Georgia, 2008

High Wind and Strong Wind in Georgia, October 24, 2008

October 24, 2008 · NWS FFC · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A deep upper trough was amplifying and sweeping through the eastern and southeastern United States. A strong cold front accompanied the upper trough.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$61,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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 FFC wrote it up.

A deep upper trough was amplifying and sweeping through the eastern and southeastern United States. A strong cold front accompanied the upper trough. While instability was minimal and no significant thunderstorms were observed with this system in north or central Georgia, a gravity wave developed on the back edge of a large area of light to moderate rain as it was moving into the eastern portions of central and south Georgia. This gravity wave resulted in strong to high winds with gusts of 40 to 50 mph, causing a number of trees to be blown down in several counties between Macon and Vidalia. Wind gusts likely reached or exceeded 60 mph in Bibb county, which experienced the most extensive damage during this event.

The following is a summary of events from the affected counties. The Macon Telegraph reported that very strong winds blew down numerous trees and dozens of power lines throughout the county. Windows were blown out of restaurant in downtown Macon and approximately 10,000 residents, mostly in the Bloomfield and north Macon area, were left without power for several hours following the event. There were also several reports of garage doors being blown in. Doppler radar base velocity data showed 50-60 knot winds affecting much of Bibb county on the back side of a rain area moving eastward through the county during this time frame. Wind damage was also reported from Baldwin, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Toombs, Toombs, and Wilkinson counties. Of these counties, the most significant damage was in Baldwin county, where several trees fell on power lines leaving approximately 6000 residents in the area from Milledgeville to Meriwether without power for several hours.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 strong wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Bibb

When
October 24, 12:00 PM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where
Bibb forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
32.807, -83.698 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Macon Telegraph reported that very strong winds blew down numerous trees and dozens of power lines throughout the county. At least 10,000 people in the Bloomfield and north Macon area left without power for several hours following the incident. In addition, a large window was shattered at the Acapulco Mexican Restaurant in downtown Macon was shattered by the high winds. At least seven other buildings in the downtown area sustained window damage from the high winds. There were also several reports of garage doors being blown in by the strong winds. Doppler radar base velocity data showed 50-60 knot winds affecting much of Bibb county on the back side of a rain area moving eastward through the county during this time frame.

Strong Wind, Twiggs

When
October 24, 1:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Twiggs forecast zone
Measured
43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.667, -83.427 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Twiggs County 911 Center reported that two trees and one power line were blown down in the southern portion of the county.

Strong Wind, Wilkinson

When
October 24, 1:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Wilkinson forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.802, -83.171 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Wilkinson County 911 Center reported that six trees were blown down, scattered about the county.

Strong Wind, Johnson

When
October 24, 1:00 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Johnson forecast zone
Measured
37 kt (43 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.702, -82.660 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Johnson County 911 Center reported that less than 10 trees were blown down, scattered about the county.

Strong Wind, Laurens

When
October 24, 2:00 PM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Laurens forecast zone
Measured
39 kt (45 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.464, -82.922 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Laurens County 911 Center reported that at least six trees were blown down, scattered about the county.

Strong Wind, Baldwin

When
October 24, 2:00 PM EST to 3:00 PM EST
Where
Baldwin forecast zone
Measured
43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
33.069, -83.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Baldwin County 911 Center reported that from six to nine trees were blown down, scattered about the county. Trees were down along Carr Station Road, Highway 243, J.F. Hall Road, and Highway 212 near Meriwether. The Union Recorder of Milledgeville reported that several of these trees fell on power lines, resulting in power outages to about 6000 customers in the area.

Strong Wind, Toombs

When
October 24, 2:30 PM EST to 3:30 PM EST
Where
Toombs forecast zone
Measured
36 kt (41 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.122, -82.331 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Toombs County 911 Center reported that at least three trees were blown down near the Toombs and Montgomery county lines.

Strong Wind, Montgomery

When
October 24, 2:30 PM EST to 3:30 PM EST
Where
Montgomery forecast zone
Measured
37 kt (43 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
County Official
Coordinates
32.173, -82.535 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Toombs Count 911 Center reported that at least three trees were blown down across Toombs and Montgomery counties.

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Georgia in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, October 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 137312, 137313, 137314, 137366, 137315, 137316, 137317, 137318.