Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 281, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 17, 2026, 5:49 PM EDT for 5 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 41 min. 8 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 17, 2026, 5:49 PM EDT (21:49 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 17, 2026, 6:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 41 min
- Issued by
- NWS Atlanta, GA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Catoosa County, GA, Dade County, GA, Murray County, GA, Walker County, GA, Whitfield County, GA
The radar
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 107 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:52 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 6:16 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nw Cohutta, GA | Emergency manager reported a tree down at the intersection of Parrot Rd and Apison Rd NW. |
| Aug 17, 6:18 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nne Cohutta, GA | Emergency Manager reported a tree down at the 5500 block of Red Clay Rd NW. |
| Aug 17, 6:25 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nw Wood Station, GA | A tree fell across W. Nickajack Road near the intersection of Hooper Road. |
| Aug 17, 6:25 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 S Varnell, GA | Emergency manager reported a tree down at the intersection of Rauschenburg Rd NW and Waring Rd. |
| Aug 17, 6:25 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 S Varnell, GA | Emergency manager reported a tree down at the intersection of Waring Rd and Nadine Way. |
| Aug 17, 6:28 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ene Varnell, GA | Emergency manager reported a tree down at the intersection of Tee Top Dr and Golf View Dr. |
| Aug 17, 6:28 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sse Cohutta, GA | Emergency manager reported a tree down at the intersection of Wheeler Dam Rd and Cleveland Hwy. |
| Aug 17, 6:34 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nne Dawnville, GA | Emergency manager reported a tree down at the 2100 block of Lower Kings Bridge Rd. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 7 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 27 minutes after it went out.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2:35 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 175 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1735 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -38 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1174 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 1 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -26 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -20 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
974 WUUS52 KFFC 172149 SVRFFC GAC047-083-213-295-313-172230- /O.NEW.KFFC.SV.W.0281.260817T2149Z-260817T2230Z/ BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Warning National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 549 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Catoosa County in northwestern Georgia... Northeastern Murray County in northwestern Georgia... Northern Whitfield County in northwestern Georgia... Northeastern Walker County in northwestern Georgia... Northeastern Dade County in northwestern Georgia... * Until 630 PM EDT. * At 549 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from McDonald to Lookout Mountain, moving southeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Dalton, Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, Rossville, Chickamauga, Varnell, Lookout Mountain, Tunnel Hill, Cohutta, Chattanooga Valley, Sumac, Gregory, Blue Spring, Fairview, Beaverdale, Chattanooga Valley, Hooker, Rock Spring, Noble, and Lakeview. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. If you see wind damage...hail or flooding...wait until the storm has passed...and then call the National Weather Service toll free at 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6 or tweet us your report at NWSATLANTA. && LAT...LON 3492 8462 3471 8523 3498 8548 3499 8462 TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 305DEG 26KT 3512 8496 3498 8535 HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH $$
2 follow-up statements
553 WWUS52 KFFC 172205 SVSFFC Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 605 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 GAC083-172214- /O.CAN.KFFC.SV.W.0281.000000T0000Z-260817T2230Z/ Dade GA- 605 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN DADE COUNTY IS CANCELLED... The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for north central and northwestern Georgia. && LAT...LON 3492 8462 3473 8518 3498 8534 3499 8462 TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 270DEG 26KT 3507 8487 3493 8526 $$ GAC047-213-295-313-172230- /O.CON.KFFC.SV.W.0281.000000T0000Z-260817T2230Z/ Catoosa GA-Murray GA-Whitfield GA-Walker GA- 605 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EDT FOR CATOOSA...NORTHEASTERN MURRAY...NORTHERN WHITFIELD AND NORTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTIES... At 604 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Wildwood Lake to Fort Oglethorpe, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include... Dalton, Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, Chickamauga, Varnell, Tunnel Hill, Cohutta, Sumac, Lakeview, Indian Springs, Wood Station, Rocky Face, Graysville, Gregory, Blue Spring, Fairview, Tennga, Boynton, Beaumont, and Beaverdale. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. && LAT...LON 3492 8462 3473 8518 3498 8534 3499 8462 TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 270DEG 26KT 3507 8487 3493 8526 HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH $$
022 WWUS52 KFFC 172226 SVSFFC Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 626 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 GAC047-213-295-313-172236- /O.EXP.KFFC.SV.W.0281.000000T0000Z-260817T2230Z/ Catoosa GA-Murray GA-Whitfield GA-Walker GA- 626 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CATOOSA...NORTHEASTERN MURRAY...NORTHERN WHITFIELD AND NORTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 630 PM EDT... The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, gusty winds are still possible with these thunderstorms. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for north central and northwestern Georgia. Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for northern Whitfield and Murray counties until 700 PM EDT. && LAT...LON 3492 8462 3473 8518 3498 8534 3499 8462 TIME...MOT...LOC 2226Z 305DEG 26KT 3499 8472 3485 8511 $$
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 17, 2:53 PM EDT, 2 hours 56 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Scattered thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts are possible across portions of north Georgia through late this evening.
