What is a ‘destructive’ severe thunderstorm warning?

ATLANTA — As storms began to move through parts of North Georgia Friday afternoon, a Destructive Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued.

The “destructive” category was introduced in 2021.

[LIVE UPDATES: Tornado watch issued for parts of north Georgia]

Besides the obvious from its name, Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brian Monahan said there are some real parameters that make a storm “destructive.”

“The National Weather Service added the possibility of damage tags to severe thunderstorm warnings a couple of years ago. While any severe thunderstorm can cause damage, particularly strong storms can include the tag for considerable damage – with the potential for golf ball-sized hail and/or 70 mph wind. An even stronger storm could get a destructive tag – with the potential for baseball-sized hail and/or 80 mph wind,” Monahan said.

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The NWS said only about 10% of all severe storms reach the destructive category each year.

“Most of these storms are damaging wind events such as derechoes and some of the larger, more intense thunderstorms, called ‘Supercell’ storms that can typically produce very large hail in their path,” the weather service said.

Stay with WSBTV.com and tune into Channel 2 Action News starting at 4 p.m. for the latest on the developing weather situation. We will also cut into programming if need be.

Level 2 risk for severe storms across metro Atlanta Friday, possibility of tornadoes, strong winds Level 2 risk for severe storms across metro Atlanta Friday, possibility of tornadoes, strong winds

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