12:30 P.M. UPDATE:
The weather service has extended the wind advisory scheduled to expire this morning until 6:00 tonight. The tornado watch for parts of north Georgia has expired. The strong winds are ushering in a return to winterlike temperatures to Georgia. Latest Gainesville area seven-day forecast:
This Afternoon
Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 44 by 5pm. West wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Washington’s Birthday
Sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Wednesday
Showers, mainly before 1pm. High near 44. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday Night
A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 43.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 23.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 48.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 28.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.
7:30 A.M. SUNDAY UPDATE:
The strong thunderstorms in north Georgia this morning have caused no apparent damage in Hall County but at the height of the stormy conditions, between 3:00 and 6:00, a wind gust of 52 mph was recorded at the Gainesville airport. Most of the wind gusts during the early morning hours, however, were in the 20-mph range. Gainesville did pick up another .71 inches of rain overnight.
The storms had lost some of their punch before moving into our area. As they crossed over the Georgia-Alabama state line not long after midnight, the weather service was busy issuing tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings as far east as Forsyth County. Hall County was under a severe thunderstorm warning which was posted at 4:50.
ORIGINAL STORY. POSTED AT 5:30 A.M. SUNDAY:
As thunderstorms rumbled through Gainesville and other parts of northeast Georgia early today, a Tornado Watch was posted for several places just to the west and northwest of us.
It’s in effect until 9:00 this morning. Among the places included are Cartersville, Ellijay, Jasper and Canton
It’s scheduled to expire at 9:00.