Northern Georgia was hit by powerful winds, rain and hail on Wednesday, with at least one tornado confirmed and several others expected.
According to the Huffington Post, at least one person was killed by the major storm system, which caused wide destruction and knocked down power to thousands in the region.
The state remains under a tornado watch until 4 p.m. EST, the Macon Telegraph reported on Wednesday morning. The tornado watch was later extended to 8 p.m. EST for much of the state. According to the Telegraph, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a wind advisory for most of the state past midnight for maximum sustained winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour (mph) and gusts of up to 40 mph.
The Macon Telegraph reported that tornadoes are expected to develop with "very little notice and are expected to be brief."
The confirmed tornado hit Adairsville, Ga. with the NWS reporting "major structure damage in downtown Adairsville." The service added, "Reports of cars overturned and major structure damage."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that numerous roads in the area were impassible and that a large manufacturing plant had been leveled by the tornado.
According to the Journal-Constitution, Bartow sheriff's and fire dispatchers also received a call that five people were trapped in a building in Adairsville shortly after 11:30 a.m. The newspaper reported that additional building damaged and overturned vehicles were reported near the junction of I-75 and Ga. 140 near Adairsville.
Georgia Power spokeswoman Carol Boatright told the Journal-Constitution that at least 5,000 people were without power as of 1 p.m. EST.
The NWS announced that the storms are expected to move in north Georgia in the morning, in metro-Atlanta mid-afternoon and into middle Georgia by early evening, the Macon Telegraph reported.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
