19 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 20, 2:05 PM EST, 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 305 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2006 .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT) SURFACE BOUNDARY STRETCHING ACROSS TENNESSEE INTO NORTH CAROLINA WILL BE THE MAIN FOCUS FOR SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVER THE COUNTY WARNING AREA THROUGH THE SHORT TERM PERIOD. LATEST RUN OF MODELS SHOW BOUNDARY DIPPING INTO EXTREME NORTH GEORGIA OVERNIGHT...THEN MEANDERING SOMEWHERE ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA INTO MONDAY BEFORE DRIFTING SOUTH INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA LATE MONDAY/MONDAY NIGHT AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS SOUTHEAST FROM THE GREAT LAKES REGION. NORTHWEST UPPER FLOW TO CONTINUE WITH SERIES OF WEAK IMPULSES ROTATING THROUGH...ENHANCING THE THREAT FOR PRECIP ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA. WILL CONTINUE CHANCE POPS ACROSS THE NORTH TONIGHT (MAINLY DURING THE EVENING)...BEST CHANCE EXTREME NORTH. GENERALLY A REPEAT SUNDAY INTO MONDAY WITH BOUNDARY IN THE AREA...SLIGHT CHANCE TO CHANCE POPS NORTH WITH BEST CHANCE OVER EXTREME NORTHERN COUNTIES. .LONG TERM...(TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) LATEST GFS RUN SHOW FRONTAL BOUNDARY JUST SOUTH OF THE COUNTY WARNING AREA TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY WITH DEEPER MOISTURE OVER THE CAROLINAS AND SOUTH GEORGIA. MAY BE ABLE TO GO WITH A DRY FORECAST DURING THIS PERIOD...BUT MODELS HINT AT DEEPER MOISTURE STARTING TO SPREAD BACK INTO THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT/THURSDAY AS FRONTAL BOUNDARY BEGINS TO LIFT BACK TO THE NORTH. CHANCE OF PRECIP LOOKS TO CONTINUE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTH AS BOUNDARY MEANDERS ACROSS TENNESSEE INTO THE CAROLINAS. TEMPS DURING THE PERIOD LOOK TO BE AROUND OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATLANTA 66 88 65 84 / 20 20 20 10 ATHENS 63 90 64 87 / 20 20 20 20 GAINESVILLE 63 86 62 83 / 30 30 20 30 ROME 63 89 61 86 / 30 30 30 30 COLUMBUS 67 93 64 91 / 5 10 5 5 MACON 63 95 62 91 / 5 5 5 10 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL 6 PM EDT. WIND ADVISORY FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL 7 PM EDT. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1100 AM EDT SAT MAY 20 2006 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-210900- 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- 1100 AM EDT SAT MAY 20 2006 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. .SYNOPSIS... A STATIONARY FRONT WILL MEANDER AROUND THE FAR NORTH GEORGIA... SOUTH TENNESSEE AND WESTERN CAROLINA AREA THROUGH TONIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO. .PRIMARY HAZARDS... THE PRIMARY HAZARDS FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. THE MOST LIKELY LOCATION FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NORTH OF CARROLLTON TO ATHENS....LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. HOWEVER...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF NORTH GEORGIA THIS MORNING. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER PARTS OF NORTH GEORGIA SOUTH OF CARROLLTON TO ATHENS TONIGHT. .DISCUSSION... THE AIRMASS OVER FAR NORTH GEORGIA WILL BECOME UNSTABLE LATER TODAY WITH CAPES INCREASING IN THE 2000 TO 3000 RANGE WITH LIFTED INDICES OF MINUS 4 TO MINUS 6. THIS INSTABILITY ALONG WITH A STATIONARY FRONT IN THE AREA WILL GIVE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP OR MOVE INTO THE AREA FROM TENNESSEE AND NORTH ALABAMA. THE LIMITING FACTOR WILL BE MOISTURE WITH DEW POINTS SOUTH OF THE FRONT IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S.. .OTHER HAZARDS... GUSTY WINDS AND DRY FUEL MOISTURES WILL CREATE DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. TDP
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 251 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2006 GAZ008-009-201915- 251 PM EDT SAT MAY 20 2006 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS IN UNION AND TOWNS COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT... AT 248 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR HIAWASSEE TO NORTHWEST OF BLAIRSVILLE... MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AS THEY MOVE ACROSS UNION AND TOWNS COUNTIES. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE ALEXANDERS MILL...YOUNG HARRIS AND CHATUGE LAKE. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...WEATHER.GOV OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS ON THESE STORMS.
The Greer radar (KGSP), 132 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:10 UTC.
19 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
The Towns County 911 Center reported half-dollar-sized hail in the Scataway and Hightower Road area of northeast Towns county, near Titus. The hail was reported to have covered the ground.
