Georgia, 2002

Flooding and Hail in Georgia, May 2 to 3, 2002

May 2 to 3, 2002 · NWS FFC · 40 events in 25 counties and zones

27 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind, 3 lightning, 2 flood, 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
$22,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
40

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 2, 2:00 PM EST, 5 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 2, 2:00 PM EST, 5 hours 40 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
300 PM EDT THU MAY 2 2002

OVERVIEW: OVERALL PATTERN REMAINS IN PLACE THAT HAS BEEN WITH US
SINCE EARLY APRIL. UPPER TROUGH IN THE WEST WILL DOMINATE WITH RIDGE
IN THE SOUTHEAST NEXT 7 DAYS. THIS SUPPORTS AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
BEING ABOVE NORMAL AND RAIN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS DIMINISHING BY
EARLY NEXT WEEK AS RIDGE BUILDS IN.

SHORT TERM: MAIN CONCERN TONIGHT WILL BE SEVERE THREAT. LATEST 17Z
ANALYSIS SHOWS CAPES INCREASING TO ABOUT 2000 TO 2500 J/KG...CIN
WEAKENING TO -20 TO -100 ACROSS THE NORTH AND SURFACE DEWPOINTS IN
THE UPPER 60S TO NEAR 70. EXPECT SHOWALTER AND LI TO BE AROUND -5
ACROSS THE NORTH TONIGHT WITH THE DEEP CONVECTION INDEX RISING TO
BETWEEN 35 AND 40. ANYTHING ABOVE 35 SUPPORT MCS DEVELOPMENT. WE
ALSO GET INTO A RIGHT REAR QUAD AND PE VALUES INCREASE TO ABOVE 1.2
INCHES. HENCE...AS THE COLD FRONT SAGS SOUTH TONIGHT...AND MID LEVEL
COOLING BEGINS...CAP SHOULD WEAKEN ENOUGH FOR THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPMENT. EXCEPT DAMAGE WINDS...HEAVY RAINFALL...AND LIGHTNING TO
BE PRIMARY THREATS. SOME HAIL NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. WILL MENTION
SEVERE IN NORTHERN ZONES TONIGHT...BUT NOT SOUTH...SIMILAR TO
CURRENT ZONES.

AVN/UKMET MORE AGRESSIVE AT PUSHING THE FRONT SOUTH TOWARD CENTRAL
GA AND STALLING THERE FRI INTO SAT. BASED ON BEING BURNED WITH TEMPS
ON TUE...WILL GO WITH COOLER AVN GRIDDED TEMPS FRI INTO SAT. AS A
SECOND SHORT WAVE APPROACHES FRI NIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING...EXPECT
A SECOND ROUND OF PRECIP AFTER TONIGHT AND FRI MORNINGS SYSTEM.

EXTENDED: ECMWF...UKMET...AVN IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN EXTENDED.
BUILDING RIDGE MEANS DIMINISHING RAIN CHANCES AND WARMER WEATHER
NEXT WEEK.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MODERATE DUE TO TIMING ISSUES OF PRECIP AND
PLACEMENT OF FRONT. TEMPS WILL BE TRICKY NEXT TWO DAYS. HIGHS COULD
BE AS COOL AS LOW TO MID 60S IN NORTH OR AS WARM AS LOWER 70S. SOUTH
NOT AS TOUGH AS TEMPS WELL INTO 70S AND LOWER 80S LIKELY. THIS MEANS
A TIGHT TEMP GRADIENT ACROSS CWA. NEW EXPERIMENTAL ETA MOS OF AROUND
80 FRI FOR ATL LOOKS WAY TOO WARM...BASED ON RAIN COOLED AIR DRIVING
FRONT SOUTH.

FCSTID = 14

ATL  65 69 58 68 /  60 60 80 50
AHN  65 69 56 67 /  50 60 80 50
GVL  64 67 56 65 /  50 40 90 50
RMG  61 70 58 70 /  70 40 90 50
CSG  69 81 65 81 /  30 50 50 40
MCN  69 80 63 80 /  30 50 50 40

.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.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 2, 3:25 PM EST, 4 hours 15 minutes before
GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-030300-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
425 PM EDT THU MAY 2 2002

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT ACROSS
NORTH GEORGIA...

.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG COLD FRONT FROM WEST VIRGINIA...TO CENTRAL TENNESSEE...TO
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS WILL MOVE TO THE GEORGIA STATE LINE TONIGHT.

.PRIMARY HAZARD...
THE PRIMARY HAZARD FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS.

.DISCUSSION...
A CAPPED ATMOSPHERE OVER GEORGIA WILL DESTABILIZE THIS EVENING AS
THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE STATE. THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALREADY
DEVELOPING FROM ARKANSAS TO TENNESSEE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ADVECT INTO NORTH GEORGIA THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. WITH CAPES
REMAINING IN THE 1000 TO 2000 RANGE AND LIFTED INDICES OF MINUS 2 TO
MINUS 4...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE. THE THREAT OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM LAGRANGE...TO
MONTICELLO...TO AUGUSTA.

