Tornado watch lifted as severe weather moves through Macon, other parts of Georgia

Kelby Hutchison, Jesse Fraga
·2 min read

Georgia was among a handful of states in the South experiencing severe weather Thursday, with much of the state including Macon put under a tornado watch which expired Thursday afternoon.

Other states like Mississippi and Alabama, as well as parts of Louisiana and South Carolina, expected severe thunderstorms and heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

Multiple counties across middle and north Georgia have now entered a tornado watch with parts of north Georgia entering flood advisories and flash flood warnings, according to another graph by the NWS.

Macon was under a tornado watch until 1 p.m. Thursday. Showers and thunderstorms were expected mainly before 3 p.m., according to the National Weather Service forecast. Winds were expected to be around 10 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 20 mph, according to the NWS.

The NWS forecasts Macon can expect a 30% chance of rain and thunderstorms on Friday mainly before 10 a.m. with 5 to 10 mph winds in the afternoon and gusts as high as 15 mph.

Severe thunderstorm warning in Peach County

Some of Peach County could expect minor damage and flooding after a strong thunderstorm swept through Fort Valley Thursday morning, according to the NWS.

The city entered a severe thunderstorm warning around 11:45 a.m., issued by the NWS. Wind gusts moved between 40 and 50 mph with frequent lightning, heavy rain, and up to “penny-sized hail,” the NWS stated.

“Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of light, unsecured objects,” the NWS said.

Street flooding was expected in poor drainage areas, including in parts of Houston and Peach Counties.

Thunderstorms are moving east, while a tornado watch is in effect until about 1 p.m. for central Georgia, and remains in effect until about 5 p.m. for west-central Georgia, the NWS said.

The NWS advises people to avoid being outdoors, and seek shelter immediately. Motorists should drive slow and “be prepared for possible loss of control due to hydroplaning.”

“If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning,” the NWS said.