Flood and Hail in Georgia, July 21, 2002

Name: Flood and Hail in Georgia, July 21, 2002
Start: 2002-07-21T12:30
End: 2002-07-21T18:10
Location: Georgia

July 21, 2002 · NWS FFC · 24 events in 14 counties and zones

12 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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: $54,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

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 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 Jul 21, 8:00 AM EST, 4 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 8:00 AM EST, 4 hours 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
900 AM EDT SUN JUL 21 2002

UPDATED FOR CLOUD COVERAGE ACROSS CWA TO PARTLY CLOUDY FOR TONIGHT
THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...IN ADDITION TO HIGH TEMPS ACROSS NORTHWEST
FOR TODAY.  CURRENT SURFACE DEWPOINTS BIT HIGHER THAN YESTERDAY
WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE BIT MORE INSTABILITY THIS AFTERNOON.  HIGHER
CAPES ACROSS NORTHWEST DISPLACED FROM DEEPER MOISTURE ACROSS
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF CWA.  BEST INITIAL DEVELOPMENT EARLY AFTERNOON
EXPECTED IN A CORRIDOR FROM JUST SOUTH OF ATL TO AGS TO NORTH OF
MCN.  THIS IN LINE WITH BEST PRECIP EFFICIENCY AXIS.

.ATL...
GA...NONE.

OUR DETAILED COUNTY FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE AT FOUS52 KFFC.
OUR AREA FORECAST FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA CITIES IS AVAILABLE
AT FLUS42 KFFC.

JCD

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Washington

When: July 21, 12:30 PM EST
Where: Washington County, Riddleville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.900, -82.667

The Washington county 911 center reported dime size hail.

Hail, Emanuel

When: July 21, 1:32 PM EST
Where: Emanuel County, Blundale
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.750, -82.383

The Emanuel county 911 center reported dime size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Upson

When: July 21, 1:44 PM EST
Where: Upson County, East Thomaston
Property damage: $500
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.900, -84.317

An amateur radio operator reported that one inch tree limbs were down in East Thomaston near the intersection of Georgia Highway 36 and Georgia Highway 74. Trees were reported down in Thomaston by the public.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jefferson

When: July 21, 1:45 PM EST
Where: Jefferson County, Wadley
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 33.055, -82.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Wadley Fire and Police Department reported that one tree was down.

Hail, Upson

When: July 21, 1:50 PM EST
Where: Upson County, Thomaston
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 32.900, -84.333

The public reported dime size hail.

Hail, Peach

When: July 21, 2:20 PM EST
Where: Peach County, Ft Vly
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 32.550, -83.883

The public reported dime size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Muscogee

When: July 21, 3:30 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Muscogee County, Upatoi
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 32.550, -84.733

The public reported that large tree limbs were blown. Winds gusts were estimated at two different locations in Upatoi at 65 to greater than 70 mph.

Hail, Muscogee

When: July 21, 3:30 PM EST to 3:50 PM EST
Where: Muscogee County, Upatoi
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 32.550, -84.733

The public reported that hail, ranging in size from dimes to quarters, fell for a period of 15 to 20 minutes. A rainfall estimate of four to five inches was also provided at this same location.

Thunderstorm Wind, Talbot

When: July 21, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Talbot County, 1 mi NW of Tax Xrds
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.833, -84.617

The Talbotton New Era newspaper reported that thunderstorm winds caused considerable damage in the far northern part of the county, northwest of Tax Crossroads in the Dunn Road and Magic Hill Road areas. Several large trees, one to two feet in diameter, were either uprooted or broken in half. One large tree fell on the front of a house causing considerable damage to the structure, while another tree in the same yard fell on a compact car and crushed it. Other roofs were blown off barns and cattle stables in the same general area, and other smaller trees and rooftops sustained minor damage.

Hail, Spalding

When: July 21, 4:15 PM EST
Where: Spalding County, Griffin
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.250, -84.267

The public reported dime size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Muscogee

When: July 21, 4:20 PM EST to 4:37 PM EST
Where: Muscogee County, Columbus
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 32.483, -84.967

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and several reports from the public indicated that numerous trees were blown down in the Columbus and Upatoi area. In Columbus, several large trees were blown down, some landing on homes causing minor to major damage. Trees also blocked several roads in the area. In Upatoi, a few trees were blown down and a metal awning was blown off a bay window at a home. Some trees were also blown down and minor structural damage was noted east of Upatoi in extreme eastern Muscogee county near the Talbot county line and just west of Box Springs. During the peak of the storm, some 12,000 customers were without electricity across the northern portions of Muscogee county.

Hail, Muscogee

When: July 21, 4:20 PM EST to 4:54 PM EST
Where: Muscogee County, Upatoi
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 32.550, -84.733

The public reported dime to quarter size hail in Upatoi and dime size hail in Columbus and North Columbus.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: July 21, 4:30 PM EST
Where: Harris County, Ellerslie
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.633, -84.800

The Harris county 911 center reported that some power lines were down.

Hail, Fayette

When: July 21, 4:40 PM EST
Where: Fayette County, Tyrone
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.467, -84.600

The public reported dime to nickel size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fayette

When: July 21, 4:40 PM EST
Where: Fayette County, Tyrone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.414, -84.494 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Citizen newspaper of Fayetteville, reported that a large tree, blown down by thunderstorm winds, fell on a house and caused significant damage to one corner of the house.

Hail, Coweta

When: July 21, 4:42 PM EST
Where: Coweta County, 5 mi NE of Mc Collum
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.500, -84.633

An amateur radio operator reported dime size hail 3 miles north of Major, near Interstate 85 in the far northeast part of the county.

Hail, Coweta

When: July 21, 4:50 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Coweta County, 3 mi N of Newnan
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.417, -84.800

The public reported that hail, the size of nickels, fell for up to 10 minutes duration. An amateur radio operator reported dime size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Toombs

When: July 21, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Toombs County, Lyons
Property damage: $500
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.200, -82.317

The Toombs county 911 center reported that a few trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Toombs

When: July 21, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Toombs County, Lyons
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 32.122, -82.331 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Toombs county 911 center reported pea size hail.

Flood, Coweta

When: July 21, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Coweta County, Newnan
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.354, -84.763 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An amateur radio operator reported that street flooding was observed as two inches of rain fell in about one hour.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coweta

When: July 21, 5:05 PM EST
Where: Coweta County, Newnan
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 33.367, -84.800

The Newnan Times Herald reported that several large trees were blown down in Newnan, including a 100 foot Poplar tree. Damage was most extensive in the Bridgewater subdivision. Trees were also down on power lines in Senoia.

Hail, Cobb

When: July 21, 5:25 PM EST
Where: Cobb County, Austell
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.800, -84.633

The public reported dime size hail. The public also reported that 1.8 inches of rain fell in about 30 minutes.

Lightning, Coweta

When: July 21, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Coweta County, Newnan
Property damage: $250
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.354, -84.763 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The public reported that lightning struck a tree, causing the tree to split and fall near Georgia Highway 34.

Hail, Douglas

When: July 21, 6:05 PM EST to 6:10 PM EST
Where: Douglas County, Winston
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 33.733, -84.817

The public report that dime size hail fell for five minutes. A few tree limbs were also blown down.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, July 2002

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: 5308730, 5308180, 5308183, 5308181, 5308182, 5308184, 5308283, 5308284, 5308396, 5308288, 5308279, 5308280, 5308185, 5308289, 5308397, 5308287, 5308286, 5308281, 5308282, 5308291, 5308285, 5308290, 5308395, 5308394.