A rare and rather strong cold front for July was approaching the area from the northwest during the afternoon of the 11th. A strong short wave in northwest flow aloft, combined with the cold front and a warm, moist, unstable surface air mass resulted in widespread showers and thunderstorms across the area during the afternoon hours.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 FFC wrote it up.
A rare and rather strong cold front for July was approaching the area from the northwest during the afternoon of the 11th. A strong short wave in northwest flow aloft, combined with the cold front and a warm, moist, unstable surface air mass resulted in widespread showers and thunderstorms across the area during the afternoon hours. Abundant cloud cover prevented most of these from becoming severe. However, as the storms moved into the southern portion of the forecast area, isolated storms produced damaging downburst winds. Cloud-to-ground lightning was also an issue with some of the thunderstorms.
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 Jul 11, 4:30 AM EST, 8 hours 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 530 AM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... LARGE SCALE PATTERN QUITE UNUSUAL FOR JULY. LARGE BROAD TROUGH STRETCHES FROM THE NORTHERN PLAINS ACROSS THE MIDWEST AND OHIO VALLEY INTO NEW ENGLAND. WESTERLIES ON SOUTHERN FRINGE OF TROUGH HAVE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE GULF COAST. WELL DEFINED SHORT WAVE TROUGH EVIDENT ON MODEL H5 ANALYSIS AND WV IMAGERY ACROSS CENTRAL KY/TN AND MS/AL BORDER. H5 WAVE STILL PROGGED BY WRF AND GFS TO MOVE QUICKLY EAST TODAY REACHING GA BY 18Z AND NC/SC PIEDMONT TO SOUTH GA BY 00Z. SFC TROUGH ALSO PROGGED TO SLIP INTO NORTH GA TODAY WITH UNUSUALLY DEEP 1007MB SFC LOW OVER NC BY 00Z. MORNING PRECIP TRENDS ON RADAR AND SAT SHOW VIGOROUS CONVECTION OVER NRN MS AND LESS SO ACROSS WESTCENTRAL AL WHERE RICH LOW TO MID 70S SFC DEWPOINTS FEEDING NORTHWARD INTO STORMS. EXPECT THESE STORMS TO MAINTAIN OR EVEN INCREASE THROUGH DAYBREAK BEFORE WEAKENING AND DECREASING IN COVERAGE. HAVE BACKED OFF FROM LIKELY/CATEGORICAL POPS IN NW GA ZONES TO 50-60 THIS MORNING. COVERAGE OF TSRA SHOULD INCREASE QUICKLY ACROSS CWA AFTER 16Z... PERHAPS EARLIER. CAPE PROGGED TO INCREASE TO 1000-2000 J/KG DEPENDING ON WHICH MODEL BELIEVED. WRF HAS MORE WIDESPREAD SHRA/TSRA...COOLER TEMPS THUS SUPPRESSING INSTABILITY WHILE GFS KEEPS HIGHER 1700-2000 J/KG CAPE ACROSS MUCH OF CWA. LOW AND MID LEVEL VERTICAL WIND SHEAR NOT BAD AT ALL FOR JULY WITH 30KT FLOW AT H5 AND 35-40KT AT H85/H7. WE MAY ACTUALLY SEE WIND GUSTS AT THE SFC IN THE WARM SECTOR :) WITH THESE PARAMETERS...ISOLATED SVR STORMS SHOULD BE EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF CWA. ONLY THING THAT COULD SAVE US IS IF WE GET A BIG INCREASE IN SHRA IN ADVANCE OF SHORT WAVE THIS MORNING TO LIMIT INSTABILITY. DAMAGING WIND PRIMARY THREAT WITH LARGE HAIL ALSO LIKELY. FLOODING SHOULD NOT BE A BIG THREAT WITH FAST MOVING STORMS...SIMILAR TO YESTERDAY. BY LATE EVENING...TSRA SHOULD BE MOVING OUT OF THE AREA OR EVEN SOONER IF MODELS ARE TO BE BELIEVED. SUBSIDENCE BEHIND WAVE SHOULD SUPPRESS SHRA/TSRA AFTER MIDNIGHT AS WELL AS THURS AND THURS NIGHT. FAVORED BIAS-ADJUSTED MAV FOR TEMPS EXCEPT AT MCN AND RMG WHERE MAV STINKS FOR MAX TEMPS. .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... LARGE SCALE TROUGH STILL PROGGED BY WRF/GFS/ECMWF OVER EASTERN HALF OF CONUS THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEKEND. ANOTHER WAVE PROGGED TO MOVE IN NW FLOW INTO THE LOWER AND MID MS VALLEY EARLY FRIDAY AND INCREASE SHRA/TSRA ACROSS SE STATES LATE FRI AND SAT. BY SUN...ATLANTIC RIDGE ALOFT FINALLY PUSHES BACK NORTH AND TAKES WESTERLIES FAR NORTH AGAIN. SIGH. BACK TO SUMMER. GFS DOES INDICATE AMPLE MOISTURE IN PLACE WITH WEAK SW FLOW AROUND PERIPHERY OF ATLANTIC RIDGE. SHOULD EASILY SEE SCT TSRA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. SNELSON && .AVIATION... LOOKS LIKE THE BIGGEST THREATS TODAY WILL BE THE AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND GUSTY WINDS. SHOWERS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN MOVING INTO NW GA AHEAD OF APPROACHING SHORTWAVE. THIS SHORTWAVE IS RATHER VIGOROUS AND IS EXPECTED TO BRING SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH SOME ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS TO THE AREA TODAY. WINDS MAINLY OUT OF THE WEST TODAY SLOWLY INCREASING INTO THE 15-20KT RANGE WITH HIGHER GUST BY 18Z. LOW CIGS AND VSBY SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE THIS MORNING LIKE THE PAST FEW DAYS. .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 87 67 94 66 93 / 70 30 10 5 30 ATLANTA 86 69 92 68 91 / 60 20 10 5 30 BLAIRSVILLE 80 60 87 60 85 / 80 20 10 10 30 CARTERSVILLE 85 63 89 61 89 / 60 20 10 10 30 COLUMBUS 89 72 94 70 92 / 60 20 10 5 30 GAINESVILLE 84 67 91 66 88 / 70 20 10 10 30 MACON 91 71 95 69 94 / 60 30 10 10 30 ROME 86 65 92 63 90 / 60 20 10 10 30 PEACHTREE CITY 86 65 92 61 89 / 60 20 10 5 30 VIDALIA 92 73 94 73 94 / 50 30 20 10 40 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 13/01
