x
Breaking News
More () »

Atlanta tornado warning followed by strong winds, heavy flooding

Refresh often for updates.

ATLANTA — Heavy wind, rain and storms came through metro Atlanta and north Georgia Tuesday morning, leaving behind damage, flooding and sparking a tornado warning over heavily populated areas at one point.

In Clayton County, one death was confirmed after a tree fell onto a car.

RELATED: 1 dead after tree falls onto car in Clayton County accident, police say

At 8:15 a.m., a tornado warning was issued for Atlanta, East Point and areas including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport until 8:45 a.m.  It also included parts of DeKalb and Clayton counties before expiring; we have no confirmed reports at this time that a tornado touched down.

A flood warning was issued until 2 p.m. for Fulton County, Clayton County, DeKalb County, as well as Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Harris, Heard, Henry, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

A flash flood warning was issued until 2:45 p.m. for Meriwether, Pike, Coweta and Upson counties. Another flash flood warning was issued until 3 p.m. for Spalding, Henry, Newton and Rockdale counties.

A flash flood watch is also in effect for the north Georgia mountains. 

RELATED: Dynamic storm system brings rain, wind, severe storm threat to North Georgia

Follow live updates below. You can also track weather as it moves in via your county's radar online here.

People can get weather alerts from 11Alive's meteorologists on the 11Alive+ app on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Download 11Alive News app and sign up to receive alerts for the latest.

RELATED: TRACKER | Power outages in metro Atlanta, north Georgia as storms move through Tuesday morning

Scroll below for live updates, weather alerts.

Live radar

Live updates

7 p.m. | 11Alive's Chief Meteorologist Chris Holcomb breaks down the rain totals and rain record total for Jan. 9: 

6:30 p.m. | Some school districts across the metro have announced delays for Wednesday, Jan. 10. Click here for the full list.

6:20 p.m. | Georgia Power provided an update Tuesday evening after the storms. The company said power has been restored to approximately 115,000 customers as crews continue to work. 

6 p.m. | Here's a look at the Chattahoochee River flooding in Roswell near Riverside Drive under Georgia 400. 

Credit: Provided
Chattahoochee River flooding in Roswell near Riverside Drive under Georgia 400

5:30 p.m. | 11Alive continues to monitor the damage from the storms Tuesday evening. Here's the latest update on your forecast and the latest look at flooding and downed trees across the metro. 

4:26 p.m. | Video shows flooding on Georgia 197 North in Habersham County between Clarkesville and Batesville.

Flooding at the dip on Ga. 197 North between Clarkesville and Batesville

Flooding at the dip on Ga. 197 between Clarkesville and Batesville.

Posted by Habersham County on Tuesday, January 9, 2024

4:20 p.m. | Habersham County officials posted photos on Facebook of some of the flooding from Tuesday around the county.

Here are some scenes from today’s flooding around Habersham County.

Posted by Habersham County on Tuesday, January 9, 2024

 12:52 p.m. | The National Weather Service reports minor flooding from Nancy Creek at West Wesley Road in Atlanta, and a flood warning is in place there "until further notice."

"This includes Nancy Creek Road and Ridge Valley Court. Portions of The Westminster Schools athletic fields upstream from the gage will begin to flood," the notice states.

12:41 p.m. | Keep an eye out on south Georgia today as well. Severe storms have continued into the afternoon in that region.

12:40 p.m. | And flooding at the UGA campus in Athens:

12:35 p.m. | More flooding - this time at a Ross parking lot in Covington:

12:05 p.m. | More flooding, here with a reported road closure in Henry County:

12:00 p.m. | 11Alive's Cody Alcorn obtained this video of flooding in Griffin:

11:36 a.m. | We have confirmation of one death in a wreck during the weather this morning, in Clayton County, as a tree fell onto a car.

11:35 a.m. | Several metro Atlanta waterways are showing minor flooding at this stage - among them Peachtree Creek in Atlanta, North Fork Peachtree Creek at Buford Highway and Briarwood Road, Sweetwater Creek in Lilburn, Big Creek in Alpharetta and Cumming, Pew Creek near Lawrenceville, Big Haynes Creek and No Business Creek, both near Snellville, and the Yellow River near Lithonia.

