primarily during the afternoon and evening hours. Many reports of quarter to golf ball-sized hail were received across primarily the northern half of the state during these 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 strong shortwave, embedded within northwest flow aloft, combined with a very unstable surface air mass to result in the development of numerous northwest to southeastward moving large hail producing severe thunderstorms...primarily during the afternoon and evening hours. Many reports of quarter to golf ball-sized hail were received across primarily the northern half of the state during these hours.
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 Apr 23, 4:30 AM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 530 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 .UPDATE... HAVE UPDATED ZONES TO PUT POPS IN EAST CENTRAL...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAD DIMINISHED IN INTENSITY BUT WERE SLIDING INTO THE EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE CWA. OTHERWISE NO CHANGES. (PREVIOUS) .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... WARM FRONT STRETCHED NW TO SE ACROSS ALABAMA AND GEORGIA THIS MORNING. LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED ALONG THIS BOUNDARY AND INCREASED IN INTENSITY DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS...ALTHOUGH NOT REACHING SEVERE CRITERIA. WITH SEVERAL OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES AND AFTERNOON HEATING...EXPECT WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER PARTS OF THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING. WITH MAX TEMPERATURES REACHING INTO THE 80S...THE AIR MASS WILL BE QUITE UNSTABLE AND A FEW STORMS MAY REACH SEVERE LIMITS. THE WARM FRONT SHOULD MOVE NORTH OF THE CWA BY TONIGHT AND HIGH PRESSURE WILL STRENGTHEN OVER THE SOUTHEAST THROUGH SATURDAY. HAVE KEPT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY DRY WITH VERY WARM AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES. .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... UPPER RIDGE REMAINS ANCHORED OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST INTO THE FIRST OF THE WEEK...KEEPING US GENERALLY DRY. A COUPLE OF SHORT WAVES MOVING INTO THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BY MID WEEK MAY FLATTEN THE RIDGE SOME...ALLOWING A FRONT TO SAG SOUTHWARD TOWARD GEORGIA. HAVE INCLUDED LOW POPS FOR TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. && .AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO PREVAIL THROUGH THIS FORECAST PERIOD... OUTSIDE OF AREAS OF CONVECTION. PATCHY IFR TO MVFR CEILINGS MAY CREEP INTO THE FAR SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF THE FORECAST AREA BETWEEN 10Z AND 14Z. WARM FRONT STRETCHING ACROSS THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA EARLY THIS MORNING HAS BEEN THE FOCUS FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED CONVECTION. THIS BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO LIFT NORTH AND DISSIPATE LEAVING MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA IN A MORE UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE THIS AFTERNOON. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED CONVECTION IS EXPECTED TO REDEVELOP ACROSS MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON...LINGERING INTO THE EVENING. WINDS WILL REMAIN GENERALLY SOUTHWEST OVER THE REGION TODAY...GRADUALLY SHIFTING OVER TO THE SOUTHEAST TONIGHT. WIND SPEEDS WILL REMAIN FAIRLY LIGHT...10 KTS OR LESS OUTSIDE OF CONVECTION. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 80 52 84 55 84 / 20 20 10 10 10 ATLANTA 80 60 84 61 82 / 20 20 10 10 10 BLAIRSVILLE 76 46 78 52 79 / 20 20 10 5 10 CARTERSVILLE 81 50 84 53 81 / 20 20 10 5 10 COLUMBUS 86 58 88 60 86 / 20 20 10 10 10 GAINESVILLE 79 56 81 58 82 / 20 20 10 5 10 MACON 86 56 88 57 86 / 20 20 10 5 10 ROME 84 53 88 56 86 / 20 20 10 5 10 PEACHTREE CITY 82 50 87 52 83 / 20 20 10 10 10 VIDALIA 84 54 88 57 86 / 10 10 5 5 10 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 41
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 530 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-240930- 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- 530 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING OVER MOST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .SYNOPSIS... A WARM FRONT STRETCHED FROM NORTHERN ALABAMA INTO NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL GEORGIA EARLY THIS MORNING. THIS WARM FRONT WILL LIFT SLOWLY NORTHEAST THROUGH THE DAY TODAY. .PRIMARY HAZARDS... THE PRIMARY HAZARDS FROM ANY THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. SOME HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE...MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .DISCUSSION... THE ATMOSPHERE SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT IS MODERATELY UNSTABLE. THIS AIRMASS WILL SPREAD NORTHEAST ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY. BY THIS AFTERNOON LIFTED INDICES WILL BE IN THE MINUS 3 TO MINUS 4 RANGE WITH CAPE