Think Friday afternoon traffic is bad? Try adding some pop-up thunderstorms that included strong winds, lightning and hail.
Long before most people could get home, storms blew through the metro area Friday afternoon, bringing down trees and causing assorted power outages and headaches for drivers.
In Hall County, a one-mile stretch of U.S 129/Ga. 60 through Gainesville was closed just after 6 p.m. due to storm damage, according to police. Two people were reportedly trapped inside a vehicle, but rescue efforts were delayed due to live power lines down in the area.
A tree fell on top of a car on Tara Boulevard in Clayton County, but no injuries were reported. Power outages were being reported in southern Cobb County, particularly in the Spring Road area in Smyrna.
Interstates were jammed all over town, due to minor wrecks and normal rush-hour backups.
In Gwinnett County, power lines were down on both sides of Highway 316 in Dacula, according to Capt. Tommy Rutledge with the county’s fire department. Wires were also down in the Snellville and Lilburn area, he said.
In Cherokee County, southbound lanes I-575 were closed at Canton Highway (Exit 20) due to an overturned vehicle. It was not immediately known if the incident was weather-related.
Thunderstorms were moving east across metro Atlanta and are possible through the evening, according to Glenn Burns, Channel 2 Action News Chief Meteorologist.
“Strong or severe storms with damaging winds, hail, and severe lightning are possible,” Burns said. “Much of north Georgia, including the metro area has only a slight chance for a pop-up shower or thunderstorm through the early evening,” Burns added.
Saturday’s forecast includes partly cloudy skies and a 30 percent chance of rain, Burns said.
— Please return for updates.
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