Severe storms batter North Georgia: Fannin County cancels schools
A look at storm damage in North Georgia on Thursday
A powerful front brought severe storms, downing trees and power lines, and dumping hail and rain on multiple communities on Thursday.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. - A powerful line of storms swept across North Georgia on Thursday night, unleashing strong winds, large hail, and widespread property damage in several metro Atlanta communities.
Douglasville was among the hardest-hit areas.
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What we know:
'A large tree fell onto a home on Horton Place, damaging the roof and siding. Although no injuries were reported, the impact from the tree caused significant damage. Additional trees in the neighborhood were also downed, including one that fell across a roadway and another that landed in a yard across the street.
Storm damage was not limited to Douglas County. Residents across Cobb, Cherokee, and Floyd counties reported large hail. In Acworth, hailstones reached the size of quarters. Woodstock saw even larger pieces, some roughly the size of a palm. In Floyd County, emergency officials recorded golf ball-sized hail falling near Cedartown.
The storms also produced strong straight-line winds that brought down trees and power lines across the region. While the heaviest weather had passed through downtown Atlanta by late evening, heavy rain and storm activity continued in areas further east, including Athens and Gainesville.
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What we don't know:
Rainfall totals varied, with most areas receiving between half an inch and an inch, though some locations may have exceeded that once final measurements are confirmed.
The full extent of damage is not yet known.
Fannin County classes canceled after storms
Local perspective:
All Fannin County Schools will be canceled due to damage and power outages from Thursday night's storms.
The school system says that East Fannin Elementary has a power outage that is expected to last for four to six hours. That, plus the shutdown of Old 76 at Lakewood, have led officials to cancel the school day. It will not be a a virtual day.
Previously, officials expected to just have a two hour delay.
Officials say that directors, principals, and 12-month personnel should report to work as soon as safely possible.
What's next:
Overnight, temperatures were expected to dip slightly into the 50s, with some areas outside the city briefly touching the 40s, according to the FOX 5 Storm Team. By Friday morning, skies were forecast to dry out, leaving behind wet ground but minimal lingering precipitation.
Thursday night forecast
The severe storms brought hail to North Georgia. That threat has passed, but the rain will remain into the early morning hours. How is Friday shaping up? Here's the latest from the FOX 5 Storm Team.
Looking ahead, a brief round of showers is possible again Friday, but forecasters say clearer and drier conditions will return by Saturday. However, residents should prepare for a sharp drop in morning temperatures, with wind chills expected to make it feel like the 30s in some areas. Highs this weekend are projected to remain in the 50s and 60s across much of Georgia.
The Source: This article is based on original reporting by FOX 5's Eric Mock in Douglas County and original forecasting and reporting by FOX 5 Storm Team meteorologist Jonathan Stacey.