- Drier air will bring slightly cooler conditions to north Georgia on Tuesday, though a Heat Advisory will remain in effect for most of central Georgia through Tuesday evening.
- Thunderstorm chances will be limited Tuesday through Thursday, then increase somewhat late this week into the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 17, 2:53 PM EDT, 2 hours 56 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
253 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
...Afternoon Area Forecast Discussion...
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Scattered thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts are
possible across portions of north Georgia through late this
evening.
- Drier air will bring slightly cooler conditions to north
Georgia on Tuesday, though a Heat Advisory will remain in
effect for most of central Georgia through Tuesday evening.
- Thunderstorm chances will be limited Tuesday through
Thursday, then increase somewhat late this week into the
weekend.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Tuesday)
Issued at 207 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
Today's stifling heat will lead into the potential for strong to
severe thunderstorms in parts of north Georgia as we head into
this evening. Scattered thunderstorms are initially expected to
expand by late this afternoon across parts of Tennessee into the
Appalachians as a frontal boundary as well as outflow boundaries
associated with an earlier thunderstorm complex drop southeastward
into a destabilizing environment. Abundant instability
characterized by SBCAPE already analyzed in excess of 3000 J/kg
will provide plenty of fuel for thunderstorm maintenance. CAMs are
in fairly good agreement that storms could form into line
segments along outflow that would present a substantial risk for
damaging wind gusts given DCAPE in the range of 1000-1500 J/kg.
These storms could potentially make it as far south as I-20 by
late evening (though confidence in southward extent remains low),
especially if aided by cold-pool forward propagation before
encountering a less favorable environment by around midnight
farther south. SPC maintains a Slight Risk that covers far north
Georgia with an attendant Marginal Risk farther south to the I-20
corridor to highlight this risk.
As far as the heat is concerned, a Heat Advisory remains in
effect for all areas outside of the mountains through 8 PM this
evening as widespread heat index values in excess of 105 will
remain commonplace. The good news is that a bit of a "cooldown"
will be in the near future on Tuesday as noticeably drier air will
filter into north Georgia in the wake of the frontal boundary.
While highs will still reach the low-to-mid 90s in these areas,
today's 70s dewpoints will be replaced by dewpoints in the 60s.
This drier airmass will keep afternoon heat index values from
nearing Heat Advisory criteria across north Georgia on Tuesday.
Unfortunately for the Middle Georgia folks, muggy 70s dewpoints
will remain in place for you, resulting in another day with a Heat
Advisory and heat index values 105-109 on Tuesday.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday morning through next Sunday)
Issued at 207 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
The main story for the long term period will be oppressive heat
for parts of the area later this week, courtesy of a lingering
mid-level ridge and advection of warm 850 mb air from the southern
Great Plains. At this time, Thursday and Friday may necessitate
Heat Advisory issuances given progged heat index values of 105-109
degrees across at least parts of central Georgia. Thursday is
shaping up to be the hotter of the two days, with actual air
temperatures progged to be in the upper 90s to lower 100s from the
northern Atlanta metro to areas south.
A large-scale pattern change will begin on Friday and continue
into the weekend. An amplifying upper-level ridge over the West
will induce expansive troughing over the East. Coupled with
increasing low-level and mid-level moisture, the environment
should support isolated to scattered convection across at least
parts of the area on Friday and Saturday. Instability should be
plentiful (with caveats being increased cloud cover and capping)
but at this time, deep-layer shear looks to be lacking. In the
absence of convection growing upscale, hazards should be typical
of summertime "popcorn" storms -- localized gusty winds, heavy
rainfall, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning.
