Channel 2 viewers capture video of waterspout moving across part of Lake Lanier

ATLANTA — An apparent waterspout touched down on Lake Lanier around 7 p.m. Friday night.

Viewers started sending in video to Channel 2 Action News around that time.

The Hall County Emergency Management said they had begun receiving reports that there may have been a tornado that touched down and activated their sirens “due to numerous credible sightings.”

They also said there had been some limited structural damage near Lakewood Baptist Church.

Viewers sent in video of the waterspout, which is a tornado on the water, moving across Lake Lanier in the Thompson Bridge area.

WOW! Check out this viewer video of a waterspout that formed on Lake Lanier tonight in the Thompson Bridge area in Hall County: https://t.co/MkenYEFwi8 pic.twitter.com/j9fdGgSe1M
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) May 3, 2025

A pair of boaters who were on the lake sent us another video of the same storm.

A pair of boaters sent us this video as they saw the waterspout form on Lake Lanier this evening: https://t.co/yUN3jLmeBb pic.twitter.com/QqpGC4lUKL
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) May 3, 2025

Hall County said that they have requested the National Weather Service to come out and survey the area.

Video of tornado crossing Thompson Bridge road by Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville today. @wsbtv @BradNitzWSB pic.twitter.com/XmL1fUYESq
— Blaine Brown (@blainebrown24) May 3, 2025