Damaging Tornadoes Near Atlanta

The Metro Atlanta area has been experiencing bad weather all day on Wednesday.

Storms Hit Midwest and South

Powerful storms spawned tornadoes that killed dozens as they ripped through the South and Midwest, flattening towns and turning churches into shelters.

At least 28 people were killed: 15 in Indiana, 12 in Kentucky and one in Ohio.

Rescue workers combed through rubble overnight for dozens believed missing after the storms struck Friday, according to state and local authorities.

In Tennessee, there were reports of possible tornado touchdowns in nine counties, according to Jeremy Heidt, the state's emergency management spokesman. At least 29 people were injured across the state, said Dean Flener, also with TEMA.

By early Saturday morning, as the storms moved through northern Georgia, a tornado was believed to have struck in north Georgia's Paulding County, damaging two elementary schools, a small local airport and an undetermined number of homes, said Ashley Henson, a sheriff's spokesman.

Damage at a Home Depot in East Cobb County, GA

Tornadoes Hit Joplin, MO

The Associated Press is reporting that a tornado hit Joplin, MO around 6 p.m. and overturned trucks and damaged businesses. 

National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Griffin has said that Joplin was directly hit by a tornado that touched down in the center of the town. 

The NWS is not yet sending anyone to assess the damage because the severe weather is not yet over.

Jasper County Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer says that a tornado hit the St. John's Regional Medical Center, and there are reports of multiple injuries. 

The roofs of two city fire stations collapsed, and there are reports of other damaged businesses near the city. 



Looks like St. Louis might be under the gun next.

RickLimpert.info Picture of the Week: Alabama Before and After the Tornadoes

Google has put up pictures of Alabama taken before and after the tornadoes of the past week.

Tuscaloosa and Jefferson County.

Severe Weather to Hit Atlanta Today

The weather Wednesday night is expected to be horrific, frightening and dangerous as a severe storm is expected to race across the metro area at about 50 mph.

Glenn Burns, the chief meteorologist for Channel 2 Action News, said Tuesday evening the “significant tornado parameters” he’s been watching all day Tuesday are “off the scale.”

“When it’s a 1, it means tornadoes are possible. At 3, it means they are likely. Ours is 8 to 11,” Burns said. “All the parameters are there for tornadoes, damaging winds, hail, intense lightning. It very likely we will see some flooding in North Georgia.”

He said people should look for “super cell thunder storms.”

The weather will hit the state after 8 p.m. and metro Atlanta should be slammed around 11 p.m.

The strong storms that downed trees and power lines on Monday was just a precursor for Wednesday, Burns told The Atlanta Journal Constitution earlier Tuesday.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service were also sounding a warning for Wednesday, saying that a "major severe weather event" is expected.

The Weather Service said in a statement Tuesday that while damaging winds and isolated tornadoes are not completely out of the question across the northwest corner of the state early Wednesday, the "big show" will come later in the afternoon and evening, when "all parameters align almost perfectly for a major severe weather event."