ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A trail of uprooted and broken trees, downed utility lines, peeled-off roofs and collapsed brick walls marked the path of a tornado that tore through downtown Atlanta.
The National Weather Service confirmed late Saturday morning that an EF-2 tornado with winds up to 130 mph struck the city Friday night. "This was clearly a tornado," Lans Rothfusz of the weather service's Peachtree City, Georgia, office said. Utility and cleanup crews on Saturday worked to res
tore traffic lights, clear streets and remove tons of debris in the city's business district after Friday night's unusual urban storm. Police in Atlanta were urging people to stay away from downtown. Shattered windows and hanging metal could increase the risk of flying debris if storms packing he
avy winds move in, authorities said. Trees blown down in Friday night's storm crushed a row of houses in the city's historic Cabbagetown district just east of downtown. Initial estimates from the mayor's office said at least 20 of the historic homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornado. Atlan
ta police Maj. Renee Propes urged people to stay away from Cabbagetown. "We appreciate the fact that people may want to help," Propes said. "But, in most instances, they are hindering our efforts and possibly putting people and property at risk." The top floor collapsed at one building in the Fult
on Cotton Mill Lofts, a 104-year-old industrial complex redeveloped into residences. Police officials said everyone was out of the structure and surrounding buildings and all residents in the lofts had been accounted for. ***There will probably be one more part for sure from this morning... there i
s currently live tornado coverage of other storms(one headed for Metro Atlanta).

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