Georgia, 1997

Damaging Winds in Georgia, July 8, 1997

July 8, 1997 · NWS FFC · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

2 thunderstorm wind, 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
3
Property damage
$42,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

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Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When
July 8, 2:50 PM EST
Where
Putnam County, 10 mi SE of Eatonton
Injuries
3 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$40,000
Coordinates
33.220, -83.270

Thunderstorm winds associated with a downburst knocked down several trees, overturned a couple of trailers, caused extensive damage to Lakeside Bait and Tackle, and caused a car to slide into Lake Sinclair. Several eyewitnesses reported hearing a roaring sound similar to a freight train. The winds first hit another bait and tackle shop on the west side of Georgia highway 441, damaging the low profile roof. Winds punched in the front doors and windows of the Lakeside Bait and Tackle shop, lifting and flipping the roof off to land some 100 yards away. The cinder block constructed building was a total loss. One lady, the co-owner, had seven stitches administered to the back of her head where she was hit by a flying cinder block. Two customers were also injured to a lesser degree.

Thunderstorm Wind, Emanuel

When
July 8, 5:10 PM EST to 5:15 PM EST
Where
Emanuel County, Swainsboro to 13 mi E of Swainsboro
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
32.470, -82.180

Several trees and power lines were knocked down in the areas southeast and east of Swainsboro.

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.

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: 5608785, 5608786.