Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Georgia, July 6 to 7, 2005

The Harris County 911 Center reported that several trees were down scattered throughout the county, including one tree that was blown down in downtown Hamilton.

The Troup County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.

The Heard County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees were down between Glenn and Aubrey, along Glenn Road, and along Georgia Highway 34 between Glenn Road and Georgia Highway 219. The West Georgia Beacon of Hogansville reported that a number of trees and power lines were down throughout the county, but the worst damage was along Georgia Highway 34 in the southern part of the county between Glenn and Franklin. The public reported that some of the worst damage was in the Hillabahatchee Creek area southwest of Franklin. In this area, there was also a carport that was destroyed when a tree fell on the structure.

Georgia Power reported that a power line was down near Brooklyn.

The Meriwether County 911 Center reported several trees down along Harry Hardy Road. Funnel clouds were also sighted in Durand and Greenville.

A National Weather Service damage survey team confirmed that a weak F0 tornado briefly touched down one mile south of Rocky Mount in northern Meriwether county. The tornado had a path length of one-quarter mile and a path width of 100 yards. The tornado blew down a number of trees in the area, causing damage to two homes and one vehicle. Several outbuildings were also damaged by the tornado.

The Coweta County 911 Center reported that around five trees were blown down scattered between Senoia and Moreland near U.S. Highway 29.

A former National Weather Service employee reported that many trees were blown down two miles east of Pine Mountain. A home in this area was also damaged by the downed trees. The Harris county 911 center reported that several trees were down between Hamilton and Pine Mountain.

The Fayette County 911 Center reported that about 9 trees were down between Peachtree City and Fayetteville.

The Troup County 911 Center reported that a couple of trees were blown down at a private residence. No damage was reported to the adjacent home.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that lightning struck Kirkland's Store and blew a six inch by two foot wide hole in the roof.

An amateur radio operator reported penny to nickel-sized hail just east of Peachtree City.

The Meriwether County 911 Center reported that several, six to nine, trees were down five miles north of Greenville.

The Clayton County 911 Center reported that at least six trees were blown down in different areas scattered about the county. Some power lines were also down as a result.

The Fulton County 911 Center reported that several power lines were down in the south end of the county. One tree was also down, but the main problem was downed power lines.

The public and the Pike County 911 Center reported that strong thunderstorm winds blew down several trees, 10 or more, in the area between Concord and Hollonville on Pryer and River Roads. The public reported that two outbuildings were completely moved from their foundation.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service of Peachtree City concluded that an F0 tornado had very briefly touched down along Georgia Highway 85, three miles north of Haralson. Damage was minor and consisted entirely of downed trees. The tornado path length was 100 yards and the path width was 50 yards.

The Douglas Neighbor reported that torrential rainfall from thunderstorms associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy resulted in a sinkhole on Tyson Road in Villa Rica. A truck drove into the sinkhole and was trapped there for several hours before it was removed.

The Fayette County Emergency Management Director reported that flash flooding occurred in some areas of Peachtree City in particular. Rainfall of five inches or more was common across much of the county between 7 pm and 10 pm EDT, especially the western and northern sections. Several homes were flooded in Peachtree City as well as in unincorporated rural areas of Fayette county between Peachtree City and Fayetteville. An 18-year old male was swept to his death in a flooded drainage ditch in Peachtree City near the Tinsley Mills apartments just east of the intersection of Georgia Highways 54 and 74. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that several motorists became stranded on some streets in Peachtree City and Fayetteville as roads became flooded and impassable.

The Fayette County Emergency Management Director reported that heavy rain caused the roof of a rotunda on a home to collapse causing extensive damage to the structure. A gas station canopy on Georgia Highway 54 also collapsed because of the weight from heavy rain. Heavy rain also resulted in a sewage spill from a manhole in the Willowbend area near Peachtree City's city hall.

An off duty National Weather Service employee from Peachtree City, Georgia observed that numerous trees were twisted off in the general area around the Flint River and Georgia Highway 16.

