Local

Storms cause damage in north Georgia

ATLANTA — Authorities say there were no injuries at a Gordon County home where a tree fell, crushing a garage during a Tuesday evening storm that rolled through north Georgia.

Authorities told Channel 2's Richard Elliot that the occupants went into an interior room of the home at Highway 53 during the time of the storm.

Gordon County's Emergency Management Director told Channel 2's Ross Cavitt that 10 buildings were damaged in the Calhoun area. Most of them were outbuildings.

One of the buildings damaged was the home of Sierra Titus. Four trees fell onto her home on Blackwood Court.

"It was really loud like popping and crackling," Titus told Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri. "The power was flickering but I was more concerned with my safety, as well as my grandmother's, so we are OK as well."

Titus said she and her grandmother, along with several children, took cover in the basement during the storm.

Randall James said his two-car garage was destroyed from the microburst. James, who was at work when the storms hit, said his wife grabbed their kids and their pregnant dog and headed for shelter.

"As soon as she heard it, she hollered, 'Get in the hallway." And we have a female yorkie that's pregnant. She grabbed her up and went to praying," Jones said.

Jones said the storm also tore apart their backyard shed, scattering the pieces across their yard.

"Part of it's over there in the tree, in the front yard, across the road in a neighbor's yard," Jones told Viteri describing where all the debris went.

The National Weather Service told them based on the information from the type of damage that was done, that Tuesday's damage was caused by microbursts.

Microbursts are collapsing thunderstorms that happen in seconds without warning.

No injuries were reported in Tuesday's storms.

Meanwhile, Severe Weather Team 2 chief meteorologist Glenn Burns warned north Georgia residents, especially drivers, to look out for microbursts on Wednesday as well.

"On Wednesday, stay out of right-hand lanes on the interstates by overhanging trees. They're going to be down in very strong winds," he said.

While the storms are over, a rush of cold air will blow through north Georgia, prompting a wind advisory until Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Burns said people in the north Georgia mountains may see snowfall by Wednesday morning.
Gusts of up to 40 mph are expected Wednesday.

Metro residents will see a high of 47 degrees.

The next several days will be dry and temperatures will be in the mid-60s by the weekend.