Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued For Metro Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for north and central Georgia, including metro Atlanta. The watch started at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday and runs through 8 p.m.

According to the weather service, strong thunderstorms are likely, a few severe storms "are not out of the question" and "an isolated brief tornado cannot be ruled out."

The thunderstorm watch was issued for counties including Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett and Paulding.

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Any severe thunderstorms that form could bring damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning strikes and locally heavy rainfall, the weather service said.

The most likely time for a strong-to-severe storm is Thursday afternoon or evening. However, a few storms could last into the overnight hours, the NWS said.

The weather service's forecast for Thursday calls for a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly after noon. It will be mostly cloudy otherwise, with a high near 90 and west wind with gusts as high as 15 m.p.h. New rainfall amounts are expected to be between one-tenth and a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts possible if strong thunderstorms hit.

There's another 40 percent chance of rain Thursday night, mainly before 1 a.m., with a forecast low around 73 degrees.

Severe Weather Safety

Just in case the worst-case scenario happens, here are 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.

Photo courtesy National Weather Service.