.FOR SPOTTERS...
SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD MONITOR
WEATHER CONDITIONS...AND BE READY FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION.

&&

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

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind, 3 lightning, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Walker

When
May 2, 7:40 PM EST to 7:50 PM EST
Where
Walker County, Cooper Hgts
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
34.800, -85.383

The public reported dime size hail.

Flood, Gordon

When
May 3, 3:00 AM EST to 7:00 AM EST
Where
Gordon forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
34.503, -84.876 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Calhoun Times reported that 4 to 5 homes on North Wall Street near U.S. Highway 41 were flooded. The water rose up along the foundations of the homes about 2 feet deep. The flooding was largely caused by an overflowed drainage ditch in the neighborhood which frequently causes this problem. No significant damages were reported.

Hail, Chattooga

When
May 3, 5:20 AM EST
Where
Chattooga County, Menlo
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
34.483, -85.467

The public reported dime size hail in Summerville and dime size hail was observed at the Post Office in Menlo. A large tree limb was also blown down in Menlo.

Hail, Haralson

When
May 3, 5:52 AM EST
Where
Haralson County, 3 mi NW of Tallapoosa
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.783, -85.317

The Haralson county 911 center reported quarter size hail northwest of Tallapoosa near Jacksonville Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Haralson

When
May 3, 6:15 AM EST
Where
Haralson County, Tallapoosa
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.750, -85.283

The public reported that trees were blown down on Bethany Street.

Hail, Paulding

When
May 3, 6:30 AM EST
Where
Paulding County, Dallas
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.917, -84.833

The public reported quarter size hail.

Hail, Douglas

When
May 3, 6:32 AM EST
Where
Douglas County, 3 mi SSW of Chapel Hill
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.650, -84.733

The public reported quarter size hail.

Hail, Carroll

When
May 3, 6:40 AM EST
Where
Carroll County, Bowdon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.533, -85.250

The public reported dime size hail.

Hail, Douglas

When
May 3, 6:50 AM EST to 6:56 AM EST
Where
Douglas County, Lithia Spgs
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
33.783, -84.650

A storm spotter reported golf ball size hail, while the public reported dime to nickel size hail.

Hail, Cobb

When
May 3, 6:56 AM 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.

Lightning, Forsyth

When
May 3, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Forsyth County, Cumming
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
34.226, -84.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Forsyth County News reported that a lightning strike ruptured a natural gas main igniting the line and causing a road to be blocked much of the day. No structural fires ensued and no one was injured during the incident.

Hail, Fulton

When
May 3, 7:10 AM EST
Where
Fulton County, Atlanta
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
33.767, -84.400

A local radio station reported dime size hail in downtown Atlanta.

Flood, Fulton

When
May 3, 7:14 AM EST
Where
Fulton County, Atlanta
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
33.790, -84.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An amateur radio operator relayed reports of street flooding in downtown Atlanta and also in Buckhead just north of Atlanta on Piedmont and Edgewood Roads.

Hail, Haralson

When
May 3, 7:45 AM EST
Where
Haralson County, Bremen
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.717, -85.150

The public reported dime size hail.

Lightning, Gwinnett

When
May 3, 7:45 AM EST
Where
Gwinnett County, Lilburn
Property damage
$500
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.962, -84.024 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The public reported that lightning either struck a home or near enough the home to cause some minor electrical damage to a wall switch and blew out a television. No fire ensued and no injuries were reported.

Hail, Coweta

When
May 3, 8:15 AM EST to 8:45 AM EST
Where
Coweta County, Newnan
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.367, -84.800

Numerous reports of hail ranging in size from dimes to quarters were received from the public. An off duty National Weather Service employee reported quarter size hail in the White Oak Subdivision east of Newnan.

Hail, Carroll

When
May 3, 8:18 AM EST
Where
Carroll County, Lowell
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
33.467, -85.050

An amateur radio operator relayed a report of dime size hail.

Hail, Heard

When
May 3, 8:22 AM EST
Where
Heard County, Yellowdirt
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
UTILITY COMPANY
Coordinates
33.417, -85.050

A Georgia Power Company plant reported dime size hail.

Hail, Haralson

When
May 3, 2:51 PM EST
Where
Haralson County, Felton
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.883, -85.217

The Haralson county 911 center reported golf ball size hail.

Hail, Carroll

When
May 3, 3:54 PM EST
Where
Carroll County, 4 mi NW of Carrollton
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
AIRPLANE PILOT
Coordinates
33.617, -85.133

The Macon Flight Service Station relayed a pilot report of quarter size hail.

Hail, Heard

When
May 3, 4:00 PM EST to 4:25 PM EST
Where
Heard County, Roosterville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.400, -85.183

Several reports of hail were received across the county. The Heard county 911 center reported golf ball size hail at Frolona, the public reported quarter size hail in Franklin, while the public reported dime size hail in Roosterville and 5 miles southeast of Franklin.

