Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, July 28, 1997

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, July 28, 1997
Start: 1997-07-28T13:20
End: 1997-07-28T22:30
Location: Georgia

July 28, 1997 · NWS FFC · 36 events in 20 counties and zones

17 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 3 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $358,000
Crop damage: $15,000
Events: 36

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 3 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Floyd

When: July 28, 1:20 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where: Floyd County, Cave Spg to Rome
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 34.100, -85.330

Thunderstorm winds knocked numerous large tree limbs across U. S. Road 411, closing it for several hours. Many of the tree limbs fell onto power lines, knocking out power for more than 3 hours.

Thunderstorm Wind, White

When: July 28, 4:00 PM EST
Where: White County, Helen
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 34.700, -83.720

Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees and power lines.

Hail, Lumpkin

When: July 28, 4:24 PM EST
Where: Lumpkin County, 3 mi N of Dahlonega
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 34.580, -83.980

Hail, Newton

When: July 28, 5:21 PM EST to 5:26 PM EST
Where: Newton County, Covington
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 33.600, -83.870

Dime to quarter sized hail was reported.

Hail, De Kalb

When: July 28, 5:30 PM EST to 5:35 PM EST
Where: De Kalb County, Tucker
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 33.850, -84.220

Lightning, Walker

When: July 28, 5:30 PM EST to 5:45 PM EST
Where: Walker County, Chickamauga
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 34.736, -85.301 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning caused a barn on Glass Mill Road in Chickamauga to burn to the ground, destroying a tractor and a pickup truck parked inside. A large outbuilding on Stanfield Road in LaFayette was also struck by lightning and caught fire, causing $3,000 in damage at that location. Times are estimated.

Hail, Newton

When: July 28, 5:34 PM EST to 5:36 PM EST
Where: Newton County, Porterdale
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 33.570, -83.900

Dime to quarter sized hail was reported throughout the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newton

When: July 28, 5:45 PM EST to 5:50 PM EST
Where: Newton County, Covington
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Coordinates: 33.600, -83.870

Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees.

Hail, Newton

When: July 28, 5:45 PM EST to 5:55 PM EST
Where: Newton County, Covington
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 33.600, -83.870

Dime to quarter sized hail was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chattooga

When: July 28, 5:45 PM EST
Where: Chattooga County, Menlo
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 34.480, -85.470

Thunderstorm winds knocked down large trees onto a church and a residence. Power lines were also downed. The time was estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gwinnett

When: July 28, 5:50 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett County, Lilburn
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Coordinates: 33.880, -84.130

Thunderstorm winds knocked over a 14 year old Bradford Pear tree. Limbs from several pine trees were also snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gwinnett

When: July 28, 5:55 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett County, Lawrenceville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 33.950, -83.980

Several trees and limbs were knocked down by thunderstorm winds.

Hail, Gwinnett

When: July 28, 5:57 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett County, 5 mi N of Buford
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 34.180, -84.000

Hail, Rockdale

When: July 28, 6:00 PM EST to 6:20 PM EST
Where: Rockdale County, Conyers
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 33.670, -84.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Hall

When: July 28, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Hall County, Flowery Branch to Buford
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 34.180, -83.930

Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines.

Hail, Walton

When: July 28, 6:05 PM EST
Where: Walton County, Walnut Grove
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 33.730, -83.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Forsyth

When: July 28, 6:10 PM EST
Where: Forsyth County, Cumming
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 34.200, -84.150

Thunderstorm winds knocked down several large trees and power lines on Erin Sosbee Road and Bethelview Road.