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1145 AM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-121145- BALDWIN-BANKS-BARROW-BARTOW-BIBB-BLECKLEY-BUTTS-CARROLL-CATOOSA- CHATTAHOOCHEE-CHATTOOGA-CHEROKEE-CLARKE-CLAYTON-COBB-COWETA- CRAWFORD-CRISP-DADE-DAWSON-DEKALB-DODGE-DOOLY-DOUGLAS-EMANUEL- FANNIN-FAYETTE-FLOYD-FORSYTH-GILMER-GLASCOCK-GORDON-GREENE- GWINNETT-HALL-HANCOCK-HARALSON-HARRIS-HEARD-HENRY-HOUSTON-JACKSON- JASPER-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-JONES-LAMAR-LAURENS-LUMPKIN-MACON- MADISON-MARION-MERIWETHER-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-MORGAN-MURRAY- MUSCOGEE-NEWTON-NORTH FULTON-OCONEE-OGLETHORPE-PAULDING-PEACH- PICKENS-PIKE-POLK-PULASKI-PUTNAM-ROCKDALE-SCHLEY-SOUTH FULTON- SPALDING-STEWART-SUMTER-TALBOT-TALIAFERRO-TAYLOR-TELFAIR-TOOMBS- TOWNS-TREUTLEN-TROUP-TWIGGS-UNION-UPSON-WALKER-WALTON-WARREN- WASHINGTON-WEBSTER-WHEELER-WHITE-WHITFIELD-WILCOX-WILKES- WILKINSON- 1145 AM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .SYNOPSIS... AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE GREAT LAKES IS SENDING A SHORTWAVE SOUTHEASTWARD INTO GEORGIA. A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM REMAINS IN PLACE FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN WESTWARD ACROSS FLORIDA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO. .PRIMARY HAZARDS... THE PRIMARY HAZARDS FROM THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. LARGE HAIL AND HEAVY RAINFALL ARE ALSO RISKS. ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT ALL OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DISCUSSION... AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DEEPENS OVER THE OHIO VALLEY...AN IMPRESSIVE SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE ACROSS TENNESSEE AND NORTH ALABAMA INTO NORTH GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON...AND WILL PUSH INTO SOUTH CAROLINA AND CENTRAL GEORGIA BY LATE THIS EVENING. THIS SHORTWAVE WILL PROVIDE ENOUGH DYNAMICS...TO COMBINE WITH RICH TROPICAL MOISTURE...DEWPOINTS IN THE LOW TO MID 70S ACROSS THE STATE...TO PRODUCE NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ALTHOUGH ONGOING MORNING CONVECTION AHEAD OF THE SHORTWAVE MAY TEMPORARILY SUBDUE SURFACE HEATING...AFTERNOON SUN WILL ALLOW CAPES TO EXCEED 2000 AND LIFTED INDICES TO APPROACH -4. IN ADDITION...30 TO 40 KNOT WINDS AT 850 MB WILL PROVIDE AMPLE VERTICAL WIND SHEAR TO SUPPORT DAMAGING DOWNBURSTS IN SOME STORMS. ALTHOUGH THE FREEZING LEVEL IS REASONABLY HIGH...HAIL IS STILL POSSIBLE IN THE STRONGEST STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED...MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST INFORMATION BETWEEN NOW AND 10PM FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVATION ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 112 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 GAZ033-034-045-046-111745- 112 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN ROCKDALE... DEKALB...GWINNETT AND FULTON COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM EDT... AT 111 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTH DECATUR...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AS THEY MOVE ACROSS ROCKDALE...DEKALB...GWINNETT AND FULTON COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE PIEDMONT PARK...SCOTTDALE...NORTH DRUID HILLS...NORTH DECATUR...NORTH ATLANTA...DRUID HILLS...DORAVILLE...DECATUR...CHAMBLEE...AVONDALE ESTATES...PINE LAKE...TUCKER...CLARKSTON...LILBURN AND STONE MOUNTAIN. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS UP TO 57 MPH ARE EXPECTED...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF PENNIES...OR SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 116 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 GAZ069>071-111745- 116 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR PEA SIZED HAIL IN UPSON...MONROE AND LAMAR COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM EDT... AT 111 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER YATESVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH ARE LIKELY AS THESE STORMS MOVE ACROSS UPSON...MONROE AND LAMAR COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM EDT. