Georgia, 1998

Damaging Winds in Georgia, March 20, 1998

March 20, 1998 · NWS GSP · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Deep low pressure moving through the Tennessee River Valley early on the 20th pushed a strong cold front across northeast Georgia. A previously tornadic severe thunderstorm that produced a large tornado to the southwest of Rabun county moved across the county around dawn, downing several large trees.

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
0
Property damage
None recorded
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.

Deep low pressure moving through the Tennessee River Valley early on the 20th pushed a strong cold front across northeast Georgia. A previously tornadic severe thunderstorm that produced a large tornado to the southwest of Rabun county moved across the county around dawn, downing several large trees. Debris was also observed in the air from the Hall and White county tornado.

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rabun

When
March 20, 7:12 AM EST
Where
Rabun County, Wiley
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
34.800, -83.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Rabun

When
March 20, 7:45 AM EST
Where
Rabun County, Pine Mtn
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
34.950, -83.180

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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, March 1998

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: 5638306, 5638307.