A potentially dangerous weekend of severe weather is moving toward Georgia, including in parts of metro Atlanta.
By about 6 p.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service had issue a tornado watch for parts of North Georgia, including Dalton, Calhoun, Ellijay and Jasper. That is in effect until 1 a.m. Sunday. Heavy storms are expected to reach northwest Georgia by around 8 p.m.
More than 20 people have died and numerous homes have been destroyed as powerful tornadoes swept through parts of the United States, the Associated Press reported.
Georgia’s western border and parts of the metro’s west side are under a Level 4 of 5 risk for severe weather Saturday and Sunday, the Weather Service warns.
Much of that area had been under a Level 3 of 5 risk until the agency’s Storm Prediction Center upgraded the threat level Friday afternoon. Locals in those areas should prepare for strong tornadoes with wind speeds of 111 mph or more, 70 mph gusts and hail of up to 2 inches in diameter.
A large portion of the rest of the state is under a Level 3 risk.
The locations under a Level 4 threat carry a 15% chance of tornado formation within 25 miles of any given point. Areas under a Level 3 threat have a 10% chance.
Gov. Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency on Saturday afternoon and stated that all resources of the state would be made available to assist in preparation, response and recovery activities.
“This storm will hit at the worst possible time, as people are heading to or already in bed,” Kemp said. “Be prepared ahead of time and remain weather aware as long as this system is in the state.”
Forecasters are fairly certain that around 8 p.m., northwest Georgia will start experiencing severe weather. The line of storms is projected to reach the west metro area by around midnight and then continue through Atlanta past 2 a.m. It will then start moving out toward east metro Atlanta and East Georgia.
With storms moving through overnight, be sure to have your phone on max volume, the news running on a TV, or sleep in an area of your home that is away from windows and exterior walls. You may wake up to a tornado watch or warning, and should be ready to move if needed.
A tornado watch means the conditions are favorable for a tornado to form; this is your signal to have a plan in place. A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or indicated on the radar; this is your signal to take shelter immediately.
According to officials in Missouri, 12 people were killed in weather-related incidents. Storms and twisters pounded the state from Friday evening to Saturday morning.
In Arkansas, the AP reported that three people were killed after Friday evening storms.
In the Southeast, the highest tornado threat is in Alabama and Mississippi, where a Level 5 threat is in place, the highest possible. There is also a 30% probability that a twister may spawn within a 25-mile radius, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
Since about 12 a.m., several tornado warnings have been reported by the NWS in parts of Mississippi. Storms are expected to last until about 7 p.m. in the state. Gov. Tate Reeves wrote online that at least three people had been injured or hospitalized due to severe weather, though “this number is expected to increase.”
Shortly before 4 a.m., some cities in West Alabama were placed under a tornado warning. The NWS announced around 3 p.m. that they were closely watching three supercell storms, which are a type of thunderstorm with a persistent rotating updraft, approaching West Alabama.
According to the Weather Service, by 6:40 p.m., there had been 16 tornadoes reported since about 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Those reports had not yet been confirmed by the agency. The possible tornadoes were reported in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Some rain and thunderstorms have been developing prior to the storm in Georgia. By 7 a.m. Saturday, scattered showers began popping up in northwest Georgia. They continued and turned more widespread and heavy by around noon. Atlanta is expected to stay mostly dry, but a passing shower cannot be ruled out.
By the time the rain is over and done with Sunday morning, rainfall totals could reach up to 4 inches in portions of North Georgia. Other areas are more likely to see just above an inch.
A Flood Watch has been issued for portions of extreme North and northwest Georgia from Saturday morning through Sunday morning.
The city of Atlanta will open emergency shelters from 6 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday at the Central Park Recreation Center on Merritts Avenue and the Old Adamsville Recreation Center at Delmar Lane.
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