BETWEEN 1000 AND 2000. THIS SHOULD ALLOW SOME STORMS TO APPROACH SEVERE LIMITS... BUT WITH LITTLE LOW OR MID LEVEL SHEAR PRESENT...WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 342 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 GAZ052-053-230815- 342 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN HEARD AND COWETA COUNTIES UNTIL 415 AM EDT... AT 341 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM POWERS CROSSROADS TO TEXAS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH. LIGHTNING DETECTION SYSTEMS INDICATE NUMEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ACROSS HEARD AND FAR WESTERN COWETA COUNTIES... INCLUDING AREAS AROUND POWERS CROSSROADS...HANDY...WARESVILLE... TEXAS...FRANKLIN...GLENN AND CORINTH. RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD STAY INDOORS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY. 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 357 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 GAZ066>069-079-230845- 357 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN TALBOT... UPSON...PIKE...TROUP AND MERIWETHER COUNTIES UNTIL 445 AM EDT... AT 355 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM WEST OF WARES CROSSROADS TO AROUND ROWLAND...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 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 TALBOT...UPSON...PIKE...TROUP AND MERIWETHER COUNTIES THROUGH 445 AM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE CREST...SUNNYSIDE...MOLENA...ROCKY MOUNT...WOOSTER...SAINT MARKS... IMLAC...ALVATON...WOODBURY...LUTHERSVILLE...LONE OAK...GAY... HARRISONVILLE...HILLCREST AND HOGANSVILLE. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL 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 439 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 GAZ052-066-067-069-078>081-093-094-230930- 439 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN TAYLOR... MACON...PEACH...CRAWFORD...HARRIS...TALBOT...UPSON...TROUP... MERIWETHER AND HEARD COUNTIES UNTIL 530 AM EDT... AT 436 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM LAGRANGE TO FICKLING MILL...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 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 TAYLOR...MACON...PEACH...CRAWFORD...HARRIS...TALBOT...UPSON... TROUP...MERIWETHER AND HEARD COUNTIES THROUGH 530 AM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE ROWLAND...MUSELLA... REDBONE CROSSROADS...HANNAHS MILL...ATWATER...CREST...SUNNYSIDE... SPREWELL BLUFF STATE PARK...LOGTOWN...YATESVILLE...THE ROCK... THOMASTON...ODESSADALE...RALEIGH AND HARRIS CITY. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL 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 607 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 GAZ069-231030- 607 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR HALF INCH HAIL IN UPSON COUNTY UNTIL 630 AM EDT... AT 601 AM EDT...A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SPOTTER REPORTED HALF INCH HAIL WITH A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CREST. THIS STORM WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HALF INCH HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AS IT MOVES ACROSS UPSON COUNTY THROUGH 630 AM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE ROWLAND...ATWATER...CREST...SUNNYSIDE... SPREWELL BLUFF STATE PARK...HANNAHS MILL...THOMASTON...REDBONE CROSSROADS...LOGTOWN AND SALEM. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL 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 627 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 GAZ109-231115- 627 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN DODGE COUNTY UNTIL 715 AM EDT... AT 624 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM SOUTHWEST OF DUBOIS...AND ANOTHER STRONG STORM FROM GODWINSVILLE TO CHAUNCEY...BOTH OF THESE STORMS WERE MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 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 DODGE COUNTY THROUGH 715 AM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE DUBOIS...GRESSTON...EASTMAN... GODWINSVILLE...CHAUNCEY...JAY BIRD SPRINGS AND ACHORD. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL 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 631 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 GAZ069-080-081-231115- 631 AM EDT THU APR 23 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR PEA SIZED HAIL IN TAYLOR...CRAWFORD AND UPSON COUNTIES UNTIL 715 AM EDT... AT 629 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM LOGTOWN TO CARSONVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 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 TAYLOR...CRAWFORD AND UPSON COUNTIES THROUGH 715 AM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE WESLEY CHURCH... CARSONVILLE...LOGTOWN...SALEM...FICKLING MILL...MUSELLA...HORNS... KNOXVILLE...ROBERTA...REYNOLDS...SANDY POINT...NAKOMIS...LEE POPE... FRIENDSHIP AND JACK BROWN ESTATES. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL 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.