Thunderstorm Wind, Heard

When
May 3, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Heard County, Central Portion
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
33.283, -85.117

The Times Georgian Newspaper of Carrollton reported that a roof was blown off a barn and wrapped around a flat bed trailer on a farm near Franklin.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coweta

When
May 3, 4:28 PM EST to 4:47 PM EST
Where
Coweta County, 3 mi S of Newnan
Property damage
$500
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
33.317, -84.800

Amateur radio operator reports indicated that 3 trees were blown down at the intersection of Georgia Highway 16 and U.S. Highway 29 south of Newnan and 1 tree was down in Grantville.

Hail, Henry

When
May 3, 4:31 PM EST
Where
Henry County, Hampton
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.383, -84.283

The public reported nickel size hail in Hampton and dime to nickel size hail in McDonough.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fayette

When
May 3, 4:40 PM EST to 4:51 PM EST
Where
Fayette County, Peachtree City
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
33.417, -84.450

Amateur radio operators relayed reports from the Peachtree City police department of two trees down, generally in the Interlochen area. One of the trees fell on a house.

Hail, Coweta

When
May 3, 4:47 PM EST
Where
Coweta County, Grantville
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
33.233, -84.833

An amateur radio operator relayed a report of quarter size hail.

Hail, Warren

When
May 3, 4:49 PM EST
Where
Warren County, Warrenton
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.400, -82.667

The Warren county 911 center reported golf ball size hail.

Hail, Spalding

When
May 3, 4:57 PM EST to 5:27 PM EST
Where
Spalding County, Rover
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
33.200, -84.333

Amateur radio operators relayed two reports of dime size hail in Rover and another report of dime size hail was reported by the public in Griffin.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lamar

When
May 3, 5:03 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Lamar County, Liberty Hill
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.150, -84.133

The Lamar county 911 center reported that two to three trees were blown down in Liberty Hill and one window was blown out of an old building. Further east in Johnstonville, a tree was blown down onto a power line.

Hail, Putnam

When
May 3, 5:12 PM EST
Where
Putnam County, Eatonton
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
33.317, -83.383

A storm spotter reported dime to golf ball size hail 6 miles west of Eatonton, near Willard. He also reported that one tree was blown down on Georgia Highway 16. Several other reports were received from the public and the county Emergency Management Director of dime size hail in the city of Eatonton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Meriwether

When
May 3, 5:13 PM EST to 5:30 PM EST
Where
Meriwether County, Warm Spgs
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
32.883, -84.683

The Meriwether county 911 center reported three trees down, one in Warm Springs, one in Woodbury, and one 3 miles east of Woodbury on Georgia Highway 18. The public reported that several large trees were blown down in Greenville.

Hail, Butts

When
May 3, 5:15 PM EST
Where
Butts County, 8 mi S of Jackson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
33.183, -83.967

An amateur radio operator relayed a report of dime size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When
May 3, 5:20 PM EST
Where
Jasper County, Shady Dale
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.400, -83.600

The Jasper county 911 center reported that lots of trees were blown down, some onto local roads.

Hail, Jasper

When
May 3, 5:20 PM EST
Where
Jasper County, Shady Dale
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.400, -83.600

The Jasper county 911 center reported half-dollar size hail.

Lightning, Spalding

When
May 3, 5:21 PM EST to 5:23 PM EST
Where
Spalding County, 3 mi NW of Griffin
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
33.261, -84.284 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Griffin Daily News reported that lightning caused fire to two homes on the northwest side of Griffin, one on West McIntosh Road and one on Fayetteville Road. The first home sustained some roof and ceiling damage and the other home sustained fire damage to the flooring and some of the crawl space area.

Hail, Hancock

When
May 3, 5:30 PM EST
Where
Hancock County, Sparta
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.267, -82.983

The Hancock county 911 center reported quarter size hail.

Hail, Warren

When
May 3, 5:30 PM EST to 5:45 PM EST
Where
Warren County, Warrenton
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.400, -82.667

The Warren county 911 center reported golf ball size hail.

Hail, Jefferson

When
May 3, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Jefferson County, Louisville
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
33.000, -82.400

The Jefferson county 911 center reported dime to quarter size hail.

Hail, Putnam

When
May 3, 6:15 PM EST
Where
Putnam County, Eatonton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
33.317, -83.383

The public reported dime size hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Laurens

When
May 3, 7:05 PM EST
Where
Laurens County, 3 mi NW of Dublin
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
32.567, -82.933

The Laurens county Emergency Management Director reported that several trees were blown down on U.S. Highway 441N.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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.
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: 5291885, 5292057, 5291886, 5291887, 5291951, 5291946, 5291947, 5291888, 5291948, 5291952, 5292055, 5291949, 5291950, 5291953, 5292056, 5291955, 5291954, 5291956, 5291957, 5291958, 5291959, 5292059, 5291962, 5292013, 5292024, 5292011, 5291960, 5292015, 5292021, 5292019, 5292014, 5292012, 5292016, 5292017, 5292058, 5291961, 5292018, 5292022, 5292020, 5292023.