Local

Strong storms leave destructive path across North Georgia

ATLANTA — Severe weather made its way across North Georgia and metro Atlanta areas, bringing storms and likely tornadoes in some areas.

Damaging wind gusts, localized flooding, and likely tornadoes have caused significant damage to several different counties.

Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz tracked storms and tornado movement all day Thursday on Channel 2 Action News.

Channel 2 Action News has tracked storm damage in Cobb, Troup, Newton, Spalding County and more on Thursday.

[INTERACTIVE: StormTracker 2HD Radar | DOWNLOAD: Free Severe Weather Team 2 App for alerts wherever you go]

Here is a minute-by-minute look at how the storms unfolded Thursday:

6:45 p.m.

Henry County Schools will be closed Friday, Jan. 13 as the community responds to today’s severe weather.

5:19 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Milledgeville, Eatonton and Hardwick until 6 p.m.

4:58 p.m.

Tornado Warning extended to Jasper, Putnam counties until 5:30 p.m.

4:48 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Monroe, Covington, and Social Circle until 5:15 p.m.

4:35 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Spalding, Henry, Butts and Newton County until 5:15 p.m.

4:28 p.m.

Tornado Warning continues for Griffin, Experiment and East Griffin until 4:45 p.m.

4:15 p.m.

Tornado Warning issued for Rockdale, Henry, Clayton and Newton County until 4:45 p.m.

4:08 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Barrow, Clarke, Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Oconee, Rockdale and Walton County until 4:45 p.m.

4:05 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Lamar, Meriwether, Pike and Upson County until 4:45 p.m.

4:02 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Meriwether, Pike, and Spalding County until 4:45 p.m.

3:59 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Banks, Barrow, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson County until 4:45 p.m.

3:57 p.m.

Tornado Warning for DeKalb and Fulton County canceled.

3:51 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Clayton, Coweta, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, Henry, Meriwether, Spalding and Troup County until 4:30 p.m.

3:48 p.m.

Tornado Warning for DeKalb and Fulton County until 4:15 p.m.

3:37 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Meriwether and Troup County until 4:15 p.m.

3:33 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton and Gwinnett County until 4:15 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Habersham and Rabun County until 4:15 p.m.

3:23 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Carroll, Coweta, Fulton, Heard and Troup County until 4 p.m.

3:20 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Meriwether and Troup County until 4 p.m.

3:15 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Heard and Troup County until 4 p.m.

2:59 p.m.

Tornado Warning for Randolph County, Alabama until 4 p.m.

2:56 p.m.

Atlanta University Center campuses, including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College, will be closed for the rest of the day.

2:49 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Heard County until 3:30 p.m.

2:24 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Cleburne, Randolph counties in Alabama until 2 p.m. central time.

2:13 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Upson County until 2:45 pm.

1:59 p.m.

Severe Weather Team 2 Chief Meteorologist Brad Nitz says an active tornado is on the ground north of Montgomery, Alabama about 80 miles west of Georgia.

1:48 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Floyd, Haralson, Paulding and Polk County until 2:15 p.m.

1:45 p.m.

1:22 p.m.

Atlanta Public Schools and Gwinnett County Public Schools have canceled all after-school activities.

1:10 p.m.

Cobb County Schools has canceled after-school activities.

“Due to severe weather which is moving into the area and bringing rain, high winds, and flash flooding, which could make road conditions dangerous, all of today’s after school activities, except ASP, are cancelled. At this time, dismissal times remain unchanged and buses will operate normally.”

1:07 p.m.

New tornado watch issued.

12:31 p.m.

Cherokee County Schools cancels after-school activities

12:29 p.m.

Clayton County Schools will be dismissing students early.

12:18 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Fannin and Gilmer County until 12:45 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

Banks County Schools will release students early at 2 p.m.

11:46 a.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Chattooga County until 12:15 p.m.

11:02 a.m.

A tornado watch has been issued until 5 p.m. for the counties in red.

Remember if a tornado watch is issued, that means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to form and be prepared. If a tornado warning is issue, that means a tornado was spotted or indicated by radar and take cover immediately.

10:55 a.m.

The Gilmer County Schools will release students early today according to the following schedule:

  • 12:00 PM - GHS
  • 12:10 PM - Pre-K
  • 12:20 PM - MVES/EES/CCES
  • 12:38 PM - CCMS

RELATED NEWS