High winds developed during mid-evening across portions of the piedmont of northeast Georgia, as the remnants of Ivan passed to the west of the area. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down.
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.
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 episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.
High winds developed during mid-evening across portions of the piedmont of northeast Georgia, as the remnants of Ivan passed to the west of the area. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down.
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 Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 16, 7:52 PM EST, 8 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
852 PM EDT THU SEP 16 2004
.SHORT TERM (REST OF TONIGHT)...
CIRCULATION CENTER OF THE REMNANTS OF IVAN THIS EVENING ARE LOCATED
OVER NORTHEAST AL AND MOVING NE. THE PRES GRAD CONT TO TIGHTEN
ACROSS THE REGION AND ADVISORY LEVEL WINDS ARE NOW POSSIBLE IN
SOME FOOTHILL LOCATIONS...ESPECIALLY AS TROPICAL RAIN BANDS
TRANSPORT STRONGER WIND SPEEDS TO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. WILL
THUS UPDATE TO INCLUDE FROM HART TO SPARTANBURG TO LENOIR IN A WIND
ADVISORY. WILL LEAVE OTHER PRODUCTS IN PLACE PRESENTLY. PIEDMONT
LOCATIONS HAVE NOT RECEIVED MUCH RAIN THUS FAR...BUT ISOLATED
FLOODING THREAT CONT AS SHOWERS SHOULD START FILLING IN.
PER LATEST COORDINATION WITH SPC...TORNADO WATCH WILL BE EXTENDED
UNTIL 3 AM...AND EXPANDED INTO THE SRN TIER OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTIES.
&&
.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
THE FOLLOWING WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED AT 258 PM EDT THU SEP 16 2004
SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY)...
MOST OF THIS PACKAGE DETERMINED BY TRACK OF IVAN...WHICH IS NOW MORE
PROGRESSIVE AND EXPECTED TO WEAKEN FASTER THAN YESTERDAY. WIND SHEAR
TO INCREASE AS RAIN BANDS MOVE CLOSER...SUPPORTING TORNADO DEVLOPMENT
INITIALLY IN S. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR NC COUNTIES LATER TONIGHT S
SHEAR MOVES FURTHER N. ALTHOUGH SYSTEM TO WEAKEN FASTER THAN IN
PREVIOUS PACKAGES...WIND GUSTS ALREADY SUBSTANTIAL IN N GA...AND
BELIEVE HIGH WIND WARNING CRITERIA WILL STILL BE MET IN MOUNTAINS
TONIGHT AND FRIDAY...AND WILL CONTINUE WARNING. FOOTHILL WINDS STILL
TO REMAIN JUST BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA.
PROGRESSIVE TRACK WILL MEAN LESS RAINFALL...THOUGH STILL VERY
HEAVY...AND STILL MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN WAKE
OF FRANCES. WILL LEAVE FLOOD WATCH UP TONIGHT THROUGH SAT.
PRECIPITATION SHOULD TAPER OFF SAT EVENING AS LOW LEVEL FLOW S OF
IVAN BECOMES DOWNSLOPE FROM W...AND WILL LOWER POPS TO CHANCE ALL BUT
TN LINE. WITH REAMINS OF IVAN TRACKING E ACROSS S VA SUN...WILL
CONTINUE HIGHEST POPS TN LINE AND FAR N...WITH LOWEST IN S. DIURNAL
TEMPERATURE RANGE LIMITED BY CLOUDS AND MOISTURE...THOUGH DEW POINTS
TO FALL OFF IN W FLOW LATE.
LONG TERM (SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)...
CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY EXISTS IN THE MON THRU THU TIME FRAME. THE
REMNANTS OF IVAN MON AND THE EVENTUAL TRACK OF JEANNE TUE THRU THU
WILL BE THE MAIN PLAYERS IN IN OUR WX. DEEP MOISTURE AND GENERALLY
UPSLOPE FLOW CONTINUE MONDAY. JEANNE BEGINS TO MOVE TOWARD THE AREA
TUE THEN MOVES UP THE SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY INTO THE NC MTNS THU.
GIVEN THE TROPICAL MOISTURE...LIFT AND UPSLOPE FLOW. HAVE INCLUDED
CHC POP EACH PERIOD. MAX TEMPS GENERALLY LOWER...MIN TEMPS GENERALLY
HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS FCST GIVEN THIS SCENARIO.
AVIATION...
