A series of strong southern stream short waves were embedded within a large scale mean trough located across the central into the northeast United States. Moist Pacific and Gulf flow was evident across the southern and southeastern states in advance of these disturbances.
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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 series of strong southern stream short waves were embedded within a large scale mean trough located across the central into the northeast United States. Moist Pacific and Gulf flow was evident across the southern and southeastern states in advance of these disturbances. This led to multiple rounds of showers and a thunderstorms during the period of the 13th through the 15th until a strong Arctic cold front swept through the entire eastern two-thirds of the U.S., pushing the showers and thunderstorms well south of the area. The heavy rain on totally saturated ground from recent months of much above normal rainfall led to renewed flooding and flash flooding, especially across central Georgia, where two to four inches of rain was common during this period.
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 Dec 13, 5:15 AM EST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR AVIATION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 515 AM EST SUN DEC 13 2009 .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH MONDAY/... OVERRUNNING ENDS TODAY WITH THE DEEP MOISTURE EXITING THE AREA. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR DIMINISHING RAIN CHANCES...ESPECIALLY FOR N GA... WITH AREAS OF DRIZZLE AND FOG FOR TONIGHT. THE FLOOD WATCH WILL BE CANCELLED. SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL GA WITH SOME MUCAPE AND THE PASSAGE OF A SHORT WAVE. PRECIP CHANCES INCREASING AGAIN MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO N GA MONDAY NIGHT WITH GENERALLY SMALL CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS. GFS/NAM INCONSISTENT ON WHERE TO PLACE THE HIGHEST POPS AND GREATEST RAINFALL AMOUNTS MONDAY/MONDAY NIGHT. NAM PUTS HIGHER RAINFALL OVER N GA AND THE GFS OVER CENTRAL GA. GFS AND NAM MOS DIFFER ON THE HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY FROM 2 TO 13 DEGREES. GENERALLY FAVORING THE MET MOS OR SOME KIND OF BLEND. THESE DIFFERENCES CONTINUING FOR MONDAYS HIGHS AS WELL AND AM GENERALLY TAKING SOME KIND OF BLEND. OVERALL CONFIDENCE IS LOW TO MODERATE. .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... PASSING COLD FRONT AND MOIST UPPER FLOW WITH SOME SHORT WAVE DYNAMICS WILL GIVE POTENTIAL FOR LIKELY SHOWERS AND A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. FORECAST LOOKING DRY WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. GFS AND THE EUROPEAN DIFFER GREATLY FOR FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY WITH THE EUROPEAN BRINGING SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE AND PRECIP BACK TO THE AREA. FOR NOW WILL LEAVE THIS PERIOD DRY BUT MAJOR CHANGES OF SOME SORT CAN BE EXPECTED. .AVIATION... EXPECT IFR/LIFR CIGS TO DOMINATE THROUGH MUCH OF THE PERIOD. VSBYS GENERALLY HOLDING IN THE 1 TO 3 MILE RANGE IN RAIN/DRIZZLE MOST PLACES...EXCEPT MAY BRIEFLY IMPROVE INTO MVFR RANGE OR BETTER ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA WITH WARM FRONT LURKING JUST SOUTH OF THAT AREA. STILL THINK THUNDER THREAT LITTLE TO NONE ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA IN COOL/MORE STABLE AIR. HOWEVER...ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA AS WE GET INTO THE AFTERNOON AND WARM FRONT GETS A BIT CLOSER...WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE A LIGHTNING STRIKE OR TWO...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EXTREME SOUTHERN REACHES OF THE CWA. WINDS SHOULD REMAIN EAST THIS MORNING...BUT MODELS STILL HINTING AT A SHIFT TO THE SOUTHWEST/WEST THIS AFTERNOON. WITH WARM FRONT PROGGED INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND INDICATIONS OF WEDGE WEAKENING A TAD... WILL KEEP PREVIOUS TAF FORECAST TREND WITH WINDS SHIFTING MORE WESTERLY AFTER 18Z. SPEEDS IN THE 5 TO 10 KT RANGE STILL LOOK OKAY FOR MUCH OF THE PERIOD. 49 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 43 40 60 51 64 / 80 5 40 60 60 ATLANTA 44 44 63 56 65 / 80 5 50 70 70 BLAIRSVILLE 50 36 60 47 58 / 90 5 30 70 60 CARTERSVILLE 46 41 61 51 62 / 90 5 40 70 60 COLUMBUS 55 53 70 61 68 / 80 30 60 70 70 GAINESVILLE 44 44 57 52 60 / 90 5 40 60 60 MACON 55 50 69 60 71 / 80 20 60 60 70 ROME 47 41 62 52 61 / 80 0 30 70 60 PEACHTREE CITY 47 42 64 54 64 / 80 20 50 70 70 VIDALIA 58 54 72 61 72 / 80 20 40 60 60 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && BDL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 528 AM EST SUN DEC 13 2009 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-141030- 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- 528 AM EST SUN DEC 13 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. .SYNOPSIS... A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED NEAR THE LOUISIANA COAST WILL DRIFT NORTHEAST...PULLING A WARM FRONT INTO SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY...WHILE HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST CONTINUES TO WEDGE DOWN INTO THE APPALACHIANS. .PRIMARY HAZARDS... THE PRIMARY HAZARD WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THE BEST CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...GENERALLY IN THE AREA SOUTH OF A LAGRANGE TO WARRENTON LINE. .DISCUSSION... SOME INCREASE IN INSTABILITIES IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AS A WARM FRONT DRIFTS NORTHWARD INTO SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA. WITH CAPES INCREASING INTO 200 TO 500 RANGE...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME POSSIBLE. HOWEVER...ANY THUNDERSTORM THAT DEVELOPS IS EXPECTED TO STAY BELOW SEVERE LIMITS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY AND TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT.
