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Tornado watch shifts to east metro Atlanta

Tornado Watch for east metro Atlanta

Minute-by-minute weather coverage: 

ATLANTA — 6:40 p.m. Tornado watch continues for Clarke, Greene, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton and Wilkes counties until 9 p.m.

5:22 p.m. Severe thunderstorm warning issued for parts of Jasper, Jones and Monroe counties until 5:45 p.m.

5:00 p.m. Emergency manager reports several trees down on Dale Court in Gilmer County from possible tornado touchdown.

4:45 p.m. Tornado watch continues until 6 p.m. for east Georgia.

3:10 p.m. Tornado watch canceled for the western half of north Georgia (including Atlanta), continues until 6 p.m. east.

2:04 p.m.: Flooding problems on Hopkins Road south of Macland in Cobb County prompts DOT to close it to make repairs before the next round of rain.

1:54 p.m.: Emergency Manager in Fannin County says a tree was blown down on Sunrock Mountain Road near Tennis Court Road.

12:45 p.m.: Fannin EMA told Channel 2's Tom Regan that children in schools took shelter away from windows when Tornado Warning was issued. One high school is without power. It is all clear now. There were no reports of damage.

12:12 p.m.: Tornado warning expires for Union County

12 p.m.: Tornado warning expires for Fannin County

11:57 p.m.: Tornado warning issued for Union County. Meteorologist Brad Nitz estimates it will last until 12:30 p.m.

11:45 a.m.: Reports of trees down in Gordon County, same storm that is now over Blue Ridge in Fannin County.

11:42 a.m.: Nitz said Blue Ridge, Morganton, Mineral Bluff getting strong storms now -- Watch Channel 2 NOW!

11:32 a.m.: Tornado warning for Murray County has been dropped.

11:31 a.m.: Gilmer and Fannin counties under a tornado warning until 12 p.m.

11:26 a.m.: Fannin County will be under a warning soon, Nitz said. 

[Download the free Severe Weather Team 2 app for alerts as storms move through your area]

11:22 a.m.: Large hail possible in Gilmer County in tornado warning, Nitz said.

11:15 a.m.: Nitz said this storm is moving toward the east. We are LIVE NOW on Channel 2 Action News.

11:14 a.m.: Gordon County Sheriff's Office said trees down from strong winds along GA 136 between Resaca and Nickelsville

11:13 a.m.: Storm capable of producing damaging winds, tornadoes moving south of Chatsworth, heading northeast toward Ellijay area, Nitz said.

11:10 a.m.: Tornado warning issued for Gilmer and Murray counties until 11:45 a.m.

11:03 a.m.: Tornado warning has been dropped for Gordon County, continues for Murray County. This system could impact Gilmer County. 

11:02 a.m.: Threat around Gordon County and Calhoun is now diminishing; storm pushing east.

[Download the free Severe Weather Team 2 app for alerts as storms move through your area]

11:01 a.m.: Area of strong wind and rotation has moved north of Gordon and into Murray County.

10:59 a.m.: Nitz said, "Fidelle and Coniston this storm is heading your way next." 

10:57 a.m.: Nitz said large hail possible in the purple area in the tornado warning in Gordon County.

10:56 a.m.: This is the 2nd tornado warning of the morning for Murray County, already reports of trees down there.

10:55 a.m.: Angelsville, Nickelsville - SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY! Storm is heading your way now, Nitz said. 

10:52 a.m.: The rotation is just east of Resaca in Gordon County.

10:50 a.m.: New tornado warning for Gordon and Murray counties until 11:15 a.m. 

10:37 a.m.: Floyd County EMA tells Channel 2's Tom Regan there has not been any reports of damage from the tornado warning.

10:32 a.m.: Tornado warning canceled for Floyd and Chatooga counties.

10:25 p.m.: Nitz says tornado warning threat mostly in Floyd County, still some in Chatooga County.

10:23 a.m.: Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz says this area is rotating near Floyd County.

10:22 a.m. A tornado warning has been issued for Floyd County. 

Tornado Watch issued for metro Atlanta

TORNADO WATCH issued for most of metro Atlanta: 2wsb.tv/2qfYXxU

Posted by WSB-TV on Wednesday, May 24, 2017

TREES DOWN:

A down tree closed part of Green Street/ Highway 21 in Gainesville in Hall County just before noon Wednesday.

Channel 2's Tony Thomas was there as they blocked off several side streets.

Georgia Power was reporting an estimated 25 customers without power in the area due to the tree down.

ORIGINAL STORY: A tornado watch has been issued for most of east Georgia.

Severe Weather Team 2 is tracking the timing of storms for your area throughout the day on Channel 2 Action News.

A Flash Flood Watch for metro Atlanta has also been extended until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

It was originally set to expire at 2 p.m. after several rainy days this week.

What viewers can only get on Channel 2 Action News:

  • Updated hour-by-hour cloud & rain forecast showing the timeline of rain and storms through this afternoon – and the clearing trend.
  • Rainfall totals, where another 1-2" are possible.
  • Tracking storms down to your neighborhood with the world's most powerful weather radar.
  • Tracking when the storms move out of the metro Atlanta area.

The front could produce isolated strong, possibly severe storms.

Heavy rain, winds up to 40 mph or stronger, hail up to 1 inch and even a brief isolated tornado is not out of the question, Minton said.

"Although it is a low risk, it is still there so you need to realize that and be prepared today," she said.

[Download the free Severe Weather Team 2 app for alerts as storms move through your area]

The rain and storms clear by Thursday.

Temperatures will be in the 70s Friday, which is below average.

They will reach 86 in some areas Saturday with mainly dry conditions.

Stay with WSBTV.com and watch Channel 2 Action News for the latest forecast updates.