Tornadoes, Hail Possible Thursday Evening: GA Weather

ATLANTA, GA — Brief tornadoes and hail are possible Thursday evening throughout much of north and central Georgia, including metro Atlanta, according to the National Weather Service.

Thursday morning, the NWS issued a hazardous weather outlook for an area stretching from Macon up into the north Georgia mountains, including Barrow, Bartow, Cherokee, Clarke, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Fulton, Oconee, Paulding and Walton counties.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected to rumble through the area Thursday afternoon and evening, according to the outlook. The most likely time for a severe thunderstorm is 4-10 p.m., the weather service reported.

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Large hail, up to 1.5 inches, is possible from stronger storms and "a brief tornado" is also possible, according to the outlook.

The best news out of the forecast is that the storm system is expected to be a quick one. The total rainfall is expected to be less than an inch, according to the NWS, and storms should move out of Georgia by midnight.

Thursday's forecast calls for a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon, with winds from 5-10 m.ph. The chance of rain is 80 percent. Thursday night, the chance of rain is 60 percent, with showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers after midnight.

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Here are some things to keep your eyes and ears out for this evening:

Tornado Watch
A Tornado Watch means that conditions are favorable for tornado development. People located in and around the watch area should keep an eye toward the sky and listen to their NOAA weather radio or tune to local broadcast media for further weather information. The watch is intended to give you time to prepare and review your safety rules.

Tornado Warning
A Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been detected by the National Weather Service Doppler radar or a reliable report of a tornado has been reported from the field. A tornado warning is usually issued for portions of one or two counties for an hour or less. The storm could also produce large hail and destructive straight line winds. If the tornado warning includes your neighborhood or work place, you should seek safe shelter immediately.

Severe Weather Preparedness
Here are some tornado safety rules to keep your family safe:

• Get as low as you can. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety. Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible. Avoid windows at all costs.
• Do not waste time opening or closing windows and doors. It will not protect the structure. Use that time to find a safe place.
• Go to the basement or a small interior room such as a closet, bathroom or an interior hall on the lowest level. Close all doors to the hallway for greater protection. Get under something sturdy like a heavy table. Protect yourself from flying debris with pillows, heavy coats, blankets, or quilts. Use bicycle or motorcycle helmets to protect your head.
• If you are inside a mobile home, leave well before severe weather reaches your area and go to a strong building. If there is no shelter nearby, get into the nearest ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Lie flat, covering your head with your hands for protection.
• If you are in a vehicle or outdoors when tornadoes are possible, stay close to a sturdy shelter. If caught outside, find shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle and cover your head for protection. Do not take shelter under a highway overpass, where wind speeds can increase due to a tunneling effect.