COPIOUS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND ELY TO SELY UPSLOPE FLOW WILL
CONTINUE THRU THE TAF PERIOD AS IVAN APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
CIGS...WHILE GENERALLY MVFR...ARE BOUNCING AROUND BETWEEN MVFR AND
IFR. EXPECT ALL SITES TO BECOME IFR BY EVENING...AND LIFR
OVERNIGHT...AS RAIN SPREADS OVER THE AREA AND ATMOSPHERIC COLUMN
CONTINUES TO MOISTEN. VSBY...ALSO GENERALLY MVFR...IS DROPPING TO
IFR IN RAIN BANDS AND SOMETIMES EVEN VFR AFTER THE BANDS PASS.
EXPECT ALL SITES TO FALL TO MVFR BY EVENING WITH IFR
OVERNIGHT...AGAIN AS RAIN SPREADS OVER THE AREA. WINDS WILL BE ON
THE INCREASE AS WELL. SPEEDS INCREASING TO 15G25...AND EVEN 20G30
CLOSER TO THE CENTER OVERNIGHT. DIRECTION WILL ALSO TREND TO THE SE
OVERNIGHT. THE EXCEPTION IS KAVL WITH SLY FLOW IN THE VALLEY. HAVE
BROUGHT WIND SPEEDS UP THERE AS WELL...BUT AS USUAL...THE HIGHEST
SPEEDS MAY NOT BE REALIZED AT THE TAF SITE IF THE DIRECTION OF THE
GENERAL WIND FLOW IS MORE FROM THE SE.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR ZONES GAZ010-017 THROUGH FRIDAY.
...FLOOD WATCH FOR ZONES GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029 THROUGH
SATURDAY.
...WIND ADVISORY FOR ZONES GAZ018-026-028 THROUGH FRIDAY.
...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR ZONE GAZ029 UNTIL 6 AM EDT.
NC...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR ZONES NCZ033-048>053-058-059-
062>065 THROUGH FRIDAY.
...FLOOD WATCH FOR ZONES NCZ033>035-037-038-048>059-062>072-
082 THROUGH SATURDAY.
...WIND ADVISORY FOR ZONES NCZ054-055-066-067 THROUGH FRIDAY.
...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR ZONES NCZ035-037-038-056-057-
067>072-082 UNTIL 6 AM EDT.
SC...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR ZONES SCZ001>003 THROUGH FRIDAY.
...FLOOD WATCH FOR ZONES SCZ001>014-019 THROUGH SATURDAY.
...WIND ADVISORY FOR ZONES SCZ004>007-010 THROUGH FRIDAY.
...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR ZONES SCZ002-008>009-011>014-
019 UNTIL 6 AM EDT.
&&
SHORT TERM (UPDATE)...HGHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 615 AM EDT THU SEP 16 2004 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014- 019-171015- ABBEVILLE SC-ALEXANDER NC-ANDERSON SC-AVERY NC-BUNCOMBE NC-BURKE NC- CABARRUS NC-CALDWELL NC-CATAWBA NC-CHEROKEE SC-CHESTER SC- CLEVELAND NC-DAVIE NC-ELBERT GA-FRANKLIN GA-GASTON NC-GRAHAM NC- GREATER GREENVILLE SC-GREATER OCONEE SC-GREATER PICKENS SC- GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS SC-GREENWOOD SC-HABERSHAM GA-HART GA-HAYWOOD NC- HENDERSON NC-IREDELL NC-LAURENS SC-LINCOLN NC-MACON NC-MADISON NC- MCDOWELL NC-MECKLENBURG NC-MITCHELL NC-NORTHERN JACKSON NC- OCONEE MOUNTAINS SC-PICKENS MOUNTAINS SC-POLK NC-RABUN GA-ROWAN NC- RUTHERFORD NC-SOUTHERN JACKSON NC-SPARTANBURG SC-STEPHENS GA- SWAIN NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-UNION SC-UNION NC-YANCEY NC-YORK SC- 615 AM EDT THU SEP 16 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA... UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE... INCREASINGLY WINDY AND RAINY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TODAY AS HURRICANE IVAN MOVES NORTH THROUGH ALABAMA. THE THREAT FOR EXCESSIVE RAINFALL...STRONG WIND GUSTS AND EVEN TORNADOES WILL BE INCREASING TONIGHT. HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MOUNTAINS WHILE A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE REGION. PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS... FLOOD WATCH...FFAGSP. HIGH WIND WARNING...NPWGSP. SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SPSGSP. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IVAN WILL CONTINUE TO EFFECT THE REGION INTO FRIDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO A PORTION OF THE WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
708 PM EDT THU SEP 16 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM FLOOD CLARKESVILLE 34.61N 83.52W
09/16/2004 HABERSHAM GA COUNTY OFFICIAL
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTS HIGHWAY 441 STARTING
TO FLOOD.
