23 hail, 9 thunderstorm wind, 7 flash flood, 2 flood, 1 heavy rain, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
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 17, 3:45 AM EST, 9 hours 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 445 AM EDT SAT MAY 17 2003 UPDATED TO INCLUDE AVIATION DISCUSSION. MODELS AGREE WITH BACK DOOR FRONT MOVING ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT KEEPING THE CWA IN AN EAST FLOW TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. ABUNDANT MOISTURE RIDES OVER WEDGE OF COOL AIR AND THIS WILL BRING A CHANCE TO LIKELY POPS ACROSS THE CWA TODAY THROUGH MONDAY. BEST CHANCE WILL BE ACROSS NORTH GA TODAY AS REMNANTS OF THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTH AL EARLY THIS MORNING AND INTO NORTHWEST GA. TEMPS A PROBLEM. EAST FLOW AND CLOUDS WILL BRING COOLER TEMPS...HOWEVER ANY SUNSHINE WILL PUSH THE TEMPS UP. WILL GO CLOSE TO CURRENT FORECAST WITH MINOR ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON LATEST GUIDANCE. .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... KATL 80 67 79 65 / 50 50 40 50 KAHN 78 64 77 64 / 50 50 40 50 KGVL 76 63 75 62 / 50 50 40 50 KRMG 80 65 78 63 / 60 60 40 50 KCSG 87 69 86 67 / 30 40 30 50 KMCN 87 67 84 66 / 30 40 30 50 .ATL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. 17 AVIATION DISCUSSION... CEILINGS HIGHLY VARIABLE FROM LIFR TO VFR. BELIEVE MVFR TO VFR CEILINGS THE MOST LIKELY FOR ATL. ANY LOWER CEILINGS SHOULD BE RATHER BRIEF WITH MVFR VSBYS UNTIL MID MORNING. 3500 TO 4000 FT CEILINGS SHOULD BE THE MOSTLY LIKELY FOR THE AFTERNOON WITH POTENTIAL FOR SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS. EAST SURFACE WINDS SHOULD CONTINUE TODAY. BDL
GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-171830- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1055 AM EDT SAT MAY 17 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK BACK DOOR COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO NORTH GEORGIA THIS EVENING. AHEAD OF THE FRONT VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR REMAINS OVER THE STATE. .PRIMARY HAZARD... THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR STORMS WILL BE FROM NOON UNTIL 7 PM. THE GREATEST THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE NORTH OF A LINE FROM COLUMBUS TO MACON AND WEST OF A LINE FROM MACON TO CUMMING TO BLUE RIDGE. HOWEVER THE REMAINDER OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA OUTSIDE THIS AREA COULD SEE POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. .DISCUSSION... VERY UNSTABLE AIR IS IN PLACE OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. CAPES ARE BETWEEN 2000 AND 2500 WITH LIFTED INDICES BETWEEN MINUS 5 AND MINUS 7. A MESOSCALE CONVECTIVE SYSTEM WHICH DEVELOPED DURING THE NIGHT ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS MOVING EASTWARD. THIS COMPLEX OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE APPROACHING THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE STATE SHORTLY AFTER NOON AND THEN MOVE ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA BY MID AFTERNOON AND INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA BY LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. EVEN IF THIS COMPLEX WEAKENS...OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES FROM THIS COMPLEX WILL LIKELY TRIGGER THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA. STRONG DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE AND WITH RELATIVELY COLD AIR ALOFT... LARGE HAIL IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY. BY 7 PM MOST OF THE AREA SHOULD BECOME MORE STABLE AS RAIN COOLED AIR PREDOMINATES. .FOR SPOTTERS... SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS...AND BE READY FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION. .DAY TWO THROUGH DAY SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY...EXCEPT THURSDAY. FOR THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AND OTHER WEATHER INFORMATION...PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV...AND CLICK ON GEORGIA.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
23 hail, 9 thunderstorm wind, 7 flash flood, 2 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
The Eatonton Messenger reported that very heavy rain resulted in flooding of ditches, streets, yards, and driveways. Some driveways were even washed away. Rooty Creek also quickly exceeded bankfull and flooded the lawn of the Putnam Senior Citizen Center.
The Putnam county 911 center reported quarter-sized hail.
The Putnam county 911 center reported that one tree was blown down.
The Putnam county 911 center reported penny-sized hail on U.S. 441 near the Baldwin county line.
The Washington county Emergency Management Director reported nickel-sized hail.
