Severe weather impacts South Georgia: schools, roads, and power affected
ALBANY, Ga. — Severe weather swept through South Georgia Thursday morning, causing scattered damage, power outages, and disruptions across multiple communities.
In Crisp County, law enforcement reported multiple trees and power lines down. Wind gusts reached approximately 37 miles per hour early Thursday morning, according to Sheriff Billy Hancock. Frontage Road, from 24th Avenue to Comfort Inn, is closed while crews work to repair damaged power poles, and Crisp County High School has canceled classes for the day due to ongoing power outages with no estimated restoration time.
Nearby, in Sylvester, residents are dealing with blocked roads as well. Cordele Highway at Eldridge Street is blocked by downed trees and power lines, forcing southbound traffic to detour down Bryant Drive, while northbound drivers were directed onto North Isabella Street to reach Bryant Drive until crews can clear the area. Over in Lenox, some property damage was reported, including a Vietnam-era helicopter that had been planned as a display at Veterans Park, according to our partners with the Adel News-Tribune.
Albany city officials reported numerous weather-related incidents, including traffic lights out at intersections such as Johnson Road and Sylvester Highway, E. Broad Avenue and N. Broadway Street, and E. Oglethorpe Boulevard and S. Mock Road. Trees are down across the city on streets including Pine Avenue, W. Roosevelt Avenue, and Cherokee Drive, while several areas also experienced downed wires, including Bonney View Drive, Edgerly Avenue, and Almond Drive. Residents are urged to exercise caution, especially around damaged infrastructure.
Schools throughout the region were also impacted. Worth County Schools announced a non-traditional school day, assuring parents that attendance would not be counted against students. Families were encouraged to keep children home if roads remained unsafe, while students already at school could be picked up without penalty. Other local districts such as Dougherty County Schools implemented flexible attendance policies for Thursday. Residents are reminded to confirm school closings or schedule adjustments with their local district, as conditions and decisions can change throughout the day.
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for numerous counties, including Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Columbia, Echols, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, McDuffie, McIntosh, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Ware, and Wayne, in effect until 1 p.m. today.
Officials are reminding residents to exercise caution, avoid downed power lines, and follow guidance from local law enforcement and school districts as crews continue to clear roads and restore power. The National Weather Service continues to monitor conditions, and additional watches or warnings may be issued throughout the day. Stay tuned to trusted local sources for updates.
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