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National Weather Service officially declares EF-1 tornadoes hit Covington, Villa Rica

The tornadoes broke out on New Year's Eve in the two metro Atlanta communities.

ATLANTA — The National Weather Service on Saturday officially ruled that the tornadoes that touched down in Covington and Villa Rica on New Year's Eve were EF-1 tornadoes.

The tornado in Covington injured six people, according to the National Weather Service, and left behind damage in both communities.

RELATED: Tornado activity jolts parts of metro Atlanta on New Year's Eve | What we know

NWS assessors were on the ground Saturday in both cities surveying the damage.

The tornado in Covington was described as an "isolated supercell" thunderstorm that produced the tornado, touching down around 5:39 p.m. and traveling about two-and-a-half miles in seven minutes.

Credit: WXIA

The NWS said "both video evidence and ground surveys suggest the tornado was sporadic in its contact with the ground as evident by small gaps in damage, particularly in the beginning of the track."

In some of the most striking damage the tornado produced, it entered a Chick-fil-A parking lot and tossed two cars 100 feet, the NWS said, and broke glass at the restaurant. Six people were injured near the Chick-fil-A, the service reported.

11Alive obtained video of the damage at the Chick-fil-A.

A report noted that it came down around Creekside Lane to the east of Brown Bridge Road and traveled northeast along Brown Bridge "snapping a few trees and blowing down a fence along Glynshire Court and Roberts Road."

"The tornado reached peak intensity of 90mph as it hit Veterans Middle School removing significant amounts of siding and roofing from the gymnasium and sections of roof," the report said.

One woman tweeted out video of the damage at the middle school.

The Covington tornado then crossed Slades Mill Court, according to the NWS, causing damage to two homes before it entered the intersection of Brown Bridge Road and Salem Road.

It then uprooted several trees in a Publix parking lot and did damage to the Publix roof before reaching the Chick-fil-A.

The tornado then continued east and damaged 10 homes along Tulip Poplar Way and Mary Jane Lane before it lifted around Shiver Boulevard.

The tornado in Villa Rica was described as a "rare LP (low precipitation) supercell tornado" that touched down around 5:32 p.m. on Friday evening and traveled nearly three miles, reaching peak wind speeds of 95mph.

Credit: WXIA

The NWS reported the tornado touched down near US-78 and several trees were snapped or uprooted between Wilton Smith Road and Old Villa Rica Road.

Moving northeast from there, the tornado "appeared to strengthen as more numerous trees were seen either uprooted or snapped along Long Branch Road and across Cown Road."

The NWS also reported a barn that was "ripped apart" and a carport that was detached from a home.

More trees were ripped up as the tornado crossed Cown Road and Astin Creek Road, and one home was damaged by a falling tree. A "medium-sized shed" also was moved about 20 yards and into the side of a house.

The tornado finally weakened south of Van Wert Road.

The damage reports come from the National Weather Service as more severe weather is expected around metro Atlanta late Saturday night and into early Sunday morning.

We have a Level 3 threat of severe weather in northwest Georgia, a Level 2 threat for the Atlanta area, and a Level 1 threat for areas southeast of the metro. Find a timeline of what to expect and when and where to expect it:

RELATED: Timeline for New Year's weekend storms in Atlanta, north Georgia

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