The Washington county sheriff's office, as well as the 911 center, reported penny to nickel-sized hail in Oconee, nickel-sized hail in Sandersville, and quarter-sized hail in Riddleville.
Amateur radio operators reported penny-sized hail.
The public reported penny to nickel-sized hail.
The public reported that a small lake on Georgia Highway 140E near Arnold Mill was overflowing onto Rock Springs Lane.
The Glascock county 911 center reported that one tree was blown down.
The public reported penny-sized hail.
An amateur radio operator reported penny-sized hail.
The Washington county 911 center reported nickel-sized hail.
The Murray county 911 center reported penny-sized hail.
Amateur radio operators reported penny-sized hail in Redbud and penny to quarter-sized hail southeast of Calhoun.
The Jefferson county 911 center reported that a number of trees had been blown down.
The Gordon county 911 center reported that several trees were down.
The public reported quarter-sized hail.
The public reported penny to quarter-sized hail.
The Washington county 911 center reported that one tree was blown down on Peacock Springs Road.
The public and amateur radio operators reported flash flooding on Georgia Highway 53, both in Sonoraville and in Fairmount. A creek in Sonoraville, near Georgia Highway 53, quickly rose out of its banks flooding nearby land and property. Flooding was also reported on some streets in Calhoun. Street flooding was also reported in Redbud.
The public reported quarter-sized hail.
The Bartow county 911 center and a sheriff's deputy reported street flooding on Georgia Highway 140 near Rydal, but no flash flooding was reported.
The public reported penny-sized hail.
The Emanuel county 911 center reported nickel-sized hail in Canoochee and the public reported penny to nickel-sized hail in Swainsboro.
Official National Weather Service river gage readings showed that Peachtree Creek once again quickly rose above the flood stage of 17 feet in about a 2-hour period. The creek crested at 17.5 feet around 430 am EDT. As usual, flooding of nearby roads, property, and the Cross Creek County Club Golf Course resulted. Flooding on Nancy Creek also occurs. The Atlanta police department reported that several roads were flooded in Midtown and Buckhead. The Fulton county 911 center also reported that Westbrook Road at Hopewell Road was flooded out.
Official National Weather Service river gage readings showed that Peachtree Creek once again quickly rose above the flood stage of 17 feet in about a 2-hour period. The creek crested at 17.5 feet around 430 am EDT. As usual, flooding of nearby roads and property resulted. Flooding on Nancy Creek also occurs. The De Kalb Water Department also reported that Allgood Road was flooded out.
Local television news media reported that extensive flooding was occurring across the county, including flooding of homes, roads, creeks, and streams.
The Chattooga county 911 center reported that several roads were flooded in Summerville, including Bitting Avenue, Georgia Highway 48 at Pennsylvania Street, and Ramey Street. In addition, a home was flooded out on Scoggin Street. In Lyerly, the bridge on Lyerly Dam Road was flooded out.
The Floyd county 911 center reported that a number of roads were flooded in Rome with water flowing over the roads.
Local television news media reported that although the rain had subsided, flooding of a number of homes, roads, creeks, and streams continued across the county for much of the day.
The National Weather Service Cooperative Observer in Abbeville reported quarter-sized hail.
The public reported penny-sized hail near Mogul.
The Dodge county 911 center reported quarter-sized hail.
Amateur radio operators, as well as the public and the Bibb county Emergency Management Director reported hail, ranging in size from pennies to quarters throughout much of the city of Gray. The public reported golf ball-sized hail one mile south of Gray.
The Wilkinson county 911 center reported nickel-sized hail.
The Laurens county 911 center reported that some trees were down.
The National Weather Cooperative observer in Abbeville reported quarter-sized hail.
The Bleckley county Emergency Management Director observed quarter to golf ball-sized hail on Georgia Highway 112 in Cary.
The Wilkinson county 911 center reported that a number of trees had been blown down.
The Washington county 911 center reported that three trees and one power line were blown down on Linton Road.
The Telfair county Emergency Management Director reported that one tree was blown down along U.S. Highway 441 between Jacksonville and Workmore.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2003
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: 5361814, 5361815, 5361816, 5362500, 5362501, 5361667, 5361669, 5362503, 5361683, 5362504, 5362502, 5361668, 5361673, 5361671, 5361670, 5361672, 5361681, 5361676, 5361675, 5361674, 5361678, 5361677, 5361679, 5361682, 5361680, 5361735, 5361736, 5361739, 5361737, 5361738, 5361740, 5361813, 5361811, 5361741, 5361742, 5361743, 5361745, 5361746, 5361744, 5361809, and more.