A gloomy Tuesday became a sloshy mess when storms dumped between 1 and 2 inches of rain across the metro area. Just when it seemed as though the raining was moving out of the area Tuesday afternoon, the storm’s powerful winds destroyed several homes in a Gwinnett County neighborhood.
The National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that it was a tornado that rolled through the Buford area. But whatever it was, it was powerful enough to destroy one home and cause significant damage to others in a neighborhood of Gravel Springs Road, just north of the Mall of Georgia.
By 6 p.m., the rains had moved northeast and south of the metro area. But the rain from the day made a mess of traffic. Standing water made some interstates and roads impassable, causing huge backups during the evening commute. Air traffic was also affected, as flights into Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport were delayed up to two hours during the heaviest rain.
Scattered showers are expected to linger through Tuesday evening before moving out. Wednesday is expected to bring windy, cooler temperatures.
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Below is a minute-by-minute update reporting the severe storms around Atlanta that has included reports of a tornado in Gwinnett County and flooding that has had a major effect on the evening commute and area highways. Read updated story here.
7:10 p.m.: Officials report that all searches have been completed for the neighborhood, with no reports of injuries or fatalities. Fifty-six homes and one business were damaged. Power and gas have been shut off, so residents must seek alternate shelter for the night, Gwinnett County fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said.
6 p.m.: Storm damage prevented some elementary school students from getting home on their normal bus route, Gwinnett school spokeswoman Sloan Roach told the AJC. Those students were brought back to their school and parents were called, she said. Five area middle schools delayed dismissal until around 5 p.m., she said. "All of the students are safely home now," Roach said.
5:56 p.m.: AJC reporter Pat Fox is on the scene gathering more information. He reports traffic is at a crawl and emergency vehicles are lining Gravel Springs Road.
5:44 p.m.: Volunteers on the way to Buford, the Atlanta Red Cross tweeted.
5:25 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Clarke, Morgan, Oconee and Walton counties until 6 p.m.
5:21 p.m.: AJC photographers Phil Skinner and Hyosub Shin are on the scene. Photo gallery here will update. Channel 2 Action news has storm photos here.
5:15 p.m.: The downpour forced the closure of part of the road outside Emory Johns Creek Hospital. The southbound lane of Hospital Parkway, between McGinnis Ferry Road and Medlock Bridge Road, was closed due to flooding, said Rosemary Taylor, a spokeswoman for Johns Creek. Vehicles cannot turn onto the road from McGinnis Ferry Road but they can go the other direction, onto McGinnis Ferry from Hospital Parkway.
5:10 p.m.: Traffic is moving slowly along Gravel Springs Road, just north of the Mall of Georgia. The damaged homes are on two streets in a neighborhood off Kirkland Drive, Cpl. Jake Smith with Gwinnett police said.
5:05 p.m.: One house was demolished and several others sustained moderate damage, Gwinnett County fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said. "There are no reports of injuries," Rutledge said.
5 p.m.: The weather was delaying flights at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The FAA was reporting delays of at least an hour for arriving flights, and those delays were pushing back some departures. Passengers should check with their airlines, the agency warned.
4:55 p.m.: Gwinnett police said some school buses had to be re-routed as storms hit.
4:52 p.m.: Gwinnett County police department says its conducting a door-to-door search on Kirkland Road near Buford, where there were reports of a tornado that has damaged homes. Police say about 10 homes have been damaged with no injuries at this point.
4:50 p.m.: Emergency workers were headed to the Locust Grove area after hearing reports of damage. "They have not yet confirmed that it was a tornado," said Julie Ernst, Henry County spokeswoman. "But they do have power lines down and some debris."
4:50 p.m.: The tornado warnings have been lifted for all metro Atlanta counties, according to the National Weather Service.
4:49 p.m.: Watch raw video of the scene in Gwinnett County, shot by Channel 2 Action News.
4:49 p.m.: There are 3,200 customers without power in Lawrenceville, Channel 2 Action News reports.
4:44 p.m.: Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine said in an e-mail that investigators in his Consumer Services Division are standing by to assist consumers in storm-damaged areas of Georgia. Oxendine said policyholders who need help with claims caused by violent weather can call his office for assistance at 1-800-656-2298, or in the Metro area at 404-656-2070.
4:40 p.m.: Several homes are damaged in the Gravel Springs Road neighborhood, Channel 2 Actions News reporter Manuel Bojorquez said. One home is missing an exterior wall, he said. "I can see their furniture," Bojorquez said.
4:40 p.m.:
WSB Radio has a list of metro Atlanta
by the extreme weather. You can also follow updates at
4:35 p.m.: AJC photographer Phil Skinner reports one house destroyed.
4:20 p.m.: A tornado warning has been issued for southeastern Henry County and western Newton County.
4:15 p.m.: National Weather Service: "What we know right now is that damage has been reported."
4:10 p.m.: The damaged homes are in the Buford area, according to Capt. Tommy Rutledge with the Gwinnett County fire department. No injuries have been reported.
4 p.m.: Gwinnett County fire and police officials are reporting several homes have been damaged due to storms.
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