Feb. 6, 2020: Severe weather is affecting Hall County Feb. 6. This is the most up-to-date story. 

2008 article: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for much of North Georgia that will remain in effect until 10 p.m.

Counties in the Northeast Georgia area included in the watch are: Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Dawson, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin and White counties.

According to Vaughn Smith, a meteorologist with the weather service in Peachtree City, the watch was issued because a weather system that is moving into the area is causing conditions that are right for creating tornados. Also, Smith said that the system, which currently is moving through Alabama, has resulted in tornado warnings there.

"Those same storms are moving into (Georgia) as we speak," Smith said.

While there are no confirmed reports at this time of any tornados in Alabama, Smith said there have been some reports of damage from trees down and power lines on trees.

Hall County Emergency Management director David Kimbrell said he's been in weather briefings with the National Weather Service and that local emergency officials were "not expecting anything major" in Hall County.

"It's going to move through with some pretty good thunderstorms with rain behind it," Kimbrell said at 5:30 p.m. "I'd say our biggest threat would be lightning."

Officials advise during lightning advisories that residents stay indoors and avoid using appliances.

Smith said the severe weather is expected to continue past midnight across Northeast Georgia, with a second round of storms expected Saturday as the actual front moves into the area.