Thunderstorm Wind, Habersham
- When
- August 2, 4:19 PM EST
- Where
- Habersham County, Cornelia
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.520, -83.520
Trees were blown down in the Cornelia area.
Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, August 2, 2008
A cold front triggered scattered severe storms over extreme northeast Georgia during the afternoon and evening hours.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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.
What happened
The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.
A cold front triggered scattered severe storms over extreme northeast Georgia during the afternoon and evening hours.
What forecasters said that day
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 Aug 2, 1:21 PM EST, 2 hours 58 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 2, 1:21 PM EST, 2 hours 58 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 221 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL SAG SOUTH ACROSS THE AREA FROM THE NORTH TODAY AND STALL OUT OVER CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA BEFORE DISSIPATING. AN UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL THEN BUILD IN FROM THE WEST EARLY IN THE WEEK. ANOTHER WEAK COLD FRONT WILL ARRIVE FROM THE NORTH LATE THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 2 PM...THUNDERSTORMS WERE JUST BEGINNING TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE NC MTNS AND FOOTHILLS. PERHAPS IT IS THE ABUNDANT AMOUNT OF MID LEVEL DRY AIR PRESENT...BUT STORMS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE SLOW TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER OTHER THAN UP OVER FAR NRN NC WHERE EXISTING COLD POOLS HAVE BEEN DRIVING CONVECTION ALL DAY. A GOOD AMOUNT OF TSTM COVERAGE STILL SEEMS LIKELY OVER THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS PER THE INCREASING PVA AND LLVL MASS CONVERGENCE. I/LL WAIT AS LONG AS I CAN ON THE AFTERNOON ISSUANCE...AS I MAY HAVE TO BACK DOWN FROM MY LOW END LIKELY POPS ALONG THE LEE. ANY STORMS THAT EXHIBIT A MODERATE AMOUNT OF 60+ DBZ RETURNS AOA 20KFT WILL HAVE A HIGH CHANCE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS. A RATHER DIFFUSE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE FA TONIGHT AND PRETTY MUCH DISSOLVE ON SUNDAY. MID LEVEL WARMING WILL CAP THE ATMOSPHERE MUCH OF THE DAY...AND BETTER MOISTURE LOOKS TO POOL DOWN ALONG THE COAST. THEREFORE...CONVECTIVE CHANCES WILL BE SMALL DURING THE DAY. HOWEVER...AFTERNOON MOISTURE CONVERGENCE OVER THE HIGH TERRAIN COULD STILL TRIGGER A FEW SHRA/TSTMS AND I HAVE INCLUDED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS OVER THE MTNS AND FOOTHILLS. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AT 110 PM EDT SATURDAY...THE MAIN STORY FOR THE SHORT TERM PERIOD IS THE HEAT...AS MID LVL RIDGING HOLDS ACRS THE SOUTHEAST STATES. MONDAY WILL START OUT A LITTLE DRIER THANKS TO SOME DOWNSLOPE FLOW AND RELATIVELY DEEP MIXING (DEWPTS IN THE MID 60S). AMONG THE NAM/GFS/SREF/ECM...THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT ON WHERE A SFC TROF WILL SET UP BETWEEN A HIGH OVR THE OH VLY AND A BERMUDA HIGH TO THE SE. THE TROF WILL LIKELY BE A FOCUS FOR SOME CONVECTION...AS AREA TO THE S WILL BE UNSTABLE...WHILE RELATIVELY STABLE AIR WILL FILTER IN FROM THE N. FOR NOW...I JUST ADDED A SLGT CHC POP FOR THE HIGH TERRAIN AND ALONG THE SRN FRINGE OF THE CWFA. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE QUITE HOT...AS H85 THERMAL RIDGE AXIS REMAINS ACROSS THE CAROLINAS AND MID ATLC. GUIDANCE SEEMS TO BE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT ON WEAK RETURN FLOW STARTING LATE MONDAY...ALLOWING DEWPTS TO SLOLY CREEP UPWDS. MAX TEMPS LOOK TO BE IN THE MID TO UPR 90S BOTH DAYS ACRS THE PIEDMONT. CURRENT GRIDS HAVE HEAT INDEX VALUES IN THE 100-105 RANGE TUESDAY AND 103-108 RANGE WEDNESDAY. THIS LINES UP WELL WITH HPC MEDIUM RANGE HEAT INDEX GUIDANCE. SO WILL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT IN THE HWO. POPS WILL STILL BE MEAGER BOTH DAYS...WITH SLGT CHC IN THE MTNS TUES AFTN...AND ACRS ENTIRE CWFA WEDNESDAY AFTN. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 135 PM SATURDAY...ANOTHER UPR LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEEPEN AND SLOWLY PROGRESS EWD ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION THURSDAY THRU SATURDAY...ALLOWING FOR A L/W TROF ACRS THE EASTERN STATES. A COLD FRONT SHUD ENTER OUR CWFA SOMETIME ON THURSDAY...THEN STALL OUT IN OUR VICINITY THRU SATURDAY...AS UPR TROF PERSISTS. OVERALL GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT. THEREFORE...I BLENDED INHERITED GRIDS WITH LATEST HPC GUIDANCE (RESULTING IN NO BIG CHANGES). WITH THIS PATTERN...THERE SHUD BE A SLOW COOLING TREND IN TEMPS TO NEAR NORMAL BY NEXT WEEKEND...WITH TYPICAL DIURNAL CHC POPS EACH AFTN. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... A FEW TSTMS HAVE MOVED INTO THE NC MTNS. ACTIVITY SHOULD QUICKLY INCREASE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. HAVE INCLUDED VCTS AT NC MTN AND FOOTHILL TAF SITES AS WELL AS KGSP AND KGMU. THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WILL LIKELY PRODUCE A LOT OF WIND...SOMETHING TO WATCH OUT FOR AT LOCAL AIRFIELDS. WINDS WILL GENERALLY BE OUT OF THE SW THIS AFTERNOON...SAVE FOR KAVL AND KHKY WHICH ARE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE LEE TROUGH. INCLUDED MVFR FOG AT MANY SITES TONIGHT PER THE HIGHER MOS PROBABILITIES. CHANCES WILL BE MUCH BETTER FOR FOG AT ANY SITES THAT SEE SOME RAIN. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT OUT OF THE NORTH TOMORROW...THOUGH THEY WILL PROBABLY TURN BACK OUT OF THE SOUTH LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. OUTLOOK...BELOW NORMAL CHANCES OF RAINFALL WILL LAST FROM SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. A LITTLE FOG AND HAZE IS LIKELY IN THE MORNINGS...ESPECIALLY AT KAVL. CHANCES OF TSTMS WILL IMPROVE ON WEDNESDAY. && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. NC...NONE. SC...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...PAT NEAR TERM...MCAVOY SHORT TERM...ARK LONG TERM...ARK AVIATION...MCAVOY