Hail, Gwinnett

When: July 28, 6:10 PM EST to 6:55 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett County, Snellville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 33.850, -84.020

Hail, Gwinnett

When: July 28, 6:15 PM EST to 6:40 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett County, Lilburn
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 33.880, -84.130

Hail, Gwinnett

When: July 28, 6:20 PM EST to 6:50 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett County, Norcross
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 33.930, -84.220

Lightning, Gwinnett

When: July 28, 6:20 PM EST to 6:50 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett County, Lilburn
Property damage: $80,000
Coordinates: 33.962, -84.024 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Within a thirty minute period, lightning struck more than 9 homes and/or businesses in Gwinnett county. Lightning also struck several transformers, leaving more than 5,000 people without power at the height of the storm. Power was restored to most people by 10 pm that evening. At least 5 transformers were damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gwinnett

When: July 28, 6:30 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett County, Stone Mtn
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 33.970, -84.050

Several large tree limbs were blocking Spring Valley Lane.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gwinnett

When: July 28, 6:30 PM EST to 6:40 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett County, Buford
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Coordinates: 34.120, -84.000

Thunderstorm winds knocked over several large tree limbs, one of which crushed patio furniture.

Hail, Henry

When: July 28, 6:38 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Hampton to 3 mi E of Hampton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 33.370, -84.230

Hail, De Kalb

When: July 28, 6:50 PM EST
Where: De Kalb County, Doraville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 33.900, -84.280

Dime sized hail fell.

Thunderstorm Wind, De Kalb

When: July 28, 6:50 PM EST
Where: De Kalb County, Doraville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 33.900, -84.280

Several trees were knocked down.

Hail, Henry

When: July 28, 6:55 PM EST to 7:05 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Stockbridge
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Coordinates: 33.550, -84.230

Dime to half dollar sized hail was reported.

Hail, Henry

When: July 28, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Stockbridge
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 33.550, -84.230

Thunderstorm Wind, Catoosa

When: July 28, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Catoosa County, Ringgold
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Coordinates: 34.920, -85.120

In the southern portions of the county, thunderstorm winds knocked down trees, power lines and utility poles. Winds were estimated at 60 mph, as shingles were ripped off the roof of Firestation number 2.

Hail, Henry

When: July 28, 7:05 PM EST to 7:10 PM EST
Where: Henry County, Hampton to 3 mi E of Hampton
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 33.370, -84.230

Dime to quarter sized hail was reported in Ellenwood.

Thunderstorm Wind, Murray

When: July 28, 7:15 PM EST
Where: Murray County, Chatsworth
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 34.770, -84.770

Thunderstorm winds knocked down a couple of trees on Shield Road. A large tree was uprooted and fell on two cars in Rocky Face.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: July 28, 7:20 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where: Jasper County, Jackson Springs
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 33.380, -83.870

Thunderstorm winds knocked several trees down by Jackson Dam.

Thunderstorm Wind, Whitfield

When: July 28, 7:25 PM EST
Where: Whitfield County, Dalton
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 34.770, -84.950

Thunderstorm winds knocked several trees down countywide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butts

When: July 28, 7:30 PM EST
Where: Butts County, Flovilla
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $7,000
Coordinates: 33.250, -83.900

Several trees were knocked down, one falling on a car.

Lightning, Crawford

When: July 28, 8:00 PM EST
Where: Crawford County, Roberta
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 32.715, -83.986 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning apparently struck an electrical box leading to the attic of the manufactured home. The fire which ensued was contained, and damage was confined to the attic area and a washroom and bathroom.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dawson

When: July 28, 10:30 PM EST
Where: Dawson County, Juno to 2 mi of Juno
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $125,000
Crop damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 34.480, -84.180

Thunderstorm winds associated with a downburst destroyed one chicken house, and damaged another chicken house and a mobile home. More than 37,000 baby chicks were injured. The surviving chicks were given away, since the owner would not rebuild the lost chicken houses.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, July 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5609379, 5609257, 5609256, 5609258, 5609270, 5609380, 5609259, 5609260, 5609261, 5609381, 5609254, 5609262, 5609264, 5609269, 5609371, 5609372, 5609265, 5609273, 5609263, 5609266, 5609378, 5609268, 5609368, 5609267, 5609255, 5609382, 5609274, 5609369, 5609370, 5609272, 5609373, 5609376, 5609374, 5609375, 5609377, 5609253.