Officials Confirm Tornado Touched Down In Gwinnett

ATLANTA -- A power toado touched in Gwinnett County on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The toado was classified as an EF2 toado, with winds up to 135mph.

Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine said Wednesday that the damage topped $5 million in Gwinnett County. Statewide figures were not immediately available to reflect damage left by storm systems that passed over other parts of metro Atlanta.

"You never think it's going to happen in your area, and really it's scary," said Kathleen Latonna, who lives nearby.

The toado damaged 56 homes and one business near Gravel Springs and Morgan roads in Buford, according to firefighters. Twelve homes received major damage and one home was completely destroyed.

"I was laying on the bed and I thought, 'Oh my god, the house is shaking.' I thought the window was going to blow in. I got up ... I was so scared," said Latonna.

One home on Gravel Springs Road was missing an exterior wall. The siding and insulation from the home was woven into a toppled tree about 50 yards away.

A neighboring home also sustained serious damage; others in the subdivision had minor damage.

"I was on my way home from work and the parents were calling us to see if the kids were OK. I knew a toado hit at Gravel Springs; I didn't know it was going to be our house," said resident Erin Birdsong.

Capt. Tommy Rutledge told Channel 2's Manuel Bojorquez that utility companies had cut natural gas and power lines to the subdivision.

A toado watch was issued for northeaste Georgia, including Atlanta and several metro counties, said Severe Weather Team 2 chief meteorologist Glenn Bus. The watch remained in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday. An earlier watch for weste counties expired at 3 p.m.

The weather system also caused extensive delays for commuters across metro Atlanta highways. Interstate 20 was briefly closed near Candler Road, while knee-deep water filled the I-85 southbound ramp to I-285 westbound at spaghetti junction.

The storm system brought most of the area some beneficial rainfall, said Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist David Chandley. It’s a welcome soaking with an extended dry period expected for the next few months. Last week, the Climate Prediction Center predicted warmer and drier weather for the Southeast in the next 30 days.

"Cold air will roll south behind the front and some spots in extreme north Georgia could see snow flurries. Wednesday will be tuing sunny, windy and cold with highs holding in the 40s," said Chandley. Drier and colder air will linger the rest of the week.

iWitness2 user 19ian56 shared this video of some of the damage around Buford.