Severe weather impacting state south of Atlanta, rain in metro area

ATLANTA - Residents of North Georgia should brace for heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms beginning late Thursday morning and continuing through Friday evening. 

At 2:45 p.m., there was evidence of strong to severe storms about 100 miles south of Eatonton.

Additionally, a Tornado Warning was issued at 2:45 p.m. for Pineview, Snellville and Finleyson. The warning expired at 3:15 p.m.

At 1 p.m. Thursday, a Tornado Watch was in in effect for middle Georgia and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect until 1:30 p.m. for Doughery County. 

While the incoming system from the Gulf of Mexico is not expected to produce widespread severe storms, there is a low-end risk of damaging wind gusts and brief, isolated tornadoes. 

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Rainfall amounts will vary depending on location, with the highest amounts mainly south of Interstate 20. 

By Friday night, some locations across the region could have received up to 1.5 inches of rainfall. 

Wind gusts should range between 20-30 mph as stronger bands move over north Georgia late Thursday.

Temperatures are expected to fall below average into the upper 60s on Thursday due to the rain and clouds. 

Friday will bring similar conditions ahead of a warmer and brighter start to the weekend. 

However, isolated thunderstorms are again possible for portions of the area from Saturday night into Sunday.

A nice warming trend will follow into the middle of next week. 

This is a developing weather system. Check back for updates and changes to the forecast as they become available.