A severe thunderstorm watch issued for the southern counties of metro Atlanta has been canceled, but the watch remains in effect until 11 p.m. for the southeastern corner of the state.
Clayton, Fayette, Henry and Coweta counties were under the watch until 9 p.m., when those counties and neighboring counties to the south were dropped from the watch, which meant that conditions were ripe for the development of severe storms.
While no severe weather had been reported in metro Atlanta through 9 p.m., the National Weather Service reported baseball-sized hail in Laurens County southeast of Macon just before 7 p.m., and hail the size of golf balls in Bibb, Peach and Crawford counties.
There were also reports of wind damage in middle Georgia Saturday evening.
The Weather Service reported that numerous trees were blown down in Fort Valley by winds that also reportedly toppled light standards at the Peach County High School baseball field.
Near Cordele, numerous trees and power lines were down across Crisp County, according to the Weather Service. At least one tree was on a house.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were posted along I-16 between Macon and Savannah before 8 p.m. after radar indicated winds up to 80 mph in a storm near Soperton.
Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said that while storm development was possible anywhere in north Georgia, the greatest risk is along and south of I-20.
“Damaging winds is the greatest threat, but large hail and isolated tornadoes are also possible,” she said.
A tornado watch posted earlier in the day Saturday for south Georgia expired at 4 p.m. No tornadoes were reported, but the Weather Service said 35 to 40 trees were toppled in Laurens County around 10:30 a.m.
Walls said the chance of rain will decrease to 10 percent Sunday, when highs around 80 will follow morning lows in the mid-60s.
The work week will begin sunny and dry Monday and Tuesday, with a 60 percent chance of rain returning on Wednesday.
Highs will be in the mid-70s Monday, low 70s Tuesday and around 63 degrees Wednesday, Walls said.
About the Author