Currently, there are more serious moderate flooding forecasts for two waterways in the region - the Yellow River near Lithonia, specifically at Pleasant Hill Road, and the Chattooga River up in Summerville.

11:20 a.m. | Some insight into how significant this storm system was, down along the Florida Panhandle - including Panama City Beach - saw major damage in some parts with unconfirmed reports of tornadoes.

10:00 a.m. | Much of the storm/rains have passed, but now the region will be turning attention to flooding and wind risks. A high wind warning is in place for several north Georgia counties - Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, Dawson, Lumpkin, White - until 1 p.m.

A wind advisory until 7 p.m. is also in place for virtually the entire metro Atlanta and north Georgia region.

9:07 a.m. | A ground stop is in place at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport until 9:30 a.m.

The FAA places a likelihood of extension past 9:30 a.m. as less than 30%.

9:02 a.m. | Look at how conditions are progressing:

8:48 a.m. | Here's how things are looking outside the 11Alive News studios:

8:47 a.m. | And now we have a flash flood warning for Spalding, Henry, Newton and Rockdale counties until 3 p.m.

8:43 a.m. | We now have a flash flood warning for Meriwether, Pike, Coweta, Spalding and Upson counties until 2:45 p.m.

8:42 a.m. | We'll be returning to live coverage at 8:56 a.m.

8:28 a.m. | Again: Tornado warning canceled, but very strong wind risk still in place through 8:45 a.m.:

8:25 a.m. | The tornado warning has been allowed to expire - but a severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for much of the same zone until 8:45 a.m.

8:14 a.m. | Tornado warning issued including Atlanta, East Point and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport until 8:45 a.m. It also includes parts of DeKalb and Clayton counties.

8:05 a.m. | Flood warning issued until 2 p.m. for Fulton County, Clayton County, DeKalb County, as well as Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Harris, Heard, Henry, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup and Upson counties.

7:45 a.m. | You can currently re-watch our full update from a short while ago in the video player at the top of this story.

7:30 a.m. | New flood warning in effect for Big Creek potentially impacting Cumming, Alpharetta and Roswell.

More details here.

7:10 a.m. | Not in our immediate zone, but a tornado watch is in place for much of southwest Georgia until 2 p.m.

6:50 a.m. | Stick with us for continuing live coverage at 7 a.m. from 11Alive Meteorologist Chesley McNeil!

6:35 a.m. | Here's the latest outlook from 11Alive Meteorologist Chesley McNeil:

6:30 a.m. | National Weather Service reports wind gusts of 35-40 mph have already been observed in parts of west-central Georgia.

4:45 a.m. | Good morning, it's nasty out there! 

We're covering metro Atlanta as heavy rains are expected to pour onto the region throughout the morning.

As you can see in the radar above, the rains have already arrived and if you take a look at our hourly forecast, that's only going to continue into the later morning hours -- with wind conditions getting stronger as the morning moves on.

Meanwhile in other parts of the state, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center notes an increased tornado risk moving toward southwest and west central Georgia.

MORE FROM THE 11ALIVE STORMTRACKERS

DOWNLOAD THE 11ALIVE APP:  

  • Download the app on your Apple or Android device.
  • Set up weather notifications by clicking the Gear icon in the upper right corner of the app. Select Notification -> Notification Settings -> Severe Weather Alerts -> Toggle the Severe Weather Alerts button to the right to turn alerts on. 
  • Send photos and videos through the app by selecting the Near Me feature on the bottom right taskbar of the app and entering your information.

TEXT YOUR WEATHER PHOTOS TO US: 404-885-7600 

JOIN THE 11ALIVE STORMTRACKERS FACEBOOK GROUP: Nearly 10,000 metro Atlanta and north Georgia weather enthusiasts share their weather photos every day. Click here to join the group! 

Before You Leave, Check This Out