ATLANTA — A line of severe storms spawned several tornado warnings and severe storms in north Georgia Friday afternoon and led to numerous reports of damage. Luckily, no one was injured.
The majority of the state above I-20 was under was under a tornado watch until 8 p.m.
Channel 2 Action News viewers across the state reported damage in the form of downed trees and blown off roofs.
Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Brad Nitz said that some of the severe thunderstorms packed 80 mph winds, which are equivalent or stronger than a weak tornado.
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Here is how things progressed Friday afternoon:
LIVE UPDATES:
5:23 p.m.
Channel 2′s Courtney Francisco was in Cobb County, where a tree fell on a home on Chimney Springs Drive. Thankfully, no one was injured. High winds also knocked down multiple trees in the area.
5:21 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued in Stephens, Habersham and Rabun counties until 6 p.m.
4:57 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Hall, Lumpkin, and White counties until 5:30pm.
4:44 p.m.
A ground stop is in effect at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport until 5:45 p.m.
4:32 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Carroll, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton and Paulding counties until 5:15 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Hal and White counties until 5 p.m.
4:18 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Habersham and Rabun counties until 5:15 p.m.
4:13 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Cherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall and Pickens counties until 5 p.m.
4:07 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Carroll, Douglas, Haralson and Heard counties until 4:45 p.m.
4:05 p.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for Forsyth and Cherokee counties until 4:30 p.m.
4:03 p.m.
Numerous trees are down at Berry College in Rome.
3:59 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm has been issued for Towns, Lumpkin, Gilmer, White, Dawson, Pickens, Union and Fannin counties until 4:30 p.m.
3:50 p.m.
The tornado watch has been canceled for far north Georgia.
3:49 p.m.
Trees are down on several busy roads in Cherokee County including Bells Ferry and Reinhardt College Parkway.
3:48 p.m.
A Channel 2 Action News viewer sent us this video of what looks like a funnel cloud in Floyd County.
3:45 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm has bene issued for Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Cobb, Haralson, Paulding and Polk counties until 4:30 p.m.
3:45 p.m.
Numerous trees are down on roads in Cobb County, according to emergency managers there.
3:25 p.m.
The tornado warning remains in effect for Dawson, Gilmer, Gordon and Pickens counties.
3:19 p.m.
College staff at Shorter College in Rome are reporting a tree on a building on campus.
3:14 p.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for Cherokee, Bartow, Dawson, Gilmer, Gordon and Pickens counties until 3:45 p.m. Anyone in the path of these storms should take cover in a basement or interior room of your house.
3:10 p.m.
The tornado warning remains in effect for Gordon County. If you are in the path of the storm, TAKE COVER.
3:09 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Paulding, Haralson, Floyd, Polk and Bartow counties until 3:45 p.m.
3:02 p.m.
Paulding County 911 has gotten multiple reports of trees down.
3:02 p.m.
Some storm damage has been reported in Plainville and Calhoun.
2:25 p.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for Floyd, Gordon and Bartow counties until 3:15 p.m.
2:46 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Gilmer, Floyd, Gordon, PIckens and Bartow counties until 3:45 p.m.
2:41 p.m.
The tornado watch has been extended into much of metro Atlanta until 8 p.m.. Counties now in the watch include Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Caroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Cobb, Dade, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Elbert, Fannin, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Hart, Heard, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Rabun, Rockdale, Stephens, Towns, Union, Walker, Walton White and Whitfield. counties.
2:29 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Catoosa, Gilmer, Murray, Whitfield, Walker, Gordon and Fannin counties until 3:15 p.m.
2:23 p.m.
A tree has fallen on a power pole on Lower Fayetteville Road in Newnan County. Power is out in the area.
2:07 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon and Polk counties until 3 p.m. These storms are packing winds of up to 70 mph.
1:29 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties until 2:30 p.m. These storms have been categorized as “destructive,” meaning that the winds can be stronger than a tornado at up to 90 mph.
12:22 p.m.
The level 3 risk has expanded to most of North Georgia.
11:33 a.m.
A tornado watch has been issued for much of north Georgia until 5 p.m. The watch includes Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Heard, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker and Whitfield counties. Cleburne and Randolph counties, which are also in the Channel 2 Action News viewing area, is also in the watch area.
11:27 a.m.
Murray County schools will close early. PVIS and pre-K will dismiss at 10:30 a.m. All other schools will dismiss at 10:45 a.m.
11:26 a.m.
Gordon County Schools will dismiss elementary schools at 12:30 p.m. and middle and high schools will dismiss at 1:30 p.m.
11:25 a.m.
Troup County Schools are dismissing two hours earlier on Friday. Elementary will dismiss at 12:20 p.m. Middle and high schools will dismiss between 1:15 p.m. and 1:25 p.m.
10:42 a.m.
Fannin County schools are on a virtual learning day. All extracurricular activities are canceled.
10:23 a.m.
Gilmer County schools will close three hours early ahead of storms.
10:04 a.m.
Pickens County schools will close at noon ahead of severe weather.
9:55 a.m.
Polk County Schools has announced that schools will close at noon on Friday ahead of severe weather.
9 a.m.
A wind advisory is in effect for metro Atlanta. Wind gusts of 40-50 are possible throughout the day.
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