ATLANTA -- A tornado watch was issued for metro Atlanta and most of north Georgia as heavy rain and high winds moved in Tuesday evening.

The tornado watch is in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday.

In Georgia the watch includes includes Barrow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Fannin, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Lumpkin, Newton, Pickens, Rockdale, Union and Walton Counties.

In Northeast Georgia Banks, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Towns and White Counties.

In Northwest Georgia Bartow, Carroll, Floyd, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding and Polk Counties.

In West Central Georgia Coweta and Heard Counties.

The watch includes the cities of Atlanta, Blairsville, Bremen, Calhoun, Carrollton, Cartersville, Cedartown, Chatsworth, Cleveland, Comer, Commerce, Conyers, Covington, Crawford, Cumming, Dahlonega, Dallas, Dawsonville, Decatur, Douglasville, Ellijay, Franklin, Gainesville, Hiawassee, Homer, Jasper, Lawrenceville, Marietta, Monroe, Newnan, Peachtree City, Riverdale, Rome, Stockbridge, Watkinsville,, Winder, Winterville and Woodstock.

"We've had some wind damage in Chattooga County with reports of roof damage," said WSB-TV Channel 2 meteorologist Glenn Burns.

"We could see wind gusts up to 70 mph," said WSB-TV Channel 2 meteorologist David Chandley.

There is also a flood watch in effect for much of the same area.

Big Creek in Alpharetta sent water over its banks Tuesday afternoon into a nearby park.

In Cherokee County, the Etowah River crested about half-a-foot above flood stage.

"It's come up steadily today," said Rob Isbell who works near the river.