A National Weather Service damage survey team determined that an F0 tornado touched down approximately two miles southeast of Fayetteville near Hilo Road and traveled on the ground approximately one mile to the north, terminating near Jeff Davis in southeast Fayetteville. Hundreds of trees were blown down, twisted, and uprooted along the path of the tornado, many causing damage to dozens of homes and vehicles. Trees fell through the roof of several homes. A couple of businesses in southeast Fayetteville reported extensive damage, with the roof blown off one building on Highway 85 Parkway. The tornado combined with other thunderstorm wind events in the county during the evening resulted in up to 50 percent of the county being without power for several hours during the evening. The tornado path length was determined to be one mile and the path width one-quarter mile.

The Fayette County Emergency Management Director, the public, and amateur radio operators reported that several trees were down in areas outside the confirmed tornado touchdown area. Trees were down near the Harp Nursery between Hilo Road and Woolsey and other trees were down on Georgia Highway 54, some on homes. In the Woolsey area, a chicken coop was destroyed and lawn furniture was tossed about.

The Coweta County Public Works Department reported that a paved county road in the eastern portion of the county was significantly damaged by flash flooding associated with Tropical Storm Cindy. When Hurricane Dennis came along on the 11th, the road was then washed out. The Times/Herald of Newnan reported that Georgia Highway 16 was closed when water washed out a culvert on the road. Water rose to a 1 1/2 feet deep in some buildings in the eastern and southern portion of the county.

Rainfall of four to six inches fell across much of the Atlanta Metropolitan area between 6 pm and 11 pm EDT. Official National Weather Service river gages showed that Peachtree Creek in north Atlanta reached its flood stage of 17 feet at 1020 pm EDT and Proctor Creek in southwest Atlanta reached its flood stage of 11 feet at 923 pm EDT. Peachtree Creek crested at 19.1 feet, over two feet above flood stage, at 115 am EDT July 7th. Proctor creek also rose above its flood stage and crested at 13.4 feet at 1015 pm EDT, which is over two feet above flood stage. Flooding of nearby roads and property occurs when these stages are reached, especially the 19 foot flood stage on Peachtree Creek which impacts several roads, a golf course, and several homes in the area. Repeated rounds of thunderstorms between 7 pm and 10 pm resulted in additional flooding of several streets in the Atlanta area. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport recorded 5.14 inches of rain for the day, the sixth largest one-day rainfall total recorded at the location.

The Rockdale Citizen reported that several roads were washed out in the county. Rainfall across the county ranged from two to four inches during the evening hours.

The Clayton County 911 Center reported that several trees, probably more than a dozen, were down across the county.

A National Weather Service damage survey confirmed an F2 tornado, the strongest tornado of the evening associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy, touched down just a few hundred yards south of McDonough Street at the Atlanta Motor Speedway then traveled north-northwest passing just east of Lovejoy in Clayton county, then across the Edgar Blalock Raw Water Reservation, at which point it turned northwest and finally passed into Clayton county before lifting near Jodeco Road. The tornado center line crossed the western bank of the race track then across Tara Field just west of the race track. Damages to the Atlanta Motor Speedway, including several condominiums at the facility, and the Tara Field Airport just west of the Atlanta Motor Speedway were estimated at $40,000,000. Eleven planes and five vintage helicopters were heavily damaged at Tara Field. Nearby a Chevron auto service station was destroyed. Damage between these facilities and the Clayton county line was confined mainly to trees and power lines. The tornado had a path length of nine miles tracking across western Henry and a small portion of eastern Clayton county. The tornado initially had a path width of 1/2 mile, then narrowed as it moved north-northwest. It was determined that the tornado had winds of 120 mph. Electrical power was out in much of the county throughout the night as a result of the damage in the area. All together during the evening, 229 homes in the county had minor damage from thunderstorm winds and/or tornadoes, with 61 homes suffering major damage. In addition, the steeple at Kelly Chapel fell to the ground.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia concluded that another tornado had touched down in Henry county. This time, an F0 tornado touched down approximatly one mile west of McDonough near Interstate-75 and travelled north for approximately 1/2 mile causing moderate structural damage to a church and several homes in the area. A number of trees and power lines were also blown down in the area. The path width of the tornado was about 200 yards.

