Noontime storm topples trees

Some trees toppled during a brief but intense thunderstorm that pushed through Hall County about noon today.

“We did have some trees down but minimal impacts that have been cleared,” Hall County Emergency and Homeland Security Director Zachary Brackett said late this afternoon.

Social media pictures show some trees across Jesse Jewell Parkway. The top wind gust recorded just a few miles away at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport during that time was 12 miles an hour.

The storm formed quickly around 1:00 and moved through Hall County and was over shortly. In some places in north Georgia, however, particularly to the west and northwest of Gainesville, it was more intense, even producing hail.

The National Weather Service (NWS) had issued a Severe Weather Outlook earlier in the day for the northern third of Georgia and the threat of stormy weather is expected to linger through the night.