Tornado watch issued for parts of North Georgia, metro Atlanta

A line of potentially severe storms will roll through metro Atlanta after many residents go to bed Tuesday night.

In northwest Georgia and parts of northwest metro Atlanta, there’s a Level 3 of 5 risk for severe weather, starting with some rogue storm cells that could arrive as early as 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. But the greatest threat is expected around 11 p.m., Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said.

The storms are expected to creep closer to the city in the hours after midnight, putting Atlanta and the southeast metro under a Level 2 of 5 risk for severe weather, including damaging winds.

In the state’s northwest corner, there’s a 10% chance of tornado formation within 25 miles of any given point, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Storm Prediction Center. In the metro area, that risk is between 2% and 5%.

The Weather Service issued a tornado watch for Cherokee, Forsyth, Dawson, Bartow, Floyd, Pickens, Lumpkin, Union, Gordon, Chattooga, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Whitfield, Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties until 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Channel 2 chief meteorologist Brad Nitz said he expects the tornado watch area to expand to the east and south as severe storms build in overnight.

“A lot of tornado warnings within these storms ahead of the main line. All of this headed to the east, some of it through metro Atlanta and North Georgia,” Nitz said.

“With a cold front coming in, big weather changes are on the way,” Monahan said. “When you go from hot and humid to cooler and drier weather, almost always this time of year we’re going to have that risk for severe storms.”

Highs on Tuesday climbed into the upper 80s. That hot air will clash with the approaching cold front, creating instability that will produce strong to severe storms.

So, you’ll want to pay attention to the weather starting this evening, and make sure the volume on your phone is turned up so you hear any severe weather alerts while sleeping.

Typically, Georgia’s highest risk for tornadic activity is February through April.

It‘s “kind of unusual to have this high of a tornado risk this time of year,” Monahan said. “Although it‘s overall low (risk), it‘s definitely elevated for this point in the month of May.”

Aside from tornadoes, the main hazard associated with the system is damaging wind gusts and severe hail of 1 inch in diameter or greater, according to the Weather Service.

Most storms should dissipate by about 4 a.m., the NWS said. By midmorning Wednesday, up to an inch of rain is projected. Some locations could see more, but with the storms’ fast movement, flash flooding isn’t a concern, the Weather Service advised.

With the drier, cooler air in place, highs on Wednesday and the foreseeable future are expected to return to more seasonable temperatures. Highs will gradually decrease each day, eventually dipping into the 70s on Friday and staying in the low 80s into next week.

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