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:09 UTC.
19 flood, 3 flash flood, 1 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A Walker County Sheriff's Deputy observed penny to nickel-sized hail on the south side of LaFayette.
The Crisp County Emergency Management Director reported flash flooding in the Cedar Creek Subdivision. Water rose as high as the floor boards of six to seven homes, but did not actually enter the house. However, the crawl spaces of the homes were flooded. Several roads in the area were under water as well. Pateville Road was closed because of flood waters from the northern branch of Swift Creek. The Cedar Creek subdivision is located approximately one mile southwest of the intersection of Interstate-75 and the U.S. Highway 280. Monetary damage to roads and property was estimated to be at least $50,000.
The Crisp County Emergency Management Director reported that flash flooding evolved into several hours of general flooding in the Cedar Creek subdivision, just south of Cordele. The flooding was a result of continued high water from Swift Creek and Cedar Creek in the area. No additional monetary damage was incurred during this time period.
The USGS stream gage on Turkey Creek near Byromville reached its flood stage of 10.0 feet at 4 pm EST. The river remained in flood for several hours. In general, minor flooding was observed adjacent to the creek. However, a portion of Robertson Road suffered erosion damage. Monetary damage to the road and debris removal near the creek was estimated to be $2000.
The Sutmer County Sheriff reported that a large tree fell on a home on Oglethorpe Street in Americus causing damage to the home and trapping the three residents inside. The occupants were rescued without injury.
The Sumter County Emergency Management Director relayed several reports of funnel clouds in the vicinity of Church Street in Americus. No tornado touchdown was observed however. A tornado warning was in effect for the area at the time and Doppler radar clearly indicated a mesocyclone in the vicinity at the time.
The Crisp County Emergency Management Director reported flash flooding in the Cedar Lake subdivision. The flooding was a result of overflow from Cedar Lake. Several homes in the subdivision were threatened by flood waters. The water rose up into the crawl spaces of several homes in this neighborhood. Several of the residential streets were flooded and impassable. Monetary damage to roads and property was estimated to be $50,000.
The Dodge County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Eight roads across the county were flooded and closed. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Laurens County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Montgomery County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. A few dirt roads were washed out. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Wheeler County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Two dirt roads, one near Higgston and another near Alston, were closed because of high water. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Treutlen County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Dooly County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. A few roads were closed because of high water. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Chattahoochee County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Macon County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Marion County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Schley County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Stewart County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Sumter County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Webster County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Crisp County Emergency Management Director reported that 12 to 15 roads across the county were flooded, impassable, and closed. This was down from the 25 roads which were closed earlier in the evening. Water was still overflowing the Cedar Lake dam and threatening several homes in the Cedar Lake Subdivision. Monetary damage from this portion of the flooding was estimated to be $10,000.
The Sumter County Emergency Management Director reported that several ponds were over flowing their dams from heavy rain across the county. Three dams in particular were affected, including McMath Mill Pond Dam, Murphy Mill Dam, and Lake Collins. These ponds were 110 to 120 acres large. These were as a result of excessive rain runoff from Wolf Creek, Mill Creek, and Parkers Mill Creek, respectively. Fortunately, none of the dams actually failed. Two people were rescued from their vehicle from flood waters from Mill Creek on Murphy Mill Road. Several dirt roads across the county were washed out, but none of the paved roads suffered damage. No injuries were reported. Monetary damage was confined to debris removal in the area.
The Pulaski County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks. Russ Road near Wesley Chapel Road was flooded and closed. Monetary damage was confined to debris removal in these areas.
The Telfair County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of some roads and property across the county, mostly adjacent to overflowing creeks and streams. A few roads were closed because of high water. Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal in these areas.
The Toombs County Emergency Management Director reported minor flooding of Swift Creek along Davis Road northeast of Vidalia. A building adjacent to the creek suffered damage from flooding. Some minor debris removal, adjacent to the creek, was also required.
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, December 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: 207846, 207847, 207848, 207849, 207851, 207854, 207886, 209269, 209271, 209272, 209275, 209276, 209298, 209299, 209301, 209306, 209310, 209313, 209315, 209316, 209511, 207914, 209273, 209274, 209277.