05-05-2025
PHOTOS: Snapped tree kills girl, lightning burns home, severe weather damage in metro Atlanta
The Brief
Severe weather damaged multiple parts of the metro Atlanta area over the weekend.
A hailstorm was just part of a series of severe weather events affecting the region, including fiery lightning strikes, tornado activity and snapped trees.
We have confirmed at least one death.
ATLANTA - Severe weather swept through Georgia, causing large hail in Clayton County, a roof collapse in Forsyth County, a fatal tree fall in Fulton County, a lightning-induced house fire in Gwinnett County, and an EF-1 tornado in Hall County.
Multiple residents around Clayton County reported seeing large hail Friday afternoon.
One FOX 5 Atlanta viewer said they ended up driving through a severe thunderstorm and hailstorm while traveling from Cornelia to Clayton County on Highway 23.
The roof over Chemence Medical, Inc., in Alpharetta came crashing down on employees during the storm Friday.
Four people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. At least one of them was hit by debris.
Officials say the building was damaged and flooded.
Ten-year-old A'erica Dixon was at home on Mims Street SW with her mom, grandmother and three other family members when a tree came crashing down on her at around 3 a.m. Saturday.
She died from her injuries.
The mother and grandmother were rushed to the hospital.
"My sister is not doing good of course," said Erica Melson, A'erica's aunt. "My mom is in critical condition, but you know, we're praying for the best. That's all we can do."
Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services responded to a house fire in Snellville Saturday night at around 9:55 p.m. in the 4000 block of Tower View Trail SW.
A neighbor said they saw flames coming from the roof.
There was one person inside the home who made it out safely before firefighters came.
The crew managed to contain the fire to the attic space.
They believe it was caused by a lightning strike during a strong storm passing through the area.
An EF-1 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in Hall County Friday night at likely 90 mph.
It formed over the northern part of Lake Lanier, just north of Gainesville. It was on the ground for about 9 minutes, traveling about 2.7 miles.
Most damage was limited to snapped or uprooted trees off of Thompson Bridge Road, Highway 60, near Lakewood Baptist Church, at an apartment complex along North Cliff Colony Drive, near the west-end of Basin Road, and over The Bluffs along Cochran Road and Willow Trace.
According to surveyors, there were plenty of eyewitnesses.
One FOX 5 Atlanta viewer said she and her neighbors experienced several rounds of hail Friday night. At one point, she heard tornado sirens go off in her Gainesville neighborhood.
