EF-1 tornado confirmed in North Georgia storm that damaged Gilmer County on Thursday

A tornado was confirmed among the strong storms that rattled North Georgia on Thursday, according to Channel 2 Action News meteorologists.

The storms brought widespread rain to metro Atlanta throughout the morning, prompting a tornado watch and ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

On Friday, Channel 2 meteorologists confirmed that an EF-1 tornado with winds of 90-plus mph touched down in Gilmer County. Roads were shut down around Ellijay and the storms knocked over trees and blew power lines onto buildings, the news station reported.

Strong winds also toppled an RV and blew the roof off a few structures, but no injuries were reported, according to Channel 2. As a result, the school district canceled Friday classes due to “ongoing road conditions and power outages.”

In southwest Atlanta, three trees were toppled or snapped in half along Cherokee Avenue near Grant Park, bringing a couple of power poles down with it, Channel 2 reported.

John McVeigh, who lives in the area, was walking his dogs at the same time the trees fell.

“The wind picked up for probably five or 10 minutes,” he told Channel 2. “Kinda crazy, these guys — these dogs — were terrified and hid inside, and next thing I know, the trees were down.”

No one was hurt, and the trees didn’t hit any homes or vehicles.

The storms were part of a deadly system that delivered torrential rain and tornadoes across the country this week, from the Plains to the Midwest and now the southeastern U.S., the Associated Press reported. At least four people died.

At least three people were killed in storms that spawned damaging tornadoes and massive hail in Tennessee and North Carolina, according to the AP.

Credit: WSBTV Videos

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