Special Weather Statement, NWS Atlanta, GA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
739 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2017

.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 348 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2017/

SHORT TERM /Today through Thursday/...
Severe weather is expected across much of Georgia today. Be ready
to execute your severe weather plan in case a Severe Thunderstorm
Warning or Tornado Warning is issued for your location. Keep a
way to receive weather warnings nearby - such as a NOAA weather
radio or your smart phone. Please stay weather aware today, and
stay safe out there.

A very vigorous storm system will impact the CWFA today. There
could be several rounds of severe thunderstorms today, so don't
let your guard down if you experience relatively quiet conditions
for a period of time. The first round of severe weather is
currently impacting portions of southern Alabama and the Florida
panhandle. This activity is associated with a northward moving
warm front. This warm front is expected to move into SW GA early
this morning and keep moving to near the I-20 corridor by
daybreak. South of the warm front, the airmass is very unstable
and lapse rates are very steep for this time of the morning.
Reports of up to half dollar sized hail have been reported across
portions of SE AL. With this first round of thunderstorms, expect
the primary modes of severe weather to be large hail (up to 2
inches possible) and damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 MPH. An
isolated tornado cannot be ruled out either, as the front will
provide an excellent source of low level shear.

The warm front may end up settling somewhere in the vicinity of
the northern 'burbs of Atlanta by mid morning. This means that
most of the CWFA will be in the warm sector for the afternoon. The
atmosphere should have enough time to recuperate from the morning
storms, and become very unstable during the peak heating of the
afternoon - especially if the clouds begin to break. All the
ingredients for severe weather will be present: strong mid and
upper level forcing, strong surface instability, plenty of deep
level shear, a 40-50kt 850mb jet, etc. This will be the time that
discreet cells ahead of the front are expected to develop and
supercells will be likely. (Prime time for tornado development.)

The actual cold front isn't expected to move through until later
in the evening and into the overnight hours. The actual front will
provide enough focus for additional storms well into the evening
and overnight. However, the atmosphere *may* be worked over enough
by the time the front moves through that the coverage and
*possibly* severity of the storms may decrease. However, not
entirely confident on this situation - so continue to stay weather
aware even after the sun sets.

There is plenty of much cooler air behind this system and
Thursday's will be a (relatively) cold and windy day. A Wind
Advisory will likely be needed, but don't want to over complicate
the headlines for today.

NListemaa

LONG TERM /Thursday Night through Tuesday/...
Extended period largely overshadowed by short term severe threat.
Following the aforementioned system, wrap around moisture will
linger over the northeast Georgia mountains through Friday morning,
with the potential for some mixed precip as temperatures drop into
the low to mid 30s. For now, have limited the p-type to rain or
snow, and will need to revisit this in subsequent forecast packages.
Not expecting any accumulations at this time. Will also need to
consider issuing a Freeze Warning for this area given the expected
low temperatures.

Below normal temperatures expected Friday will slowly warm through
the weekend, with highs in the 60s on Saturday and the mid to upper
70s on Sunday with sunny skies. High pressure will hold through the
weekend and into next week, with the next system approaching late
Tuesday - a tad slower than the previous model runs. GFS and ECMWF
differ in timing by 6-12 hours, with the better activity currently
timed for Wednesday. For now have limited pops to good chance.
Temperatures will generally stay in the mid 70s to near 80 through
next week.

31

HYDROLOGY...
Widespread QPF amounts of 1.5 to 2.25 inches still look to be
handled well across middle Georgia today. Flash Flood Guidance
suggests that the area can handle these rainfall amounts, even if
they were to fall in a one to three hour time frame. WPC does have
the area outlooked for a slight risk of flash flooding, and isolated
flash flooding cannot be ruled out, particularly as storms train
over the same area, or where localized rainfall amounts are higher.
Site specific headwater forecasts are largely keeping river gage
locations at or below action stage following the precipitation
today. Modeled precipitable water values remain near seasonal
maximums, and expect high rainfall rates from efficient storms. Have
opted to issue a Flash Flood Watch mainly along the Interstate 20
corridor for the heaviest QPF axis.

AVIATION... 06Z Update... Main changes to the TAF this cycle were
to tweak the timing for the early morning shra/tsra and change
the prob group to a tempo. Several rounds of shra/tsra expected
for the afternoon. Will likely have to tweak the prevailing tsra
wording at later updates.

//ATL Confidence...12Z Update...
Medium confidence all elements.