0700 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG CLAYTON 34.88N 83.40W
09/16/2004 RABUN GA COUNTY OFFICIAL
COUNTY 911 REPORTS TREES DOWN COUNTYWIDE FROM STRONG
WINDS.
&&
HGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
728 PM EDT THU SEP 16 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0518 PM TORNADO FORTSONIA 34.01N 82.78W
09/16/2004 ELBERT GA COUNTY OFFICIAL
*** 1 INJ *** COUNTY REPORTS TORNADO DAMAGE FROM
FORTSONIA TO NEAR RUCKERSVILLE. MANY TREES BLOWN AND A
HOUSE DAMAGED IN FORTSONIA WHERE ONE WAS INJURED. DAMAGE
WAS 518 TO 538 PM.
0615 PM TORNADO REED CREEK 34.44N 82.92W
09/16/2004 HART GA COUNTY OFFICIAL
COUNTY REPORTS MANY TREES AND POWER LINES BLOWN DOWN
INCLUDING ONE ON A HOUSE IN THE NORTHEAST END OF THE
COUNTY...ESPECIALLY IN THE REED CREEK COMMUNITY.
&&
HGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
759 PM EDT THU SEP 16 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0650 PM TSTM WND DMG 9 SE WALHALLA 34.68N 82.95W
09/16/2004 OCONEE SC AMATEUR RADIO
NUMEROUS TREES/POWER LINES DOWN IN TOKEENAH CROSSROADS
AND FAIR PLAY AREAS.
0650 PM TSTM WND DMG 13 SE WALHALLA 34.64N 82.90W
09/16/2004 OCONEE SC AMATEUR RADIO
TREES/POWER LINES DOWN IN FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY...OUTSIDE
SENECA.
0655 PM TSTM WND DMG 8 SE WALHALLA 34.69N 82.96W
09/16/2004 OCONEE SC AMATEUR RADIO
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN SENECA...OFF HIGHWAY 183.
0655 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 S WALHALLA 34.71N 83.06W
09/16/2004 OCONEE SC AMATEUR RADIO
TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN AND AROUND WESTMINSTER.
INCLUDED IN THE TREE/POWER LINE DAMAGE REPORTS WAS REPORT
OF A TREE ON A HOUSE OFF EASTWOOD CIRCLE IN WESTMINSTER.
0700 PM FLOOD CLARKESVILLE 34.61N 83.52W
09/16/2004 HABERSHAM GA COUNTY OFFICIAL
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTS HIGHWAY 441 STARTING
TO FLOOD.
0700 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG CLAYTON 34.88N 83.40W
09/16/2004 RABUN GA COUNTY OFFICIAL
COUNTY 911 REPORTS TREES DOWN COUNTYWIDE FROM STRONG
WINDS.
&&
SABPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
826 PM EDT THU SEP 16 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM TORNADO 5 SSW CARNESVILLE 34.30N 83.27W
09/16/2004 FRANKLIN GA LAW ENFORCEMENT
*** 1 FATAL *** TORNADO CAUSED TREE TO FALL ON CAR
&&
LGLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
830 PM EDT THU SEP 16 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM TORNADO CARNESVILLE 34.37N 83.23W
09/16/2004 FRANKLIN GA PUBLIC
TORNADO OBSERVED NEAR CARNESVILLE
&&
LGLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
839 PM EDT THU SEP 16 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM TORNADO 8 SE CARNESVILLE 34.29N 83.13W
09/16/2004 FRANKLIN GA LAW ENFORCEMENT
25 HOMES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED... EMS AND FIRE STATION
DAMAGED... 15-20 CHICKEN HOUSES DESTROYED... REPORTS FROM
COMMUNITIES OF FRANKLIN SPRINGS AND SANDY CROSS. SOME
DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED FROM RED HILL 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF
CARNESVILLE
&&
LGLThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, September 2004
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: 5423575, 5423576, 5423577.