Flash Flooding in Georgia, October 26, 1997

Name: Flash Flooding in Georgia, October 26, 1997
Start: 1997-10-26T08:00
End: 1997-10-26T12:00
Location: Georgia

October 26, 1997 · NWS GSP · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Heavy rain fell for a long period resulting in widespread flooding during the morning. In Habersham county, one observer reported over 8 inches of rain during the weekend.

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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 GSP wrote it up.

Heavy rain fell for a long period resulting in widespread flooding during the morning. In Habersham county, one observer reported over 8 inches of rain during the weekend. In the counties listed, numerous small streams flooded, covering bridges and roads. Around Toccoa, some cars were stalled by the water.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Habersham

When: October 26, 8:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Habersham County, Cornelia
Coordinates: 34.631, -83.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Rabun

When: October 26, 9:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Rabun County, Countywide
Coordinates: 34.882, -83.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Stephens

When: October 26, 10:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Stephens County, Toccoa
Coordinates: 34.554, -83.293 (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

Every storm in Georgia in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, October 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5617423, 5617424, 5617425.