Georgia, 2002

Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, May 13, 2002

May 13, 2002 · NWS FFC · 33 events in 27 counties and zones

28 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 2 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$78,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
33

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 May 13, 9:00 AM EST, 3 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 9:00 AM EST, 3 hours 50 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1000 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

UPDATED ZFPATL FOR PRECIP CHANCES THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG
WITH ADDING IN SEVERE WORDING BASED ON CURRENT TRENDS.  TEMPS LOOK
GOOD SO FAR WITH CLOUDS PUSHING INTO NORTHERN MTNS ATTM.  ETA/OPAVN
BOTH IN ACCORD WITH CONVECTIVE LINE PUSHING ACROSS ATL AREA AROUND 3
PM.  DIURNAL HEAT ENERGY...INCREASING THERMAL AND PRESSURE
GRADIENT...ALONG WITH UPPER LEVEL JET DYNAMICS WILL SUPPORT
INCREASING INSTABILITY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WILL MONITOR THROUGH
PERIOD.

.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.

DOBUR

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 13, 10:13 AM EST, 2 hours 37 minutes before
GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-132100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1113 AM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

...A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL REACH NORTHWEST GEORGIA EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON...AND PUSH ACROSS THE STATE TONIGHT. DRIER AIR WILL MOVE
INTO GEORGIA BEHIND THE COLD FRONT.

.PRIMARY HAZARD...
THE PRIMARY HAZARD FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

.DISCUSSION...
AS THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP
AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. WITH CAPES RISING INTO THE 1400 TO 1600
RANGE...AND LIFTED INDICES RANGING FROM MINUS 2 TO MINUS 4...SOME OF
THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE.

.FOR SPOTTERS...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS SHOULD MONITOR UPDATED HAZARDOUS
WEATHER OUTLOOKS ISSUED THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR
SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA..

&&
FOR THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AND OTHER WEATHER
INFORMATION...PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/FFC.

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 54 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:50 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

28 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dade

When
May 13, 12:50 PM EST
Where
Dade County, Trenton
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.867, -85.500

The Dade county 911 center reported that trees and power lines were down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When
May 13, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Walker County, Chickamauga
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.867, -85.300

The Walker county 911 center reported that trees were down in both Chickamauga and LaFayette.

Thunderstorm Wind, Murray

When
May 13, 1:49 PM EST
Where
Murray County, Eton
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
34.817, -84.750

An amateur radio operator measured wind gusts at 60 knots or 69 mph on his recently calibrated Weather Wizard III equipment.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When
May 13, 2:03 PM EST
Where
Cherokee County, Canton
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.233, -84.483

Several reports of downed trees and power lines were received. The Cherokee county 911 center reported that several trees were down from 1 mile east of Canton to 3 miles east of Woodstock and trees were down on power lines in Holly Springs. The public reported that several large oak trees had been blown down in Canton near Georgia Highway 20.

Hail, Cherokee

When
May 13, 2:10 PM EST
Where
Cherokee County, Holly Spgs
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.167, -84.500

The Cherokee county 911 center reported dime size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Murray

When
May 13, 2:15 PM EST
Where
Murray County, 2 mi S of Carters
Property damage
$500
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.583, -84.683

The Murray county 911 center reported that trees were down on Georgia Highway 136 near the Carters Lake Project in the extreme southeast corner of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fannin

When
May 13, 2:30 PM EST
Where
Fannin County, Countywide
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.800, -84.350

The Fannin county sheriff reported that several trees had blown down at various locations around the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fulton

When
May 13, 2:30 PM EST
Where
Fulton County, Fairburn
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
33.567, -84.583

An off duty National Weather Service employee observed that several large trees had been blown down onto Geogia Highway 92 in Fairburn..

Thunderstorm Wind, Cobb

When
May 13, 2:39 PM EST
Where
Cobb County, Marietta
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.950, -84.550

The Cobb county 911 center reported trees and power lines down on Sandy Plains Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Union

When
May 13, 2:40 PM EST
Where
Union County, 4 mi S of Blairsville
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
UTILITY COMPANY
Coordinates
34.817, -83.950

The Union county 911 center reported that several trees were down.

Hail, Fulton

When
May 13, 2:40 PM EST
Where
Fulton County, 2 mi SW of Crabapple
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
34.067, -84.350

An amateur radio operator reported dime to nickel size hail at the intersection of Crab Apple Road and Georgia Highway 140.

