This is a continuation of the high/strong wind event which began late on January 31st. S.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 episode as NWS FFC wrote it up.
This is a continuation of the high/strong wind event which began late on January 31st.
A deep, negatively-tilted upper trough was rotating rapidly through the southeast U.S. from the afternoon of January 31st into the early morning hours of February 1st. A very strong low-level jet of 60-70 mph or greater was noted just above the surface. Surface winds of 45 to 60 mph accompanied this system , particularly as a broad area of showers swept across the area during the evening hours and shortly after midnight. These winds resulted in a number of trees and power lines being blown down, especially across north Georgia counties. In advance of this system during the afternoon of the 31st, strong easterly winds across north Georgia, much of which was located in a cold air wedge, caused additional wind damage.
Damage during the early morning hours of the 1st occurred mainly in Dade, Chattooga, Whitfield, Murray, Towns, Dawson, and Lumpkin counties. Dade, Chattooga, and Murray counties bore the brunt of the damage, where in each county a dozen or more trees and/or power lines were blown down.
In addition, a narrow line of thunderstorms was embedded within a large area of heavy rain accompanying the upper-level system. This was the same line of thunderstorms that caused wind damage in Columbus during the evening of the 31st. This line of thunderstorms caused lightning damage in Coweta and Butts county just before and just after midnight, respectively.
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 Jan 31, 9:20 PM EST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 920 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 .UPDATE... WARM FRONT CURRENTLY ALONG THE STATE LINE BETWEEN THE FL PANHANDLE AND GA/AL IS BEING WATCHED CLOSELY THIS EVENING FOR ANY EVIDENCE OF A NORTHWARD SURGE. WEDGE APPEARS TO BE STRONGLY IN PLACE ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GA THIS EVENING...AND EVEN IF WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING CONVECTIVE LINE...IT SHOULD REMAIN SOUTH OF STEWART COUNTY GA. LOCAL STORM REPORTS OUT OF BMX AND MOB SUGGEST SOME DAMAGING WIND AND SMALL HAIL POTENTIAL WITH THE LINE...THOUGH THE POTENTIAL SHOULD BE LESSENING AS THE STORMS BECOME MORE ELEVATED ABOVE OUR WEDGE LAYER ALTHOUGH AT LEAST FROM A RADAR PRESENTATION...THE LINE OF STORMS STILL APPEARS TO BE SOLID. UP IN THE NORTH...HIGHER ELEVATION LOCATIONS ARE ALREADY SEEING THE EFFECTS OF THE 50 KT WINDS THAT THE FFC 00Z SOUNDING SHOWED AT 4000 FT. HIGHER ELEVATION LOCATIONS ABOVE THE INFLUENCE OF THE INVERSION HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR THE STRONGEST WIND GUSTS. REPORTS HAVE COME IN FROM PICKENS COUNTY OF TREES DOWN...EXPECT MORE OF THESE AS LARGE AREA OF STRATIFORM RAIN APPROACHES FROM ALABAMA. NO CHANGES TO THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME. RRH && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... LOW PRESSURE OVER LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON PULLING NORTHEAST INTO OHIO VALLEY BY FRIDAY MORNING. STRONG HIGH OVER THE MID ATLANTIC STATES HAS CWA UNDER INFLUENCE OF WEDGE WITH WINDS EAST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. DEW POINTS IN TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS AT THIS TIME OVER NORTHEAST GA. WARM FRONT JUST PUSHING INTO THE GULF COAST AREA...AND LOOKS LIKE THIS FRONT MAY STRUGGLE TO GET INTO SOUTH GA. RAIN SHOULD INCREASE OVER THE CWA THIS EVENING. WITH SUCH LOW DEW POINTS...RAIN MAY POSSIBLY MIX WITH SLEET IN THE NORTHEAST THIS