Tornado sirens blared in Habersham County on Wednesday as severe weather hit the region ahead of Hurricane Helene.

Radar indicated air circulation between Demorest and Clarkesville, but there are no confirmed reports of a tornado touching down.

Students in Habersham and Rabun counties sought shelter as the storm moved through. The two school systems dismissed students an hour later than usual, and they and many other school systems in northeast Georgia have already canceled classes for the rest of this week.

According to Rob Moore, Habersham County spokesman, the storm did not cause any injuries but left some damage.

The strong winds appeared to rip the roof off a chicken coop on Bob Patton Road. Tree limbs fell and blocked traffic in Clarkesville.

Downed trees and power lines were reported north of Clarkesville, and in Rabun County, school officials reported strong winds and hail.

The storm has knocked out power to hundreds of Georgia Power and Habersham EMC customers in northeast Georgia, primarily in Habersham. Utilities warn that more outages are likely in the coming days as strong winds combined with very waterlogged ground can topple trees and power lines.

Deterioration of conditions

The weather will worsen as Helene quickly moves inland. The storm is headed toward the Big Bend region of Florida and is expected to move into northern Georgia as a tropical storm early Friday.

Tropical storm-force winds of 60 miles per hour are expected, and gusts could be even stronger.

Emergency officials across Georgia are urging people to avoid travel if possible, and drivers should be alert to the danger of fallen trees.

The National Weather Service is warning of “catastrophic” flooding, even in areas not normally prone to flooding. State and local authorities are urging Georgia residents to take precautions — prepare emergency supplies and have a plan to protect themselves from the floods.

Currently, Habersham is closely monitoring weather conditions, school closings and other impacts on the region. Check back often for updates.

SEE ALSO

Tropical storm warning issued for North Georgia