Community Corner

Severe Weather Predicted for Duluth Area Tonight

National Weather Service predicts thunderstorms, gusty winds, frequent lightning and possible hail.

Tonight is a good night to stay home and ride out the storm.

The National Weather Service is forecasting severe weather Monday (April 4) night for the Duluth area with gusty winds, thunderstorms, frequent lightning and possibly hail, mostly after 8 p.m. Gwinnett County is under a tornado watch until 11 p.m.

The chance of precipitation is 100 percent with one to two inches likely. Low near 45F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. The bad weather follows a sunny day with temperatures reaching 81F.

Find out what's happening in Duluthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services is monitoring the weather and ready to respond if necessary. Gwinnett Fire/ES spokeman Tommy Rutledge offered the following tips to be prepared for severe weather:

Have a severe-weather plan: Make sure everyone knows where to go inside the home during bad weather. Have on hand flashlights, blankets, portable radio, extra batteries, first aid kit and bottled water.

Find out what's happening in Duluthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Charge your cell phone: In case your landline phone service goes out.

Know the difference between a watch and a warning: A watch means severe weather is possible. A warning means it’s imminent. 

Monitor weather: Get the latest info from TV, radio or nternet reports. Invest in a NOAA weather radio if possible.

Adjust outdoor activities: Delay or cancel outdoor plans when there’s a severe-weather threat.

While indoors: Stay away from open doors and windows until the storm has subsided. Seek shelter in the basement or an interior room. Avoid outside walls.

Lightning safety: Turn off (and/or unplug) electrical appliances until the storm passes. Stay off your landline phone and don’t take a shower or bath. Lightning can travel into a home via plumbing, gas lines and electrical lines.

If lightning strikes: If you believe lightning has struck your home, check for smoke or fire, including in the attic and basement. If you smell smoke or see charring around electrical outlets, evacuate the house and call 911.

Power lines: Consider any downed power line as “live or energized,” and call the fire department.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is expected to by partly cloudy with a high near 60 and a low of 35. Chance of rain is only 10 percent.


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