Tornado Watch issued for northern and central Alabama.

4:20 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued in Cleburne County.

4:10 p.m.: StormTracker 2 HD Radar indicates 2-inch hail in eastern Alabama, moving toward Georgia.

3:50 p.m.: Clayton County Public Schools canceled all extra-curricular activities on Monday. The only exception is the Campus Kids afterschool program.

3:36 p.m.: Fayette County Schools cancel all after-school activities after 5 p.m.

3:15 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz said a Tornado Watch will be issued in northern Alabama and parts of Tennessee and Mississippi by 5 p.m.

“Initially, this watch may not include Georgia, but that may change as we head into the evening,” Nitz said.

2:43 p.m.: DeKalb County Schools have canceled all after-school activities today.

2:30 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Glenn Burns and Meteorologist Brad Nitz are answering your questions as storms begin developing in Alabama.

2:23 p.m.: Floyd County has canceled all after school and extracurricular activities due to the threat of severe weather.

1:59 p.m.: Douglas County has canceled all after school activities due to expected inclement weather.

1:50 p.m.: Bartow County has canceled all after-school activities that begin after 6 p.m. today due to the possibility of severe weather. The Board of Education meeting will begin at 6 p.m. as scheduled.

1:11 p.m.: Carroll County has canceled all after-school and extracurricular activities due to the threat of severe weather.

12:33 p.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz received new models that show the highest risk for severe weather in portions of western metro Atlanta.

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Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz said the highest severe weather risk area was updated at 11 a.m. to include much of metro Atlanta.

Change is coming throughout the day.

Between 3 and 4 p.m., more thunderstorms will develop.

“Some of these will be intense,” Nitz said. “These individual cells have the potential to become severe through the afternoon into the early evening,” Nitz said.

Damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, large hail, and some strong tornadoes are a possibility Monday afternoon and evening, Nitz said.

By 10 p.m. Monday, a developing line of thunderstorms comes ahead of a cold front.

With that line that comes through, there is a risk for more hail and damaging winds, Nitz said.

The threat for tornadoes diminishes overnight, Nitz said.

Anyone with travel plans along Interstate 20 Monday afternoon or evening from west Georgia to Alabama to Mississippi should be especially weather aware, Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

“It will be along this area that will have the greatest risk for strong, long-tracked tornadoes,” Monahan said.

The highest risk Monday through the night will run through eastern Alabama and west Georgia, Monahan said.

Cox Media Group