Local

Tornado Warning sends local American Idol contestant running for shelter

HARALSON COUNTY, Ga. — Monday night’s severe weather in north Georgia led to a very close call for a local American Idol contestant.

His neighbor’s home in Haralson County was struck by lightning during the violent storms.

It’s something of a ritual at the Weaver house. The whole family had settled in front of the television.

"We were watching American Idol last night. I was watching some of my friends on the show," Andrew Weaver told Channel 2's Berndt Petersen.

It’s Weaver’s favorite show because he’s going to Hollywood.

TRENDING STORIES:

But the Monday night broadcast was interrupted.

“So, I was watching this guy. He was singing on piano. All of a sudden, Glenn Burns came on,” Weaver said.

A tornado warning had been issued for Haralson County.

Weaver’s family raced into a closet under the stairs.

“Last night was scary. As they predicted on the news, it was one of the biggest storms we’ve seen here in a long time,” Kelli Weaver said.

A short time later, they heard an explosion.

There was a lightning strike right across the street that sparked a fire in the home of their neighbor, Tiffany Davis.

“When it hit, it was super loud. I knew something was wrong,” Davis said.

The fire spread through the basement ceiling, but firefighters put it out before it reached the main floor. No one was hurt by the lightning or the fire.

Andrew Weaver said he’s grateful for that, but his heart goes out to those who were injured or affected in other parts of north Georgia last night.