Georgia, 1997

Flash Flooding in Georgia, May 3, 1997

May 3, 1997 · NWS FFC · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A slow moving line of storms crossed into northwest Georgia from Alabama and moved southeast across the Peach State. These storms produced more than 5 inches of rain in a less than twelve hour period late Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
$237,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FFC wrote it up.

A slow moving line of storms crossed into northwest Georgia from Alabama and moved southeast across the Peach State. These storms produced more than 5 inches of rain in a less than twelve hour period late Friday night and early Saturday morning. Numerous roads had to be closed due to water covering them. In Gordon county, more than 200 thousand dollars in damage to roads were reported. Several roads were closed and four apartments flooded throughout Summerville in Chattooga county. Whitfield county reported that water covered Red Wine Cove Road, south of Dalton. Several areas of the county reported flooding during the early morning hours. Gilmer and Murray counties also reported flooding of several roadways.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Chattooga

When
May 3, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where
Chattooga County, Summerville
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
34.475, -85.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Gilmer

When
May 3, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where
Gilmer County, Ellijay
Property damage
$4,000
Coordinates
34.691, -84.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Gordon

When
May 3, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where
Gordon County, Sugar Vly
Property damage
$200,000
Coordinates
34.503, -84.876 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Murray

When
May 3, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where
Murray County, Ramhurst
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
34.788, -84.748 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Whitfield

When
May 3, 1:00 AM EST to 3:00 AM EST
Where
Whitfield County, Dalton
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
34.806, -84.967 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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, May 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: 5591793, 5591794, 5591795, 5591796, 5591797.