The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:34 UTC.
30 hail, 3 lightning, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Dodge County 911 Center reported that a tree was blown down across a utility pole causing a power outage along Chester Highway in northeast Dodge county.
Several reports of half-dollar to golf ball-sized hail were received from the public in the northern part of Walker county near Chickamauga. Penny-sized hail was reported from the southern part of the county near LaFayette. Radar data supports that hail of similar size likely fell in a large swath from northwest to southeast across the county from High Point to Villanow.
The Paulding County Emergency Management Director and the public observed nickel to quarter-sized hail across the southeast part of the county from southeast of Dallas to along the Douglas-Paulding county line, south of Hiram.
The Walker County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down between Naomi and Villanow.
The public observed quarter-sized hail in northern Douglas county, north of Douglasville near the Douglas/Paulding county line, penny-sized hail in Douglasville, and golf ball-sized hail in the southeast part of the county near and southeast of Chapel Hill. The public reported that hail completely covered the ground in some areas. Significant damage to vehicles was reported from this area.
The public observed quarter-sized hail in the northwest part of the county west of Resaca and in Resaca, half-dollar-sized hail just north of Calhoun, and penny-sized hail in and just east of Calhoun. This was the first of two severe thunderstorms to track across Gordon county during the evening of April 23rd.
The public observed quarter-sized hail in east central Paulding county near New Hope southeast toward the Cobb county line.
The public observed nickel to quarter-sized hail in the Powder Springs area in the southwest part of the county. This was the second of four severe thunderstorms to impact Cobb county during the evening of April 23rd.
The public observed quarter-sized hail northwest of Atlanta near the Cobb county line.
The public observed quarter-sized hail in the College Park area. Earlier reports from the public indicated that golf ball-sized hail fell along the Douglas/Fulton county line southeast of Chapel Hill. This storm tracked with similar intensity from this point eastward across southern Fulton county to College Park. This was a separate thunderstorm from the one that was simultaneously producing hail further north in the county, northwest of Atlanta.
Several reports of penny, quarter, and golf ball-sized hail received from the Smyrna and Vinings area in eastern Cobb county. This was the second of four severe thunderstorms to impact Cobb county during the evening of April 23rd.
The public observed penny-sized hail near and southeast of Calhoun as yet a second severe thunderstorm tracked from northwest to southeast across the county.
The public observed golf ball-sized hail just south of Emerson and quarter-sized hail southeast of Cartersville. Radar data suggests that similar-sized hail likely fell from Cartersville to the southeast corner of the county near Lake Allatoona.
The public observed quarter to 1.50 inch diameter-sized hail in the far southeast corner of the county from just north and west of Mableton to around Six Flags. This thunderstorm was the same thunderstorm that earlier produced hail in southwest Cobb county near Powder Springs.
The Banks County 911 Center reported that penny-sized hail was observed at the Fire Station on Damascus Road northwest of Hollingsworth. Radar data suggests that similar hail likely fell with this thunderstorm further southwest to east of Lula.
The public observed penny-sized hail in the Tucker area and penny to golf ball-sized hail in the Stone Mountain area. Radar data suggests that large hail likely fell from Tucker to Stone Mountain and points just to the east.
Many reports of quarter sized-hail were received across northern Cobb county from Acworth to Kennesaw to Marietta and the northeast corner of the county. The public reported golf ball-sized hail northeast of Acworth near the Cherokee county line. The public estimated that wind gusts with the thunderstorm were near 50 mph, but no structural, tree, or power line damage was reported.
The 398-foot tall FAA control tower at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport sustained a lightning strike. Intense cloud-to-ground lightning during a severe thunderstorm had already resulted in a loss of power to much of the airport. Employees of the tower smelled smoke in the tower immediately following the strike, which required a brief evacuation of the tower. Ground operations were ceased for several minutes during this thunderstorm as a result, compounding an already bad situation at the world's busiest airport. In addition, penny to quarter-sized hail fell off-and-on from 806 pm EDT to 852 pm EDT, winds gusts to 42 knots, and nearly 1.5 inches of rain fall during the one-hour period from 8 pm to 9 pm EDT. Much of the metro Atlanta area reported power outages following these thunderstorms. Despite the lightning strike to the tower and its impact on airport operations, no significant damages were reported.