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA-SIZED HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH....AND FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE PIEDMONT...LOG TOWN...YATESVILLE...THE ROCK...CULLODEN...RUSSELLVILLE... BRENT...FORSYTH...BOLINGBROKE AND JULIETTE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 130 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 GAZ059-060-111815- 130 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 45 MPH WINDS IN PUTNAM AND JASPER COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM EDT... AT 128 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER ADGATEVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AS THEY MOVE ACROSS PUTNAM AND JASPER COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE HILLSBORO...ADGATEVILLE... STANFORDVILLE AND WILLARD. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS UP TO 57 MPH ARE EXPECTED...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF PENNIES...OR SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 137 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 GAZ048-111800- 137 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS IN NEWTON COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM EDT... AT 134 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER PORTERDALE...MOVING EAST AT 15 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 NEWTON COUNTY THROUGH 200 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE ALMON...PORTERDALE...OXFORD...COVINGTON... ALCOVY AND MANSFIELD. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS UP TO 57 MPH ARE EXPECTED...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF PENNIES...OR SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 140 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 GAZ082-111815- 140 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS IN BIBB COUNTY UNTIL 215 PM EDT... AT 134 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER LIZELLA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 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 BIBB COUNTY THROUGH 215 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE SKIPPERTON...LIZELLA...PAYNE...MACON... DURESVILLE AND CROSS KEYS. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS UP TO 57 MPH ARE EXPECTED...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF PENNIES...OR SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 153 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 GAZ106-111830- 153 PM EDT WED JUL 11 2007 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR PEA SIZED HAIL IN CRISP COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM EDT... AT 151 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER GEORGIA VETERANS STATE PARK...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH ARE LIKELY AS THESE STORMS MOVE ACROSS CRISP COUNTY THROUGH 230 PM EDT. THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PEA-SIZED HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH....AND FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE RAINES...CONEY...GEORGIA VETERANS STATE PARK...WENONA...CORDELE...TREMONT AND HATLEY.
The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:57 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
The Morgan County Emergency Management Director reported that four trees were down in the far northern part of the county in the High Shoals area. Some of the downed trees were blocking roads.
The Morgan County Emergency Management Director reported that two homes were struck by lightning and set on fire.
The Union Recorder of Milledgeville reported that several trees and power lines were down in the area. Several trees were down on roads and power lines. The public reported that thunderstorm winds blew down two large pine trees causing damage to a fence and destroying a new trampoline about six miles west-southwest of Milledgeville. Approximately 1500 people in the Milledgeville area were without power during the height of the storm.
The Sumter County 911 Center reported that two trees were down as a result of lightning strikes. The trees were down on Hathaway and Bradley Roads near U.S. Highway 280.
The Crisp County 911 Center reported that a portion of a roof of a tire business was blown off. Part of the roof landed on a nearby power line causing it to come down. In addition, 10 to 15 trees were blown down around the city and a couple of other power lines were also down as a result of downed trees.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, July 2007
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: 48990, 48988, 48995, 48994, 48986.