Georgia, 1997

Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, July 4, 1997

July 4, 1997 · NWS FFC · 17 events in 16 counties and zones

15 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
$136,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
17

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 national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dade

When
July 4, 5:20 PM EST
Where
Dade County, Trenton
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
34.870, -85.500

Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Catoosa

When
July 4, 5:30 PM EST to 6:10 PM EST
Where
Catoosa County, Ringgold
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
34.920, -85.120

Catoosa 911 reported several trees and power lines were downed across the county by thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When
July 4, 5:30 PM EST to 5:45 PM EST
Where
Walker County, La Fayette
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$40,000
Coordinates
34.700, -85.280

Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees and power lines across the northern portion of Walker county. One tree fell onto the electrical wiring running to a trailer, which ignited a fire. The sole occupant, a 74 year old woman was injured. More than 30,000 people were without power. 50 homes and 100 cars were also damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Whitfield

When
July 4, 5:45 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Whitfield County, Dalton
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
34.770, -84.950

Several trees were knocked down by thunderstorm winds. A tree fell across power lines and a car in Dalton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fannin

When
July 4, 6:15 PM EST
Where
Fannin County, Blue Ridge
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
34.870, -84.320

Fannin 911 reported several trees were knocked down. Some fell on power lines, resulting in power outages.

Hail, Murray

When
July 4, 6:25 PM EST
Where
Murray County, Chatsworth
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.770, -84.770

Thunderstorm Wind, Gilmer

When
July 4, 6:30 PM EST to 6:50 PM EST
Where
Gilmer County, Ellijay
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
34.700, -84.480

Thunderstorm winds knocked down numerous trees across the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When
July 4, 6:40 PM EST to 6:50 PM EST
Where
Union County, Blairsville
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
34.870, -83.950

Several trees and power lines were knocked down by thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lumpkin

When
July 4, 6:45 PM EST to 7:15 PM EST
Where
Lumpkin County, Dahlonega to 8 mi of Dahlonega
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
34.530, -84.120

Several trees were knocked down and power lines snapped by thunderstorm winds along Georgia Highway 52 as well as in the Dahlonega area. Winds were estimated at 55 to 63 mph..

Thunderstorm Wind, Dawson

When
July 4, 6:45 PM EST
Where
Dawson County, Dawsonville
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
34.420, -84.120

A few trees and power lines were knocked down by thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pickens

When
July 4, 6:52 PM EST
Where
Pickens County, 2 mi E of Jasper
Property damage
$8,000
Coordinates
34.470, -84.380

At least six trees were knocked down by thunderstorm winds. At least one tree was down on a house, however no damage to the home was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, White

When
July 4, 7:15 PM EST to 7:35 PM EST
Where
White County, Cleveland to 3 mi of Helen
Property damage
$32,000
Coordinates
34.600, -83.700

Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down in the vicinity of Helen. More than 13,000 people were without electricity for several hours. Falling trees damaged more than a dozen homes county wide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Towns

When
July 4, 7:20 PM EST
Where
Towns County, Hiawassee
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
34.950, -83.750

Several trees and power lines were knocked down countywide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hall

When
July 4, 7:23 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST
Where
Hall County, Clermont to 5 mi of Lake Sidney Lanier
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
34.420, -83.770

Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Banks

When
July 4, 7:25 PM EST to 7:51 PM EST
Where
Banks County, Alto to Lula
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
34.470, -83.570

Several trees and power lines were knocked down in and around Alto and Lula, as well as countywide.

Hail, Hall

When
July 4, 7:42 PM EST
Where
Hall County, Gainesville
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.300, -83.830

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
July 4, 8:15 PM EST
Where
Jackson County, Commerce
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
34.200, -83.450

Thunderstorm winds knocked down two large trees as well as a 100 foot by 20 foot wall.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Georgia in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 5608686, 5608683, 5608684, 5608685, 5608687, 5608688, 5608775, 5608778, 5608689, 5608771, 5608690, 5608772, 5608773, 5608774, 5608779, 5608777, 5608776.