North Georgia Town Sustained Damage Due to Small Tornado

National Weather Service forecasters say they’ve determined that recent storm damage north of Atlanta, Ga., was caused by a small tornado.

The weather service said the tornado touched down shortly after 7:30 am. Saturday near Waleska in Cherokee County. Forecasters say the tornado is considered an EF-0 twister with a maximum wind speed of 80 mph.

Authorities say the tornado skipped along the ground, doing sporadic damage in a path that stretched about three miles.

Officials say the tornado snapped and toppled several trees along its 10-yard wide path.

The weather service concluded that a tornado touched down after a survey of damage in the area.

Waleska is about 45 miles northwest of Atlanta.