4 lightning, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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 Aug 16, 4:30 AM EST, 8 hours 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 530 AM EDT TUE AUG 16 2005 .SHORT TERM... SYNOPTIC SCALE SUBSIDENCE ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH UPPER RIDGE IS ALLOWING CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO OPPRESSIVE TEMPERATURES TODAY... MUCH LIKE YESTERDAY. TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE... ALLOWING HEAT INDICES TO CLIMB TO OVER 100 DEGREES ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA. WILL MENTION HEAT INDICES FROM 100 TO 105 IN THE ZONES...BUT WITH LOW TEMPERATURES STILL DROPPING BELOW 75... CONDITIONS DO NOT WARRANT A HEAT ADVISORY. 850 TEMPERATURES HOVER AROUND 20C FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...SO WHILE TEMPERATURES ON WEDNESDAY MAY NOT BE AS HIGH AS TODAY OR MONDAY...WE CAN STILL EXPECT ABOVE NORMAL CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL. THE GFS WANTS TO BRING THE FRONT CURRENTLY DRAPED JUST SOUTH OF THE OHIO VALLEY AND THROUGH THE ARKLATEX REGION INTO THE DEEP SOUTH BY THURSDAY. HOWEVER...THE GFS PROGS ARE ENHANCED BY SPURIOUS LATENT HEAT BOMBS SPREAD INTERMITTENTLY ACROSS THE FRONT...THUS AM HESITANT TO BITE OFF ON THIS SOLUTION. ALTHOUGH THE NAM DOES BRING AN INCREASE IN THE MEAN LAYER RH AND AN END TO THE DIURNAL SIGNAL OF PRECIP TO THE AREA BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY...ALBEIT NOT AS SIGNIFICANTLY AS THE GFS. CONFIDENCE IS NOT PARTICULARLY HIGH IN EITHER CASE...SO FOR THE MOST PART CONTINUED THE TREND OF DIURNAL POPS WITH A SLIGHT INCREASE ON THURSDAY UNTIL EITHER UPSTREAM ANALYSES CONFIRM A DECISION OR THE MODELS MAKE UP THEIR MINDS. .LONG TERM... ONLY A VERY SLIGHT COOLING TREND IS INDICATED TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK WITH THE 00Z RUNS...FRONTAL PASSAGE OR NO...MOST LIKELY WE WILL RETURN TO TEMPERATURES THAT ARE CLOSER TO NORMAL. HOWEVER...ON THE HEELS OF THE SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH MIDWEEK...A LARGER AND MORE SIGNIFICANT UPPER LOW WILL BE MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS THIS WEEKEND. THE GFS PROGS THIS SYSTEM TO BARREL ITS WAY THROUGH MOST OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK WITH A COOLING TREND INDICATED BEHIND A STRONG FRONT AT THE END OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD. OF COURSE...WHAT IMPACT IF ANY THIS SYSTEM WILL HAVE ON GEORGIA REMAINS TO BE SEEN THAT FAR OUT...AND HAVE NOT INCLUDED ANY REFLECTION OF THE SYSTEM IN THE EXTENDED AT THIS TIME. && .AVIATION... NOT MUCH CHANGE IN THE OVER ALL WEATHER PATTERN. CAN EXPECT AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AN THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. VSBY HAVE BEEN UP AND DOWN THIS MORNING ACROSS THE AREA BUT THEY HAVE BEEN 6SM OR ABOVE AT ATL. WILL SEE VSBYS DOWN THIS AFTERNOON IN AND AROUND TSRA. CLEAR SKIES WILL PERSIST THROUGH 15Z-16Z AS CLOUDS MOVE BACK IN THIS AFTERNOON WITH DIURNAL CONVECTION STARTING BACK UP AROUND 16Z TO 18Z. WINDS SHOULD BE MAINLY OUT OF THE W TO NW AROUND 4 TO 8KT. .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATLANTA 92 73 91 73 / 30 20 40 20 ATHENS 93 73 92 72 / 30 20 40 20 GAINESVILLE 91 71 89 70 / 30 30 40 30 ROME 96 74 94 73 / 30 30 40 30 COLUMBUS 95 76 94 75 / 30 20 30 20 MACON 94 75 94 75 / 30 20 30 20 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. && TDP
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 845 AM EDT TUE AUG 16 2005 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-171000- DADE-WALKER-CATOOSA-WHITFIELD-MURRAY-FANNIN-GILMER-UNION-TOWNS- CHATTOOGA-GORDON-PICKENS-DAWSON-LUMPKIN-WHITE-FLOYD-BARTOW- CHEROKEE-FORSYTH-HALL-BANKS-JACKSON-MADISON-POLK-PAULDING-COBB- NORTH FULTON-GWINNETT-BARROW-CLARKE-OCONEE-OGLETHORPE-WILKES- HARALSON-CARROLL-DOUGLAS-SOUTH FULTON-DEKALB-ROCKDALE-WALTON- NEWTON-MORGAN-GREENE-TALIAFERRO-HEARD-COWETA-FAYETTE-CLAYTON- SPALDING-HENRY-BUTTS-JASPER-PUTNAM-HANCOCK-WARREN-TROUP- MERIWETHER-PIKE-UPSON-LAMAR-MONROE-JONES-BALDWIN-WASHINGTON- GLASCOCK-JEFFERSON-HARRIS-TALBOT-TAYLOR-CRAWFORD-BIBB-TWIGGS- WILKINSON-JOHNSON-EMANUEL-MUSCOGEE-CHATTAHOOCHEE-MARION-SCHLEY- MACON-PEACH-HOUSTON-BLECKLEY-LAURENS-TREUTLEN-STEWART-WEBSTER- SUMTER-DOOLY-CRISP-PULASKI-WILCOX-DODGE-TELFAIR-WHEELER- MONTGOMERY-TOOMBS- 845 AM EDT TUE AUG 16 2005 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY. ...