The Towns County 911 Center reported that yet another hail storm was observed in the Scataway Road area west of Titus. Once again half-dollar-sized hail covered the ground.
Several reports of pennies to half-dollar-sized hail were received from the public as a severe thunderstorm produced a large swath of hail as it tracked from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the county. Half-dollar sized hail was reported west of Epworth and in the Mobile area, with quarter-sized hail in Blue Ridge and south of Blue Ridge near Dial and Margret. At some locations, the hail fell for up to 10 minutes at the same location, particularly in the areas north and west of Blue Ridge in the Gravley Gap and Epworth areas. A few tree limbs were also blown down in the Blue Ridge area.
Numerous reports of hail, ranging in size from pennies to quarters, were received from the public. The public reported that penny-sized hail covered the ground in the Alexanders Mill area along Georgia Highway 66 northwest of Young Harris. Penny-sized hail was reported in Young Harris, while quarter-sized hail was reported in Hiawassee. This was the second significant hail storm to affect Towns county within a one-hour period.
Personnel at the Cohutta Lodge at Fort Mountain State Park observed golf ball-sized hail.
Numerous reports of large hail were received from the Gilmer County Emergency Management Director and the public across Gilmer county as a thunderstorm with a large and long lasting swath of golf ball to baseball and orange-sized hail tracked from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the county. Extensive damage to homes and vehicles was observed across much of the county. The Gilmer county Emergency Management Director reported that at least 70 homes in the Cartecay and Ellijay areas sustained significant damage from the hail, along with at least 45 vehicles and two pieces of county fire fighting equipment. Quarter to golf ball-sized hail was reported from north of Ellijay to well east of Ellijay. Golf ball to baseball-sized hail fell across areas southeast of Ellijay near Cartecay. At one location in southeast Gilmer county where 2.75 inch hail was reported, the public reported that the large hail put at least 20 holes in the metal roof of a building, some the size of a human fist. Both the metal and styrofoam insulation were completely penetrated by the large hailstones. A three inch hole was discovered in the shingles and plywood decking on the nearby house. The hail storm tracked roughly along Georgia Highway 52 from northwest to southeast.
The public reported penny to quarter-sized hail in the Gaddistown and Suches areas in the far southern part of the county near the Lumpkin county line.
Personnel at the Amicalola Falls State Park in the far northern part of Dawson county observed penny to nickel-sized hail for up to 10 minutes.
The public reported nickel-sized hail in the extreme southwest part of the county near the Lumpkin county line near Piney Mountain and Wauka Mountain and penny-sized hail in the far south central part of the county near the Hall county line and the community of Leo.
Personnel at the Forrest Hill Mountain Resort reported that nickel to quarter-sized hail fell near the Dawson county line, two to three miles west of Nimblewill.
The Madison County 911 Center reported that lightning struck a tree and set it on fire.
The Madison County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.
Yet another large hail storm tracked across western and northern Fannin county. The public reported golf ball-sized hail north of Blue Ridge near Epworth, while penny-sized hail was reported further southeast in the Mineral Bluff and Morganton areas.
The public reported penny to quarter-sized hail across the north part of the county.
The public reported penny to quarter-sized hail across the north part of the county, including Cohutta and Varnell. One person reported that it hailed for up to 10 minutes in the Varnell area. Small limbs were also blown down.
The public reported penny-sized hail in the Eton and Chatsworth areas.
The public reported that 15 trees were either blown down, split, or had broken limbs in a wooded back yard at a private residence.
The public reported quarter to golf-ball sized hail. This was the third hail storm to affect the county during the same evening.
The public reported golf ball-sized hail three miles north of Jones Creek at a public store along U.S. Highway 76 west of Blairsville. The hail storm, albeit to a lesser degree, continued to move southward across the west central part of the county.
The public reported penny-sized hail along U.S. Highway 129 in the southeast part of the county.
The public reported that three trees were blown down along U.S. Highway 129.
The Lumpkin County 911 Center reported that four to five trees had been blown down across the north part of the county.
The Fannin County 911 Center reported quarter-sized hail.
The News Observer of Blue Ridge reported that lightning struck a two-story garage and apartment on East Second Street and set it on fire. The upper portion of the building was a complete loss.
The White County 911 Center reported that 10 trees were down near Unicoi State Park and in the Cleveland area. Small hail was also reported during the thunderstorm in Cleveland.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2006
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: 5513054, 5513055, 5513056, 5513117, 5513119, 5513118, 5513120, 5513122, 5513123, 5513121, 5513198, 5513124, 5513199, 5513200, 5513201, 5513202, 5513211, 5513206, 5513203, 5513204, 5513205, 5513207, 5513208, 5513209, 5513210.