Updated: Significant weather advisory in North Georgia; hail and high winds to continue

Tornado tile

Update at 6:37 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a significant weather advisory for Whitfield, Murray, Fannin and Gilmer counties until 7:15 p.m. A strong thunderstorm has passed over Dalton and is moving east at 25 miles per hour.

The storm carries wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour. Locations in the path of the storm include Dalton, Dawnville, Chatsworth, Sumac, Crandall, Eton, Fort Mountain State Park, Conasauga Lake and Mountaintown.

Heavy downpours will cause ponding of water on roadways.

Update at 6:15 p.m.: The tornado warning remained in effect until 6:15 p.m. Northwest Georgia remains under a hazardous weather outlook.

Update at 5:54 p.m.: The national Weather Service doppler radar indicated a tornado moving east at 25 miles per hour near Woodstation. Residents should take cover.

Tunnel Hill and Rocky Face are also included in the tornado warning.

Original story follows:

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for three North Georgia counties from 5:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m.

Catoosa County, central Walker County and northwestern Whitfield County are included in the warning. There is a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado that is passing through the area, according to the weather service.

The weather service says that "strong rotation" has been detected within the storm, and residents in those counties should take cover.

The tornado may already be on the ground, the service says.