A "cold" front (honestly, more accurately described as a moisture
gradient) will work through the area from northwest to southeast
between Saturday and Sunday. While the timing of the front's
passage is somewhat uncertain, ensemble guidance signals that rain
chances will be relegated to central Georgia on Sunday.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 103 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
VFR conditions will prevail outside of sct TSRA this afternoon
and evening, primarily at ATL area sites 22-02Z. Winds will remain
W to NW at 5-10 kts, though gusty winds in and near TSRA are
possible.
//ATL Confidence...18Z Update...
Medium confidence on TSRA potential.
High confidence on other elements.
RW
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens 76 96 72 97 / 20 0 0 0
Atlanta 77 94 72 95 / 20 0 0 0
Blairsville 69 86 64 89 / 30 0 0 0
Cartersville 74 93 68 95 / 20 0 0 0
Columbus 78 96 73 96 / 10 0 0 0
Gainesville 75 93 71 95 / 20 0 0 0
Macon 77 96 73 96 / 10 0 0 0
Rome 74 92 68 96 / 30 0 0 0
Peachtree City 75 94 69 95 / 20 0 0 0
Vidalia 79 99 75 99 / 0 10 0 0
&&
.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for GAZ001>005-011-012-
019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>071-075-078-079.
Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT Tuesday for GAZ072>074-076-080>086-
089>098-102>113.
&&
SHORT TERM...RW
LONG TERM....Martin
AVIATION...RWHazardous weather outlook, Aug 17, 1:33 PM EDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 133 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-181745- 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- 133 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... A Heat Advisory is in effect for much of north and central Georgia today. Temperatures will be in the upper 90s and near 100 in many areas, bringing feels like temperatures well into the triple digits. Please exercise caution if outdoors and check on vulnerable neighbors. Isolated to scattered storms are expected to push into north Georgia later this afternoon and evening. Some may become severe, capable of producing damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning, and locally heavy rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday... Hot and humid conditions will persist for much of the week, with heat index values rising into the triple digits each day in many locations. A Heat Advisory will remain in effect through Tuesday evening for portions of central Georgia. Scattered thunderstorms will possible across north and central Georgia Friday and Saturday, mainly during the afternoon and evening. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not requested, but spotters are encouraged to submit reports of severe weather through the web by going to weather.gov/atlanta.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 17, 5:34 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
534 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
GAZ001>003-172200-
Catoosa GA-Walker GA-Dade GA-
534 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Catoosa, north
central Walker and northeastern Dade Counties through 600 PM EDT...
At 534 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Hicks Gap State Park,
or 8 miles west of Chattanooga, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga
Valley, Lakeview, Indian Springs, Wood Station, Graysville, Blue
Spring, Wildwood, Fairview, Boynton, Beaumont, Chattanooga Valley,
Morganville, Hooker, and Rock Spring.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
northwestern Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3498 8503 3481 8511 3482 8513 3478 8515
3493 8552 3498 8550
TIME...MOT...LOC 2134Z 291DEG 15KT 3503 8539
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial weather statement, Aug 17, 5:40 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
540 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
GAZ006-008-009-172215-
Union GA-Towns GA-Fannin GA-
540 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Towns,
northwestern Union and northeastern Fannin Counties through 615 PM
EDT...
At 539 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Culberson, or 8 miles
west of Murphy, moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Gumlog, Nottely Dam, Ivy Log, and Alexanders Mill.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
north central and northeastern Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3498 8385 3482 8407 3499 8423 3499 8386
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 323DEG 13KT 3505 8417
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHThe office that day
Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 5:34 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Catoosa | 26 min |
| Aug 17, 5:40 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Union | 35 min |
| Aug 17, 6:17 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Fannin, Towns, Union | 28 min |
| Aug 17, 6:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Fannin, Murray, Whitfield | 19 min |
| Aug 17, 6:35 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Murray, Whitfield | 25 min |
| Aug 17, 6:43 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Gilmer | 32 min |
| Aug 17, 6:48 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Fannin, Towns, Union | 27 min |
| Aug 17, 7:12 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union | 29 min |
| Aug 17, 7:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens | 23 min |
| Aug 17, 7:52 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Dade, Walker | 24 min |
| Aug 17, 7:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Dawson, Forsyth, Gilmer, Hall, Lumpkin, Pickens | 21 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.