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z Update...
Made some slight timing tweaks to the TAFS for the first round of
thunderstorms this morning. Otherwise, no major changes through
the day. After the first round of storms, there could be a lull,
but do expect convective activity to develop again during the
early afternoon. This activity could linger into the early evening
hours. Winds are currently flirting with due south, but do
expected them to switch to the SW by mid morning.

//ATL Confidence...12Z Update...
Medium confidence all elements.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          73  50  57  41 /  80  60  20   5
Atlanta         73  48  56  42 /  80  60  20   5
Blairsville     67  44  49  34 /  70  60  40  30
Cartersville    75  48  55  41 /  70  60  30  10
Columbus        78  51  63  45 /  80  60  10   0
Gainesville     71  47  53  40 /  80  60  30  10
Macon           78  51  62  43 /  80  70  10   0
Rome            77  48  56  41 /  70  60  30   5
Peachtree City  74  49  58  41 /  80  60  20   0
Vidalia         82  54  64  45 /  80  70  10   0

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for the following zones:
Baldwin...Barrow...Bibb...Butts...Carroll...Clarke...Clayton...
Cobb...Coweta...Crawford...DeKalb...Douglas...Fayette...
Glascock...Greene...Gwinnett...Hancock...Haralson...Harris...
Heard...Henry...Jackson...Jasper...Jones...Lamar...Madison...
Meriwether...Monroe...Morgan...Muscogee...Newton...North
Fulton...Oconee...Oglethorpe...Paulding...Pike...Polk...Putnam...
Rockdale...South Fulton...Spalding...Talbot...Taliaferro...
Troup...Upson...Walton...Warren...Wilkes.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 9 AM EDT this morning for the
following zones: Bibb...Butts...Carroll...Chattahoochee...
Clayton...Cobb...Coweta...Crawford...Crisp...DeKalb...Dooly...
Douglas...Fayette...Haralson...Harris...Heard...Henry...
Houston...Lamar...Macon...Marion...Meriwether...Monroe...
Muscogee...North Fulton...Paulding...Peach...Pike...Pulaski...
Rockdale...Schley...South Fulton...Spalding...Stewart...Sumter...
Talbot...Taylor...Troup...Upson...Webster...Wilcox.

&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
656 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2017

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-061100-
Baldwin-Banks-Barrow-Bartow-Bibb-Bleckley-Butts-Carroll-Catoosa-
Chattahoochee-Chattooga-Cherokee-Clarke-Clayton-Cobb-Coweta-
Crawford-Crisp-Dade-Dawson-DeKalb-Dodge-Dooly-Douglas-Emanuel-
Fannin-Fayette-Floyd-Forsyth-Gilmer-Glascock-Gordon-Greene-
Gwinnett-Hall-Hancock-Haralson-Harris-Heard-Henry-Houston-Jackson-
Jasper-Jefferson-Johnson-Jones-Lamar-Laurens-Lumpkin-Macon-
Madison-Marion-Meriwether-Monroe-Montgomery-Morgan-Murray-
Muscogee-Newton-North Fulton-Oconee-Oglethorpe-Paulding-Peach-
Pickens-Pike-Polk-Pulaski-Putnam-Rockdale-Schley-South Fulton-
Spalding-Stewart-Sumter-Talbot-Taliaferro-Taylor-Telfair-Toombs-
Towns-Treutlen-Troup-Twiggs-Union-Upson-Walker-Walton-Warren-
Washington-Webster-Wheeler-White-Whitfield-Wilcox-Wilkes-
Wilkinson-
656 AM EDT Wed Apr 5 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight...

Scattered to numerous severe thunderstorms are expected today into
tonight. Damaging winds in excess of 60 mph, large hail to 2" in
size or greater, and several tornadoes will be main hazards. A
few of the tornadoes could be strong and have long tracks on the
ground, causing extensive damage. Heavy rain can also be expected
with minor flooding possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday...

Strong and gusty winds can be expected on Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time Friday through Monday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is requested for today through this evening
across north and central Georgia. Spotters are also encouraged to
submit reports of severe weather through the web by going to
weather.gov/atlanta.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
754 AM EDT WED APR 5 2017

GAZ012-019-020-051230-
Gordon GA-Bartow GA-Floyd GA-
754 AM EDT WED APR 5 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GORDON...NORTHERN BARTOW AND
EASTERN FLOYD COUNTIES UNTIL 830 AM EDT...

