More severe weather headed for Columbus, high winds expected and tornadoes possible

More severe weather is headed for the Columbus area for the second time this week, according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS has placed Columbus in a slight risk severe weather categorization for Friday with damaging winds being the main threat with the possibility of tornadoes.

Rain is expected to begin reaching the Columbus area around 8 a.m to 10 a.m. with the highest risk of severe weather being around 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to a forecaster at the NWS in Peachtree City.

The forecaster said to expect gusts of wind around 35 mph with higher winds possible during the weather event.

The forecaster said the Chattahoochee river is currently at 26.8 feet currently with flood stage being at 27 feet. However, the forecaster said the river’s height is expected to trend downward throughout the weekend.

Russell County Schools have moved to remote learning for Friday due to inclement weather, according to a news release.

This story was originally published January 11, 2024 at 4:00 PM.