High Wind in Georgia, March 20, 2001

Name: High Wind in Georgia, March 20, 2001
Start: 2001-03-20T06:00
End: 2001-03-20T12:00
Location: Georgia

March 20, 2001 · NWS FFC · 42 events in 42 counties and zones

S. from the evening of the 19th of March through the morning of the 20th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 42 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: $1.5 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 42

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 very strong, cutoff upper-level low pressure system moved slowly through the southeast U.S. from the evening of the 19th of March through the morning of the 20th. The accompanying surface low took a path from near Columbus, Georgia to near Athens, Georgia, to near Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina between midnight and noon on the 20th. Very strong east to northeast winds accompanied the surface low as it took this path through central and northeast Georgia during the early morning hours on the 20th. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to near 60 mph were common throughout central, north central, and northeast Georgia during the morning hours on the 20th, particularly around sunrise. The ground was saturated from heavy rains which occurred overnight and in preceding days. This simply aggravated the situation. Widespread damage was reported to trees, power lines, and structures across much of north central, northeast, and east central Georgia. Most of the damage reported was northeast of a line from Chatsworth, to Douglasville, to Newnan, to Griffin, to Macon, to Milledgeville, to Sparta. The hardest hit areas were in north central and northeast Georgia where many roofs were blown off buildings, particularly in Pickens, Cherokee, Dawson, Lumpkin, Forsyth, and White counties. Downtown Jasper was closed as tin roofs from several buildings littered the streets and created a hazard with flying debris. Just to the south in Cherokee county, a church steeple was blown down and the roof was blown off Fire Station No. 2. In White county, the roof was blown off the Cleveland Auto Body Shop causing $200,000 in damage to the building and vehicles on the premises. Extensive damage was also reported in Bibb county at Macon, in Forsyth county, where dozens of roofs were blown off homes.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 20, 4:57 AM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 20, 4:57 AM EST, 1 hour 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
400 AM EST MON MAR 19 2001

WIDESPREAD RAIN WITH EMBEDDED HEAVIER SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS COUNTY
WARNING AREA EARLY THIS MORNING AS SURFACE LOW CONTINUES TO
STRENGTHEN AS IT DRIFTS NORTHEAST OUT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO. GETTING
SOME REPORTS OF SLEET/SNOW MIXED IN WITH THE RAIN ACROSS NORTHEAST
GEORGIA...WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS. WILL
CONTINUE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE MORNING. MODELS SHOW SOME
WARMING DURING THE AFTERNOON...BUT DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO KEEP CLOSE
WATCH AND EXTEND ADVISORY IF NEEDED. WILL ALSO LET FLOOD WATCH RIDE
AS AREAS OF MODERATE RAIN CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS COUNTY WARNING
AREA...ESPECIALLY OVER CENTRAL SECTIONS WHERE SOME POINTS ON RIVERS
APPROACHING FLOOD STAGE. LOW PRESSURE PROGGD TO MOVE INTO SOUTH
GEORGIA LATER THIS MORNING...THEN NEAR MACON BY DAY'S END. AS LOW
DRIFTS TOWARD CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON...THUNDERSTORM
POTENTIAL WILL BE ON THE INCREASE. COULD SEE SOME STORMS APPROACHING
SEVERE LIMITS...ESPECIALLY OVER EAST CENTRAL. WINDS SHOULD ALSO PICK
UP AND WILL GO WITH "CAUTION" STATEMENT FOR AREA LAKES. LOW APPREARS
TO MEANDER ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA TUESDAY NIGHT THEN FINALLY
SPEEDING OFF ACROSS THE CAROLINAS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. COULD SEE
SOME PATCHY RAIN MAINLY NORTH SECTIONS WEDNESDAY MORNING...BUT MOST
SHOULD END BY AFTERNOON. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE OVER STATE THURSDAY BUT
AVIATION MODEL ALREADY TRYING TO SPREAD MOISTURE BACK INTO NORTHWEST
GEORGIA THURSDAY NIGHT...AHEAD OF NEXT FRONT MOVING INTO TENNESSE
VALLEY. WILL KEEP FORECAST DRY FOR NOW WITH NEXT MENTION OF RAIN ON
FRIDAY.

ATL   41  38  52  39 / 100 100  40  10
AHN   40  41  52  37 / 100 100  40  10
GVL   40  38  52  37 / 100 100  70  30
RMG   43  40  53  38 / 100 100  40  10
CSG   49  43  57  38 / 100  80  30  10
MCN   49  43  57  38 / 100  80  30  10

.FFC...
GA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NORTHEAST THIS MORNING.
     FLOOD WATCH CENTRAL TODAY.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

42 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Lumpkin

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Lumpkin forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.572, -84.003 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Madison

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Madison forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.128, -83.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Morgan

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Morgan forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.591, -83.492 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Newton

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Newton forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.555, -83.850 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, North Fulton

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: North Fulton forecast zone
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.790, -84.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Oconee

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Oconee forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.835, -83.437 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Oglethorpe

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Oglethorpe forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.881, -83.081 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Pickens

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Pickens forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.464, -84.466 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Putnam

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.322, -83.373 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Rockdale

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Rockdale forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.654, -84.027 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, South Fulton

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: South Fulton forecast zone
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.790, -84.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Towns

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Towns forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.917, -83.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Union

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Union forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.834, -83.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Walton

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Walton forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.782, -83.734 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, White

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: White forecast zone
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.646, -83.747 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Harris

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Harris forecast zone
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.736, -84.909 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Troup

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Troup forecast zone
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.034, -85.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Baldwin

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Baldwin forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.069, -83.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Banks

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Banks forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.354, -83.497 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Barrow

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Barrow forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.993, -83.713 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bibb

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Bibb forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.807, -83.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Butts

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Butts forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.288, -83.957 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cherokee

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Cherokee forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.244, -84.476 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Clarke

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Clarke forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.951, -83.367 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Clayton

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Clayton forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.542, -84.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cobb

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Cobb forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.942, -84.577 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Coweta

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Coweta forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.354, -84.763 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Dawson

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Dawson forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.444, -84.171 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, De Kalb

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: De Kalb forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.772, -84.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Douglas

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.702, -84.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Fannin

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Fannin forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.864, -84.320 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Fayette

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Fayette forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.414, -84.494 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Forsyth

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Forsyth forecast zone
Property damage: $85,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.226, -84.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Gilmer

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Gilmer forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.691, -84.456 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Greene

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Greene forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.579, -83.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Gwinnett

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Gwinnett forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.962, -84.024 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hall

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Hall forecast zone
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.317, -83.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hancock

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.270, -83.001 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Henry

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Henry forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.453, -84.154 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Jackson

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 34.134, -83.566 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Jasper

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Jasper forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.316, -83.688 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Jones

When: March 20, 6:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Jones forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.025, -83.560 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, March 2001

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: 5237353, 5237354, 5237355, 5237356, 5237357, 5237358, 5237359, 5237360, 5237361, 5237362, 5237363, 5237364, 5237365, 5237366, 5237367, 5237368, 5237369, 5239100, 5239101, 5239102, 5239103, 5239104, 5239105, 5239106, 5239107, 5239108, 5239109, 5239110, 5239111, 5239112, 5239113, 5239114, 5239115, 5239116, 5239117, 5239118, 5239119, 5239120, 5239121, 5239122, and more.