Increased ‘risk to lives and property’ as severe weather enters Georgia. What to know

Chelsea Madden
·2 min read
2

Potentially dangerous storms are hitting Georgia this week.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for parts of Georgia, including Macon and Columbus.

“A line of thunderstorms is expected to move through north and central Georgia this evening and into the overnight hours. A few of the thunderstorms could be severe and capable of producing damaging wind gusts, large hail and a few tornadoes,” according to the NWS.

Let’s take a took at the timing and other things to expect:

When are the storms coming?

Macon and Columbus are at an enhanced level (3 out of 5) for storms coming through the area later Tuesday and into the night.

The National Weather Service is predicting strong storms across Georgia tonight. NWS
The National Weather Service is predicting strong storms across Georgia tonight. NWS



The NWS predicts the storms to begin around 6 p.m. Tuesday and be the strongest after 9 p.m., with severe weather continuing until sunrise on Wednesday.

What threats are expected?

The NWS says damaging winds, isolated tornadoes, hail and frequent lightning should be expected.

Winds could reach up to 60 mph and hail could be up to 1 inch in size.

Accuweather is predicting a similar threat, set at a moderate risk (2 out of 4) with downpours, localized flash flooding and high winds.

“The risk to lives and property will continue on Tuesday and Tuesday night following powerful thunderstorms,” Accuweather said.

What are some overnight storm safety tips?

The NWS knows that overnight severe weather threats can be especially dangerous because:

  • The public is less likely to receive warnings overnight as many people are asleep.

  • Tornadoes are much more difficult to spot at night.

  • Some people are inside vulnerable housing/building structures such as mobile homes.

  • Nighttime tornadoes are more likely to cause fatalities than daytime tornadoes.

But there are some things you can do to prepare for the nighttime threat:

  • Make a plan

  • Enable alerts on your phone/devices

  • Get a weather radio

  • When the storm is active, make sure you’re inside and get away from windows

  • If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don’t forget pets if time allows.

Have questions? Let us know at cmadden@mcclatchy.com

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