Thunderstorm Wind, Towns

When
May 13, 2:45 PM EST
Where
Towns County, Hiawassee
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.950, -83.750

The Town county 911 center reported that several trees were down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dawson

When
May 13, 2:49 PM EST
Where
Dawson County, Dawsonville
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.417, -84.117

The Dawson county 911 center reported that several trees had been blown down across the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hall

When
May 13, 2:52 PM EST
Where
Hall County, Flowery Branch
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
34.183, -83.933

The public reported that several large trees, up to 2 feet in diameter, had been blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Forsyth

When
May 13, 2:55 PM EST
Where
Forsyth County, Cumming
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
34.200, -84.150

The Forsyth county 911 center reported that trees and power lines had been blown down.

Hail, De Kalb

When
May 13, 2:55 PM EST
Where
De Kalb County, Decatur
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.783, -84.300

The public reported quarter size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gwinnett

When
May 13, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Gwinnett County, Snellville
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.850, -84.017

The Gwinnett county 911 center reported that numerous trees had been blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Banks

When
May 13, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Banks County, 5 mi WSW of Homer
Property damage
$500
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.300, -83.583

The Banks county 911 center reported that two trees were blown down near the Hall/ Banks county line in the Hickory Flat area near Gillsville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lumpkin

When
May 13, 3:03 PM EST
Where
Lumpkin County, Dahlonega
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.572, -84.003 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Lumpkin county 911 center reported that one tree had been blown down at an apartment complex in the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
May 13, 3:15 PM EST
Where
Jackson County, Countywide
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.133, -83.583

The Jackson county 911 center reported that numerous trees were down all across the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Barrow

When
May 13, 3:20 PM EST
Where
Barrow County, Winder
Property damage
$500
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.983, -83.717

The Barrow county 911 center reported that two trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke

When
May 13, 3:35 PM EST
Where
Clarke County, Athens
Property damage
$500
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
33.950, -83.383

The Athens police reported that two trees were blown down in the city.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oconee

When
May 13, 3:35 PM EST
Where
Oconee County, Watkinsville
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.867, -83.400

The Oconee county 911 center reported that trees were blown down on Bellmount Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When
May 13, 3:45 PM EST
Where
Madison County, Danielsville
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.117, -83.217

The Madison county 911 center reported that numerous trees were down in the city along with some power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oglethorpe

When
May 13, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Oglethorpe County, Lexington
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.867, -83.117

The Oglethorpe county 911 center reported that trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilkes

When
May 13, 4:30 PM EST
Where
Wilkes County, 5 mi N of Washington
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.800, -82.733

The public reported that several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oglethorpe

When
May 13, 4:39 PM EST
Where
Oglethorpe County, 10 mi N of Lexington
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
34.017, -83.117

The Oglethorpe county 911 center reported that trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When
May 13, 5:00 PM EST
Where
Greene County, Greensboro
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.567, -83.183

The Greene county 911 center reported that one tree and some power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When
May 13, 5:00 PM EST
Where
Taylor County, Rupert
Property damage
$250
Reported by
POST OFFICE
Coordinates
32.450, -84.283

The Rupert Post Office reported that numerous tree branches had been blown down in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Macon

When
May 13, 5:40 PM EST
Where
Macon County, Oglethorpe
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
32.300, -84.067

The Macon county sheriff reported that several trees were down in the cities of Oglethorpe and Montezuma.

Lightning, Wilkes

When
May 13, 6:26 PM EST
Where
Wilkes County, Washington
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
33.782, -82.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Washington News Reporter reported that lightning had struck two trees outside a house on Tignall Road in Washington. The lightning traveled through the phone lines and blew out a protective device on a gas meter. This caused a gas leak. There was no fire or other damage reported.

Lightning, De Kalb

When
May 13, 6:30 PM EST
Where
De Kalb County, Toco Hills
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
33.772, -84.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a century-plus-old very large southern red oak tree in the Hansard Common Park was toppled by lightning, which had struck the tree earlier in the afternoon during a severe thunderstorm. A lightning bolt struck the tree sending debris from the tree for hundreds of yards in all directions of the intersection of Clairmont Road and La Vista Road. This tree had served as a De Kalb county landmark and was believed to be one of the oldest trees of its kind in the county. It was also marked as the third largest such kind of tree in the county measuring at approximately 111 feet tall and 15 feet, 10 inches in diameter with an average branch spread of 115 feet. One lane of Clairmont Road remained closed for over 24 hours as crews cleaned up the tree debris.

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When
May 13, 7:20 PM EST
Where
Johnson County, 4 mi N of Kite
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
32.733, -82.517

The public reported that several trees were blown down.

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

More

Every storm in Georgia in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 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: 5290903, 5290904, 5291020, 5290906, 5290905, 5291019, 5290907, 5290911, 5290915, 5290910, 5290916, 5290909, 5290912, 5290914, 5290913, 5290917, 5290918, 5291007, 5290908, 5291008, 5291006, 5291009, 5291011, 5291010, 5291012, 5291013, 5291014, 5291015, 5291016, 5291017, 5291105, 5291104, 5291018.