The DeKalb County 911 Center reported that several rounds of thunderstorms had dumped between four and six inches of rain across much of the county. Significant street flooding was reported in the Decatur area. Flooding was reported along both the north and south forks of Peachtree Creek in DeKalb county near the Fulton county border. The North Fork of Peachtree Creek crested at 13.4 feet at 1230 am EDT, which is 1.4 feet above flood stage. The South Fork of Peachtree Creek crested at 13.9 feet at 1230 am EDT, which is 1.9 feet above flood stage. Both branches of Peachtree Creek are in the western portion of the county as they flow into Peachtree Creek which continues into Fulton county. The main branch of Peachtree Creek rose to 19 feet at 115 am EDT, well above its flood stage of 17 feet. Several roadways, a golf course, and low lands along these creeks are flooded in these situations, but no serious damage resulted from this flooding.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed a third tornado touch down in Henry county. This tornado was rated an F1. The tornado travelled on the ground for a distance of approximately seven miles terminating near the South River and the Rockdale county line. The tornado travelled largely through rural areas and as such damage was confined mainly to trees and power lines in the area. The path width for the tornado was approximately 300 yards wide.

The public reported that many trees were down, several causing damage to homes, along Walt Stevens Road. Amateur radio operators also reported damage to several cars from fallen trees at a Golden Corral at the intersection of Interstate-75 and Georgia Highway 138.

This tornado is a continuation of the F2 tornado that began near the Atlanta Motor Speedway just west of Hampton in Henry county, then continued north-northwest passing just east of Lovejoy in Clayton county, then across the Edgar Blalock Raw Water Reservation, at which point it turned northwest and finally entered Clayton county just west of the Edgar Blalock Raw Water Reservation. The tornado traveled approximately one mile to the north-northwest in Clayton county, finally lifting near Jodeco Road southeast of Lake Spivey. The tornado had weakened and narrowed by the time it entered Clayton county. However, it was still rated as an F1 with a path width of about 100 yards. The Clayton County Emergency Management Director reported that 50 homes in the Kade Cove subdivision of Lovejoy sustained damage, 20 of which had major structural damage. Many trees and power lines were down in the area. Power was also out to much of the county.

The Cherokee Tribune reported that several trees were blown down in scattered areas throughout the county.

The Rockdale County 911 Center reported that an extensive number of trees were down across the county. Several trees were down on homes in Conyers, causing damage to the structures. Much of the damage was done in the Lost Valley subdivision. The Rockdale Citizen of Conyers reported extensive wind damage throughout the county.

The Rockdale Citizen of Conyers reported that two structures were struck and set on fire by lightning. Damage was minor to moderate.

An amateur radio operator reported that numerous large trees were blown down around the Burt Adams Boy Scout Camp off Georgia Highway 36 about four miles south of Covington. Power was also out throughout the area. The Newton County 911 Center reported that a number of trees and power lines were down throughout the county, but the worst damage was also in the southern part of the county from just north of Stewart to the Boy Scout Camp south of Covington. The Newton Citizen reported that there was extensive damage to trees and at least a dozen homes around the county. The worst damage occurred on Flat Shoals Road where several homes sustained damage, with one home on the street sustaining extensive damage when a large tree fell on the home. At Little Springs Farm, extensive damage was reported with two vehicles destroyed, three others damaged, and damage to three homes and six barns on the property. At least 20,000 residents of the county were left without power during the storm.

The Rockdale Citizen reported that torrential rainfall resulted in at least two roads being washed out. Portions of Flat Shoals Road and McDaniel's Mill Road were washed out.

The Gwinnett Daily-Post of Lawrenceville reported that heavy rain, associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy, caused a sinkhole to form under a driveway at a private residence. The driveway subsequently collapsed.

The Madison County 911 Center reported flash flooding in several parts of the county. Several roads were washed out, including Danielsville Road in Comer at Georgia Highway 98, Jay Davis Road in the eastern portion of the county, and Peach Orchard Road in the central portion of the county. Repeated rounds of very heavy tropical rain associated with the remnants of tropical storm Cindy tracked across the county starting just before midnight and ending around 7 am EDT. Rainfall averaged four to six inches across much of the county during this period.

The Athens Banner-Herald and the public reported that thunderstorm winds blew down a large swath of trees in the Smithonia area and between there and Georgia Highway 22. Two barns were destroyed and two homes sustained minor, mostly roof, damage. Some of the downed trees were uprooted while others were twisted and sheared or snapped off.