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 2, 2:34 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 334 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 GAZ010-017-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-SCZ001>003-031945- RABUN-HABERSHAM-AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE- GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA- HENDERSON-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS- 334 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING HAIL TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ501-503-505-507-509-031945- CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS- RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS- 334 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 792 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. GAZ018-026-028-029-SCZ004>014-019-031945- STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS- GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE- LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 334 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING HAIL TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR PARTICULARLY STRONG MICROBURSTS...WITH ISOLATED WIND GUSTS OVER 80 MPH POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED DURING THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...AS HIGH TEMPERATURES REACH THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 90S WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508-510-031945- ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON- MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-GREATER CALDWELL-GREATER BURKE- EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK- 334 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 792 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED DURING THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK...AS HIGH TEMPERATURES REACH THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 90S WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ARK
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 1:54 PM EST, 2 hours 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 254 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 NCZ508-510-021930- EASTERN POLK-GREATER RUTHERFORD- 254 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL POLK AND SOUTHERN RUTHERFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 330 PM EDT... AT 250 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAKE ADGER...OR 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF COLUMBUS...MOVING EAST AT 31 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... CLIFFSIDE BY 330 PM EDT. WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LANE
Special weather statement, Aug 2, 2:24 PM EST, 1 hour 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 324 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 NCZ036-022030- IREDELL- 324 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT IREDELL COUNTY THROUGH 430 PM EDT... AT 321 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LONE HICKORY TO 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LOOKOUT SHOALS LAKE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 17 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... HARMONY BY 335 PM EDT. STATESVILLE BY 340 PM EDT. TROUTMAN BY 350 PM EDT. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. LANE
Local storm report, Aug 2, 2:29 PM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
329 PM EDT SAT AUG 02 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0242 PM HAIL 6 NNW TAYLORSVILLE 36.00N 81.22W
08/02/2008 E0.75 INCH ALEXANDER NC PUBLIC
&&
MCAVOYSpecial weather statement, Aug 2, 2:38 PM EST, 1 hour 41 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 338 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 NCZ056-022030- CATAWBA- 338 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CATAWBA COUNTY THROUGH 430 PM EDT... AT 334 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ST. STEPHENS...OR 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF HICKORY...MOVING EAST AT 16 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... CONOVER BY 355 PM EDT. CLAREMONT BY 405 PM EDT. SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LANE
Local storm report, Aug 2, 3:21 PM EST, 58 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
421 PM EDT SAT AUG 02 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0409 PM HAIL 2 S TROUTMAN 35.68N 80.89W
08/02/2008 E0.75 INCH IREDELL NC TRAINED SPOTTER
PENNY HAIL REPORTED JUST SOUTH OF TROUTMAN.
&&
JPTSpecial weather statement, Aug 2, 3:37 PM EST, 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 437 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 NCZ068-508-022115- CLEVELAND-GREATER RUTHERFORD- 437 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CLEVELAND AND EASTERN RUTHERFORD COUNTIES THROUGH 515 PM EDT... AT 435 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES WEST OF POLKVILLE...OR 13 MILES NORTHWEST OF SHELBY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... POLKVILLE BY 445 PM EDT. SHELBY BY 510 PM EDT. SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LANE
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
3 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Franklin
- When
- August 2, 5:15 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, 1.3 mi NNW of Franklin Spgs
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 34.297, -83.160
Hail reported at Victoria Bryant State Park.
Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin
- When
- August 2, 5:20 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, Royston
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 34.280, -83.120
Trees were blown down.
Hail, Franklin
- When
- August 2, 5:20 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, Royston
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 34.280, -83.120
Thunderstorm Wind, Elbert
- When
- August 2, 5:45 PM EST
- Where
- Elbert County, Bowman
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- County Official
- Coordinates
- 34.200, -83.030
Multiple power lines were blown down in and around Bowman. Also, a large tree fell on a home on Winston Dr and another large tree was blown over on Church St.
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, August 2 to 3, 2008
- Damaging Winds and High Wind in Colorado, August 2, 2008
- Rip Current in Indiana, August 2, 2008
- Excessive Heat in Louisiana, August 2, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, August 2, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Louisiana, August 2 to 3, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Wind in North Dakota, August 2, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, August 2, 2008
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, August 2, 2008
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Vermont, August 2, 2008
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Mississippi, August 2 to 3, 2008
- Flash Flooding and Hail in North Carolina, August 2, 2008
More
Every storm in Georgia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, August 2008
Sources
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: 131741, 131747, 131749, 131750, 131811.