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA... .SYNOPSIS... WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE OVER SOUTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY. LOW LEVEL TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE OVER THE STATE AS WELL. .PRIMARY HAZARD... THE PRIMARY HAZARD FROM THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL UP TO 2 INCHES. THE BEST TIME FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. .DISCUSSION... WITH TROPICAL LOW LEVEL MOISTURE CONTINUING OVER THE AREA...NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA CAN EXPECT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. THERE WILL BE SOME DRYING IN THE MID LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WHICH SHOULD HELP TO KEEP ANY CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT BELOW SEVERE LIMITS. MARGINAL INSTABILITY WILL ALSO PREVAIL TODAY WITH CAPES NEAR 1000 AND LIFTED INDICES IN THE MINUS 2 TO MINUS 3 RANGE. THIS WILL ALLOW SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP WITH SOME STORMS PRODUCING FREQUENT LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAY TWO THROUGH DAY SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY. && FOR THE GRAPHICAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AND OTHER WEATHER INFORMATION...PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV...AND CLICK ON GEORGIA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 132 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 2005 GAZ053-161815- 132 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 2005 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING IN COWETA COUNTY UNTIL 215 PM EDT... AT 131 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NEWNAN...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 20 MPH. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AS IT MOVES ACROSS COWETA COUNTY. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE MADRAS...THOMAS CROSSROADS...SHARPSBURG...NEWNAN...MORELAND AND GRANTVILLE. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN BY 215 PM EDT. SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 40 TO 50 MPH...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF DIMES...OR SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 137 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 2005 GAZ044-055-161815- 137 PM EDT TUE AUG 16 2005 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING IN CLAYTON AND SOUTHERN FULTON COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM EDT... AT 131 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER RIVERDALE THE THUNDERSTORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AS IT MOVES ACROSS CLAYTON AND SOUTHERN FULTON COUNTIES. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE RIVERDALE...FOREST PARK...HAPEVILLE...COLLEGE PARK...EAST POINT...AND HARTSFIELD JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN BY 215 PM EDT. SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH 40 TO 50 MPH...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF DIMES...OR SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.
The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:00 UTC.
4 lightning, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Fox 5 News of Atlanta reported that lightning struck a home southwest of Newnan. The home was set on fire resulting in moderate damage to the structure. No one was home at the time of the incident.
A television meteorologist reported that an apparent thunderstorm microburst or downburst blew down several trees, up to 10, in the downtown Helen area and in adjacent areas along the Chattahoochee River. At least two power lines were down as well.
A television meteorologist reported penny-sized hail in downtown Helen.
The Troup County 911 Center reported that thunderstorm winds blew down between 10 and 20 trees across the city, along with a number of power poles. It appeared that there may have been a microburst or downburst associated with this thunderstorm. A tree fell on a vehicle as it was being driven into a driveway of a private residence. The tree also brought down power lines onto the vehicle as well. At another location on Ridgecrest Road, a tree fell on a vehicle occupied by three people. No injuries were reported with this incident. About one-tenth of the city was left without power during the thunderstorm.
The La Grange Daily News reported that lightning struck a home on Shoal Creek Drive. The $110,000 dollar home was completely destroyed. Another home was struck on Wright Street, causing major damage to the structure.
Fox 5 News of Atlanta reported that a lightning strike set a very large home on fire in the Alpharetta area. Much of the home was destroyed by the ensuing fire.
The Columbus Ledger-Inquirer reported that 19 soldiers were injured at the Fort Benning military reservation while outside doing training maneuvers. This information was confirmed with the Fort Benning military police.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, August 2005
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: 5475601, 5475596, 5475597, 5475515, 5475599, 5475600, 5475598.