EVENING. OTHERWISE...STRONG LOW LEVEL JET SHOULD BRING WARMING ACROSS THE CWA TONIGHT WITH A GRADUAL MODIFICATION OF DEW POINTS AND AM NOT EXPECTING ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH FREEZING PRECIPITATION. WITH WEDGING FIRMLY IN PLACE...BEST INSTABILITY SHOULD REMAIN IN SOUTH GEORGIA TONIGHT. HAVE MENTIONED THUNDER ONLY SOUTHERN FEW COUNTIES OF THE CWA. WINDS WILL BE STRONG AND WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED FOR POSSIBLE WIND ADVISORY. FRONT ENTERING NORTHWEST GEORGIA BEFORE SUNRISE FRIDAY AND PUSHING ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA DURING THE DAY. DRY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SHORT TERM. WITH EASTERLY WINDS AND RAIN...TEMPERATURES WERE TRICKY. GENERALLY TRIED TO KEEP DIURNAL RANGE SMALL FOR THE OVERNIGHT. TOOK A BLEND OF FWC/MAV FOR REST OF THE SHORT TERM. .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... MADE NO CHANGES TO EXTENDED PERIOD. UPPER FLOW BECOMING SOUTHWESTERLY BY MONDAY WITH CHANCE OF RAIN RETURNING FOR MONDAY. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE MOVING THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY SHOULD BRING A FRONT ACROSS THE CWA ON WEDNESDAY...AND DRY AGAIN FOR THURSDAY. && .AVIATION... RAIN FALLING INTO INITIALLY COOL DRY AIR AT THE SURFACE WILL CAUSE CEILINGS TO DROP BELOW 3 THOUSAND FEET EARLY THIS EVENING. AS DRY BULB AND DEWPOINT TEMPERATURES CLOSE...CEILINGS WILL EVENTUALLY DIP TO BELOW 1 THOUSAND FEET...PROBABLY BY 03Z OR SO. THEN THE MAIN BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BEGIN TO PUSH ACROSS FROM THE WEST AND CONDITIONS WILL VARY...BUT IFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL. WINDS JUST OFF THE SURFACE WILL INCREASE BY MIDNIGHT AND LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR IS ANTICIPATED. LOW CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WILL IMPROVE RAPIDLY WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE SURFACE FRONT BETWEEN 10Z AND 14Z. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 36 50 28 63 33 / 100 40 5 5 5 ATLANTA 39 47 30 62 39 / 100 10 5 5 5 BLAIRSVILLE 36 43 24 60 28 / 100 20 5 5 10 CARTERSVILLE 38 51 25 61 27 / 100 10 5 5 5 COLUMBUS 45 55 30 65 37 / 90 10 5 5 10 GAINESVILLE 37 48 30 61 37 / 100 30 5 10 5 MACON 48 55 27 64 33 / 90 20 5 5 10 ROME 38 48 26 64 30 / 100 10 5 5 10 PEACHTREE CITY 39 49 25 63 26 / 100 10 5 5 5 VIDALIA 48 61 30 66 30 / 80 50 0 5 5 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BALDWIN...BANKS...BARROW...BARTOW...BIBB...BLECKLEY...BUTTS...CARROLL ...CHATTAHOOCHEE...CHEROKEE...CLARKE...CLAYTON...COBB...COWETA...CRAW FORD...CRISP...DEKALB...DODGE...DOOLY...DOUGLAS...EMANUEL...FAYETTE.. .FLOYD...FORSYTH...GLASCOCK...GREENE...GWINNETT...HALL...HANCOCK...HA RALSON...HARRIS...HEARD...HENRY...HOUSTON...JACKSON...JASPER...JEFFER SON...JOHNSON...JONES...LAMAR...LAURENS...MACON...MADISON...MARION... MERIWETHER...MONROE...MONTGOMERY...MORGAN...MUSCOGEE...NEWTON...NORTH FULTON...OCONEE...OGLETHORPE...PAULDING...PEACH...PIKE...POLK...PULAS KI...PUTNAM...ROCKDALE...SCHLEY...SOUTH FULTON...SPALDING...STEWART...SUMTER...TALBOT...TALIAFERRO...TAYLOR.. .TELFAIR...TOOMBS...TREUTLEN...TROUP...TWIGGS...UPSON...WALTON...WARR EN...WASHINGTON...WEBSTER...WHEELER...WILCOX...WILKES...WILKINSON. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 6 AM EST FRIDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: CATOOSA...CHATTOOGA...DADE...DAWSON...FANNIN...GILMER...GORDON... LUMPKIN...MURRAY...PICKENS...TOWNS...UNION...WALKER...WHITE... WHITFIELD. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 720 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-011100- 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- 720 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT STRONG WINDS WITH GUSTS POSSIBLY HIGHER THAN 50 MPH POSSIBLE IN EXTREME NORTH GEORGIA. STRONG WINDS ELSEWHERE ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA COULD PRODUCE GUSTS TO 35 MPH. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY WILL MOVE INTO KENTUCKY AND EASTERN TENNESSEE BY DAYBREAK FRIDAY. A STRONG COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL ARRIVE IN WESTERN GEORGIA JUST PRIOR TO DAYBREAK. .PRIMARY HAZARDS... THE PRIMARY HAZARD WILL BE STRONG WINDS IN THE EXTREME NORTHERN COUNTIES...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARRIVING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT LATE TONIGHT MAY ALSO PRODUCE STRONG WINDS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. .DISCUSSION... THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS PRODUCING STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE IN NORTH GEORGIA WHERE A WEDGE OF COLD AIR REMAINS TRAPPED. AS THE LOW DRAWS CLOSER TONIGHT...WIND SPEEDS WILL INCREASE. LOCATIONS AT ELEVATION...LIKE ON RIDGES AND IN THE MOUNTAINS WILL BE CLOSEST TO THE STRONG WIND JET...AND COULD SEE WIND SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER...WHICH WOULD LIKE CAUSE DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES. THE AREA OF THE STATE MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE WINDS THAT STRONG ARE ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM SUMMERVILLE TO DAWSONVILLE TO CLEVELAND. THE THREAT OF STRONG DAMAGING WIND IN THAT AREA WILL PERSIST FOR MUCH OF THE NIGHT. THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT ARE EXPECTED TO BE ELEVATED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF GEORGIA WHERE THE COLD AIR REMAINS TRAPPED. THIS SHOULD LIMIT THE STRENGTH OF THE WIND THAT MIGHT REACH THE GROUND. HOWEVER...THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS AT THE SURFACE IN THOSE PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA THAT ARE IN WARMER AIR THAT IS PUSHING IN FROM THE SOUTH. THE AREA WITH THE HIGHEST CHANCE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORM-RELATED WINDS ARE ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM COLUMBUS TO MACON TO LOUISVILLE. THE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD ACCOMPANY A BAND OF HEAVY RAIN AND ARRIVE IN THE WESTERNMOST COUNTIES AROUND 10PM TO 11PM. THIS BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN PUSH ON TO THE EAST DURING THE NIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE PRIOR TO DAYBREAK FRIDAY ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTION OF CENTRAL GEORGIA. STRONG...GUSTY WINDS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA EARLY FRIDAY. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATE TUESDAY. OTHERWISE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED FOR THE PERIOD SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...OR FOR WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS SOUTH OF A COLUMBUS...TO MACON...TO LOUISVILLE LINE ARE REQUESTED TO SEND REPORTS OF DAMAGE FROM THUNDERSTORM WINDS TONIGHT. SPOTTERS AND EMA OFFICIALS ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM SUMMERVILLE TO DAWSONVILLE TO CLEVELAND ARE ALSO REQUESTED TO SEND REPORTS OF WIND DAMAGE TONIGHT. CALL TOLL FREE 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6. 15
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
933 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0825 PM ICE STORM SUCHES 34.69N 84.02W
01/31/2008 UNION GA EMERGENCY MNGR
FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATING ON TREES AND GRAVEL ROADS.
