Gainesville, GA – An EF1 tornado with winds up to 90 mph tore across Hall County Friday evening, spending much of its 2.75-mile path over Lake Lanier but sparing the region any reported injuries or structural damage.
According to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, the tornado touched down between 6:55 and 7:04 p.m. on May 2, generated by a small, isolated supercell thunderstorm. The twister traveled north just east of downtown Gainesville, crossing the lake with a maximum width of 150 yards before dissipating.
Though the tornado did not strike populated areas directly, emergency officials in Hall County confirmed the storm prompted brief power outages and downed tree limbs near lakefront communities. Boaters on Lake Lanier were urged to seek shelter quickly as storm warnings were issued just minutes before rotation appeared on radar.
The EF1 rating marks the lowest level on the Enhanced Fujita scale but still indicates potentially damaging winds. Residents are reminded that even smaller tornadoes can become dangerous with little notice, especially when forming over water or in low-visibility conditions.
No additional tornado threats are currently in effect, but forecasters say isolated storms remain possible through the weekend. Updates will follow if watches or warnings are issued.