At 754 AM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near Pinson, or 10 miles
northeast of Rome...moving northeast at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...nickel sized hail and frequent cloud
           to ground lightning.

  IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
           light...unsecured objects.

Some locations in the path of this storm include
Calhoun, Adairsville, Plainville, Shannon, Fairmount, Ranger,
Sonoraville, Pinson, Oostanaula, Redbud, Folsom, Audubon and Oakman.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

LAT...LON 3461 8483 3461 8475 3462 8474 3462 8472
      3461 8472 3461 8473 3460 8473 3460 8471
      3458 8467 3455 8465 3448 8466 3446 8465
      3444 8466 3441 8465 3432 8515 3441 8519
TIME...MOT...LOC 1154Z 223DEG 39KT 3439 8511

HAIL...0.88IN
WIND...50MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
757 AM EDT WED APR 5 2017

GAZ093-095-104-105-051230-
Macon GA-Dooly GA-Sumter GA-Houston GA-
757 AM EDT WED APR 5 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MACON...NORTHERN
DOOLY...NORTHEASTERN SUMTER AND SOUTHWESTERN HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL
830 AM EDT...

At 757 AM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near Flint River Wma, or
near Oglethorpe...moving northeast at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
           ground lightning.

  IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
           light...unsecured objects.

Some locations in the path of this storm include
Perry, Unadilla, Montezuma, Byromville, Pinehurst, Lilly, Dooling,
Flint River Wma, Elko, Pennington, Grove Park, Clearview, Moss Oak,
Methvins, Henderson and Meadowdale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

LAT...LON 3209 8406 3224 8413 3246 8375 3221 8363
TIME...MOT...LOC 1157Z 243DEG 39KT 3220 8403

HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...50MPH

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
819 AM EDT WED APR 5 2017

GAZ021-032-033-051245-
North Fulton GA-Cobb GA-Cherokee GA-
819 AM EDT WED APR 5 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH FULTON...NORTHERN COBB AND
SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES UNTIL 845 AM EDT...

At 819 AM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Due West, or near
Marietta...moving northeast at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...nickel sized hail and frequent cloud
           to ground lightning.

  IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
           light...unsecured objects.

Some locations in the path of this storm include
Marietta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Kennesaw,
Woodstock, Acworth, Holly Springs, Fair Oaks, Mount Bethel, Hickory
Flat, Union Hill, White Water Park, Sweat Mountain, Kennesaw State
University, Birmingham, Due West, Sandy Plains and Lebanon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

LAT...LON 3426 8434 3413 8426 3411 8426 3410 8424
      3402 8419 3389 8463 3400 8471
TIME...MOT...LOC 1219Z 239DEG 37KT 3396 8462

HAIL...0.88IN
WIND...50MPH

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
834 AM EDT WED APR 05 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0810 AM     HAIL             CENTRALHATCHEE          33.37N  85.10W
04/05/2017  M0.88 INCH       HEARD              GA   PUBLIC

&&

EVENT NUMBER FFC1700488

17

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
835 AM EDT WED APR 05 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 AM     HAIL             COLUMBUS                32.46N  84.99W
04/05/2017  E1.00 INCH       MUSCOGEE           GA   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTS SHOW QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN AND
            AROUND COLUMBUS

&&

EVENT NUMBER FFC1700489

THIEM

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
844 AM EDT WED APR 5 2017

GAZ014-022-023-033-034-051315-
Hall GA-Dawson GA-North Fulton GA-Forsyth GA-Gwinnett GA-
844 AM EDT WED APR 5 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HALL...SOUTHEASTERN DAWSON...
NORTH FULTON...FORSYTH AND NORTHERN GWINNETT COUNTIES UNTIL 915 AM
EDT...

At 844 AM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near Brookwood, or near
Cumming...moving northeast at 55 mph.

  HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...nickel sized hail and frequent cloud
           to ground lightning.

  IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
           light...unsecured objects.

Some locations in the path of this storm include
Gainesville, Cumming, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Sugar Hill, Suwanee,
Buford, Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Rest Haven, Candler, Drew, Buford
Dam-Lake Lanier Parks, Coal Mountain, Brookwood, Aqualand Park,
Chestatee, Murrayville, Oscarville and Lake Lanier Islands.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

LAT...LON 3423 8371 3402 8420 3419 8430 3419 8426
      3421 8426 3445 8387
TIME...MOT...LOC 1244Z 239DEG 49KT 3414 8419

HAIL...0.88IN
WIND...50MPH