&&
SKONARIKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1018 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 GAZ078-089-090-102-010400- 1018 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR 35 MPH WINDS IN STEWART... CHATTAHOOCHEE...MUSCOGEE AND HARRIS COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 PM EST... AT 912 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 19 MILES WEST OF MULBERRY GROVE TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FLORENCE MARINA STATE PARK...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 35 MPH...HEAVY RAIN...AND OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE LIKELY AS THESE STORMS MOVE ACROSS STEWART...CHATTAHOOCHEE... MUSCOGEE AND HARRIS COUNTIES THROUGH 1100 PM EST. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE FLORENCE MARINA STATE PARK...OMAHA...PROVIDENCE CANYON STATE PARK...FORT BENNING...FORT BENNING SOUTH...COLUMBUS...MULBERRY GROVE...JAMESTOWN...FORTSON... WHITESVILLE...WESTVILLE...TROUTMAN...LUMPKIN...MIDLAND AND LOUVALE.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1046 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 GAZ066-067-079-091-010415- 1046 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR 40 MPH WINDS IN MARION...TALBOT... TROUP AND MERIWETHER COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 PM EST... AT 1042 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM LA GRANGE TO 12 MILES WEST OF BRANTLEY... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH ARE LIKELY AS THESE STORMS MOVE ACROSS MARION... TALBOT...TROUP AND MERIWETHER COUNTIES THROUGH 1115 PM EST. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE LA GRANGE...LOUISE... STOVALL...MOUNTVILLE...BOX SPRINGS...BRANTLEY...WARM SPRINGS... HOGANSVILLE...PRIMROSE...JUNIPER...DURAND...LONE OAK...SAINT MARKS... RALEIGH AND HARRIS CITY.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1116 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1030 PM TSTM WND DMG COLUMBUS 32.47N 84.97W
01/31/2008 MUSCOGEE GA PUBLIC
A 45-50 FT 16 INCH DIAMETER TREE DOWN ACROSS A DRIVEWAY
CRUSHING A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE.
&&
HANDELPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1118 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1029 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 N COLUMBUS 32.56N 84.97W
01/31/2008 MUSCOGEE GA PUBLIC
SHINGLES BLOWN OFF HOME IN GREEN ISLAND HILLS.
&&
SNELSONPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1156 PM EST THU JAN 31 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1030 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 N COLUMBUS 32.51N 84.97W
01/31/2008 MUSCOGEE GA LAW ENFORCEMENT
MUSCOGEE COUNTY 911 CENTER RECEIVED REPORTS BETWEEN 1030
AND 1045 PM OF AT LEAST 5 TREES DOWN ON THE NORTH END OF
THE COUNTY. NUMEROUS POWERLINES ALSO DOWN.
&&
HANDELThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 84 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:07 UTC.
4 strong wind, 2 high wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
The Chattooga County 911 Center reported that more than 10 trees and several power lines were blown down around the county.
The Dade County 911 Center reported that 12-13 trees and several power lines were blown down across the county.
The public reported that lightning struck a home causing damage to the structure. A portion of an outside wall was ripped apart and wires in the electrical circuit breaker box were charred. However, the structure did not sustain any fire or smoke damage.
The Murray County 911 Center reported that more than 20 trees and several power lines were down across the county.
This is a continuation of the high/strong wind event which began late on January 31st.
A deep, negatively-tilted upper trough was rotating rapidly through the southeast U.S. from the afternoon of January 31st into the early morning hours of February 1st. A very strong low-level jet of 60-70 mph or greater was noted just above the surface. Surface winds of 45 to 60 mph accompanied this system , particularly as a broad area of showers swept across the area during the evening hours and shortly after midnight. These winds resulted in a number of trees and power lines being blown down, especially across north Georgia counties. In advance of this system during the afternoon of the 31st, strong easterly winds across north Georgia, much of which was located in a cold air wedge, caused additional wind damage.
Damage during the early morning hours of the 1st occurred mainly in Dade, Chattooga, Whitfield, Murray, Towns, Dawson, and Lumpkin counties. Dade, Chattooga, and Murray counties bore the brunt of the damage, where in each county a dozen or more trees and/or power lines were blown down.
The Whitfield County 911 Center reported that a few trees were blown down around the county.
The Gordon County 911 Center reported that a gust of wind, a result of a strong cold front that had moved through the area earlier in the day, caused a man to be blown off a building in Calhoun as he was working on placing a piece of tin on the roof. The resulting injuries were not serious.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, February 2008
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: 76894, 76895, 82438, 76897, 76893, 76896, 82859.