Several reports of large hail were received from southern Cherokee county. The public observed penny to quarter-sized hail from southwest Cherokee county approximately six miles west-northwest of Woodstock into the city of Woodstock. Golf ball-sized hail was observed by the public in the southeast corner of the county, or about five miles east-southeast of Woodstock. The Fulton County EMA Director was in the area at the time and estimated wind gusts of 60 mph. However, no tree, power line, or structural damage was reported.
Several reports of large hail were received from the public across Clayton county as a slow moving severe thunderstorm tracked from the northwest to the east central part of the county. The ASOS observer at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport observed penny to quarter-sized hail off and on for a period of 46 minutes. Golf ball-sized hail was reported from the public in Forest Park and Morrow, while penny to quarter-sized hail fell near Rex, east of Morrow, and northeast of Jonesboro as the storm began to weaken slightly as it approached the eastern border of the county. In addition, the wind gusted to 42 knots at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport during the hailstorm. Frequent to continuous cloud-to-ground lightning was also observed at the airport during the thunderstorm.
The public observed quarter-sized hail in the Roswell area. This was the third severe thunderstorm to affect Fulton county during the evening of April 23rd.
The public observed golf ball-sized hail just west of Snellville and half-dollar-sized hail in the Snellville area. Amateur radio operators reported quarter-sized hail in the Lilburn area.
The public observed 1.50 inch diameter sized-hail on the east side of Dacula, while the public observed penny-sized hail for a 20-minute period on the northwest side of and near Dacula. This hail occurred from a separate thunderstorm that developed more than 11 miles north of the one tracking across southern Gwinnett county from Lilburn to Snellville, which produced quarter to half-dollar-sized hail.
The public observed penny-sized hail in the Covington area. Radar data suggests that most of the hail fell on the east and southeast side of Covington.
The public observed quarter to golf ball-sized hail in the far western part of Barrow county, especially in the Auburn area. They reported that it hailed for up to 10 minutes in the Auburn area. The public also reported nickel-sized hail in the Bethlehem area.
The Gwinnett County 911 Center reported that lightning struck a home on Riverwalk Trail just off Annistown Road. The roof collapsed as as a result of the fire and the home was destroyed.
The public observed nickel to quarter-sized hail in the far northern part of the county near Bold Springs, while the public and the Walton County 911 Center observed nickel-sized hail further south in Monroe and south-southeastward toward the east side of Social Circle.
The Fulton County Emergency Management Director reported that golf ball-sized hail fell at Turner Field just southeast of Atlanta. The public observed penny-sized hail on the north side of Atlanta. This was the fourth severe thunderstorm to track across Fulton county during the evening of April 23rd.
A storm spotter observed quarter-sized hail just west of Stockbridge, while the public observed quarter-sized hail for up to 10 minutes in the Stockbridge area. Nickel-sized hail was observed on Interstate-75 near Flippen and penny-sized hail was observed by the public in the McDonough area.
The public observed nickel to quarter-sized hail from the northwest corner of the county near High Falls and Blount to just northeast of Forsyth.
The public observed golf ball-sized hail in the southwest part of Madison county. They reported that it hail for up to 12 minutes in this area.
The public observed penny-sized hail. Radar data suggests that this occurred in the northwest part of the county near Rutledge, not near Madison, where little to no radar returns were indicated.
The Putnam County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail near Eatonton. Radar data suggests that similar sized-hail or larger likely fell across the northwest part of the county.
The public observed penny-sized hail in the southwest part of Jones county, not far from Gray and Clinton. Time and location of data refined with radar data.
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office reported that lightning struck a small shed on Mealer Street and set it on fire.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, April 2009
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: 167516, 167661, 167671, 167662, 167672, 167675, 167685, 167666, 167812, 167814, 167667, 167808, 167804, 167810, 167817, 168094, 167818, 168093, 167806, 168092, 167819, 168101, 168107, 168175, 168156, 168100, 168119, 168147, 168196, 168216, 168137, 168168, 168212, 168219, 168241.