Tornadoes and Flooding in Georgia, January 6 to 11, 2009

Name: Tornadoes and Flooding in Georgia, January 6 to 11, 2009
Start: 2009-01-06T12:20
End: 2009-01-11T10:15
Location: Georgia

January 6 to 11, 2009 · NWS FFC · 17 events in 14 counties and zones

S. S.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $116,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

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 full latitude upper trough was sweeping from the central U.S. into the eastern U.S. A strong cold front accompanied the system. An unseasonably warm, moist air mass was present across Georgia in advance of this system. Widespread moderate to heavy rain tracked repeatedly across the northern 1/4th of the state throughout much of the day in advance of the main weather system. Toward evening, a line of strong thunderstorms entered the northwest part of the state, spawning a brief F0 tornado in Chattooga county. While the line of thunderstorms continued to progress across the state, it weakened through the evening, but intensified after midnight as it moved across west central and central Georgia spawning another brief tornado in Monroe county during the early morning hours. Other isolated strong thunderstorms caused wind damage. During the afternoon of the 7th, strong northwest winds spread across the region behind the cold front, blowing down several trees in north Georgia, injuring one person in Whitfield county in northwest Georgia.

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 Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 6, 10:42 AM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 6, 10:42 AM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1042 AM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

.UPDATE...

WILL SEND UPDATE TO TWEAK TEMPERATURES...ESPECIALLY IN NORTH
GEORGIA WHERE PRECIP IS KEEPING TEMPS DOWN A LITTLE. WILL ALSO
UPDATE POPS...INCREASING THEM NORTH AND DECREASING THEM A TAD
SOUTH. SOME MINOR TWEAKS TO HOURLY TEMPS AND DEWPOINTS TO KEEP
THEM ON TRACK...AND WILL ALSO SEND AN UPDATE TO THE FLOOD WATCH TO
REFRESH WORDING. ALREADY SEEING PROBLEMS ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA WITH
THE RAINFALL THIS MORNING...AND DESPITE THE BRIEF LULL THERE IS
MORE TO COME.

HAVE KEPT ONLY SLIGHT CHANCE THUNDER IN THE GRIDS AND HAVE NOT
INCLUDED SEVERE WORDING GIVEN ONLY MODEST INSTABILITY...BUT SHEAR
IS IMPRESSIVE WITH STRONG LLJ MOVING IN ACROSS THE AREA WITH
APPROACHING FRONT. 60+KT AT 850MB WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION WITH
THE FRONT AROUND SUNSET AND IF ANY OF THAT TRANSFERS TO THE
SURFACE...DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE...AND WITH THE SHEAR
SMALL QLCS SEGMENTS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. MORE ON THIS IN THE
AFTERNOON AFD.

TDP

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 530 AM EST TUE JAN 6 2009/

SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
CURRENT SATELLITE/RADAR LOOP SHOWS A LARGE MOISTURE PLUMB EXTENDING
FROM THE THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BAJA MEXICO TO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES
AND OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
THIS PLUMB IS ASSOCIATED WITH A FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT IS OVER N GA
AT THE MOMENT AND STAYING FAIRLY STATIONARY. THIS FRONT IS NOT
EXPECTED TO MOVE TO MUCH FURTHER SOUTH AS A BERMUDA LIKE RIDGE OVER
SOUTH GA/FL IS KEEPING THIS FRONT FROM MOVING. THIS WILL KEEP THE
HEAVIEST PRECIP ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA WITH 2-4 INCHES EXPECTED OVER
THE NEXT 24-36 HOURS IN SOME ARES. THE MAJORITY OF THE RAIN WILL
REMAIN ALONG AND NORTH OF THE FRONT...WITH LITTLE TO NO PRECIP EXPECTED
FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS CENTRAL GA. BY LATE TONIGHT THE UPPER TROUGH
BEGINS TO SHIFT EASTWARD ALLOWING THE MAIN COLD FRONT TO SWEEP
THROUGH THE CWA. IT IS DURING THIS PERIOD THAT THE REST OF THE CWA
WILL SEE THE EFFECTS OF THIS WEATHER SYSTEM. RIGHT NOW THE MAIN
CONCERN FROM THIS SYSTEM WILL BE HEAVY RAIN ACROSS NORTH AND NW
GA. ALL OF THE MODELS ARE SHOWING THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL ALONG THE
TN/GA BORDER THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE SECOND CONCERN IS THE
POSSIBILITY OF SOME SEVERE WEATHER WHICH IS MINIMAL AT THIS TIME.
CAPES AND LIFTED INDICES ARE VERY WEAK WITH THIS SYSTEM BUT THERE
IS A STRONG 50-60KT LOW LEVEL JET THAT IS EXPECTED OVER THE AREA
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AS THESE SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING ACROSS NORTH AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL
GA...THESE AREAS COULD SEE SOME OF THESE WINDS MIX DOWN TO THE
SURFACE CAUSING SOME WIND DAMAGE. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DUE
DEVELOP WILL BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THE STRONG LOW-LEVEL WINDS AND
COULD RESULT IN SOME WIND GUSTS NEAR SEVERE LEVELS.

LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
ONCE THIS FRONTAL SYSTEM CLEARS THE ARE WED...HIGH PRESSURE BUILD IN
FROM THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS THU THROUGH SAT. THIS WILL MEAN
DRIER AND COOLER WEATHER TO COME FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. THE NEXT
PRECIP SYSTEM IS SLATED TO AFFECT THE AREA BY SAT NIGHT/SUN AS A
SHORT WAVE MOVES INTO OUR AREA. THERE IS VERY LITTLE MOISTURE AND
INSTABILITY WITH THIS NEXT SYSTEM SO WILL CONTINUE WITH SHOWERS IN
THE FORECAST FOE NOW. TEMPS IN THE EXTENDED SHOULD BE NEAR OR
SLIGHTLY BELOW SEASONAL NORMS.

AVIATION...
SO FAR CIGS HOLDING IN THE MVFR RANGE MOST PLACES WITH VSBYS 5 MILES
OR BETTER. AM WATCHING AN AREA OF IFR CIGS ACROSS SOUTH GEORGIA
..WHICH MAY WORK INTO THE CSG/MCN AREA BEFORE SUNRISE. LOW
CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL SEE IFR CONDITIONS ACROSS NORTHERN TAF SITES
THIS MORNING AND PLAN TO KEEP CIGS GENERALLY IN THE 1 TO 2 THSD FT
RANGE THROUGH THE MORNING...BEFORE INCREASING INTO THE 2 TO 3 THSD
FT RANGE LATE MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. WITH MAIN RAIN AREA
CONTINUING TO LIFT SLOWLY TO THE NORTH...MAY ONLY SEE A FEW
SPRINKLES HERE AND THERE THIS MORNING BEFORE GETTING BACK INTO
BETTER PRECIP COVERAGE LATE TODAY/TONIGHT. RISK OF THUNDER LOOKS
MINIMAL...AND BEST CHANCE WITH THE FRONT. HOWEVER...WILL CARRY
THUNDER MOST PLACES DURING THE EVENING...ENDING WITH FROPA WHICH
SHOULD BE CLOSE TO 06Z IN ATL AND BY 12Z ELSEWHERE. WINDS SOUTH TO
SOUTHWEST TODAY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. ALREADY SEEING SOME GUSTS THIS
MORNING...AND PLAN TO INCREASE POSSIBLE GUST TO 25 KTS BY THIS
AFTERNOON. WINDS GOING NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT LATE TONIGHT...AND
SHOULD REMAIN QUITE BREEZY.

49

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
ATHENS          66  52  56  36  54 /  70 100  70   5   0
ATLANTA         66  49  54  37  52 /  80 100  50   5   0
BLAIRSVILLE     57  47  48  32  43 / 100 100  50  20   5
CARTERSVILLE    62  49  51  32  49 / 100 100  50  10   0
COLUMBUS        71  54  58  38  58 /  60 100  50   5   0
GAINESVILLE     58  49  52  35  49 / 100 100  50  10   0
MACON           73  56  58  39  60 /  30  90  70   5   0
ROME            61  48  50  33  49 / 100 100  50  10   5
PEACHTREE CITY  66  47  54  35  54 /  70 100  50   5   0
VIDALIA         74  59  65  39  62 /  10  60  80   5   0

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLOOD WATCH THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
BARTOW...CATOOSA...CHATTOOGA...CHEROKEE...COBB...DADE...DAWSON...
FANNIN...FLOYD...FORSYTH...GILMER...GORDON...HARALSON...
LUMPKIN...MURRAY...NORTH FULTON...PAULDING...PICKENS...POLK...
TOWNS...UNION...WALKER...WHITE...WHITFIELD.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 6, 11:30 AM EST, 50 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1130 AM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-071000-
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-
1130 AM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WITH POSSIBLE FLOODING IS EXPECTED ACROSS
PORTIONS OF NORTH GEORGIA TODAY AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.SYNOPSIS...
A FRONTAL BOUNDARY STRETCHING ACROSS EXTREME NORTH GEORGIA WILL
REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY THIS AFTERNOON...AS A SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS
OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. THE LOW WILL MOVE NORTHEAST
...PULLING THE COLD FRONT ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA TONIGHT.

.PRIMARY HAZARDS...
THE PRIMARY HAZARD WILL BE FLOODING RAINS. HEAVY RAINFALL COULD
CAUSE SOME RIVERS...STREAMS AND CREEKS TO RISE TO LEVELS THAT RESULT
IN MINOR FLOODING. THE BEST CHANCE FOR FLOODING CONDITIONS WILL
CONTINUE TO BE NORTH OF A BUCHANAN TO ATLANTA TO CLEVELAND LINE. THE
PRIMARY HAZARDS WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS WITH
AN ISOLATED TORNADO POSSIBLE. THE BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL
BE SOUTH AND WEST OF A ROME TO GAINESVILLE TO GRIFFIN LINE.

.DISCUSSION...
GULF MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVECT INTO THE STATE THIS
AFTERNOON...OVERRUNNING A STATIONARY BOUNDARY STRETCHING FROM
LOUISIANA INTO NORTH GEORGIA. A SURFACE LOW WILL LIFT NORTHEAST
ALONG THE BOUNDARY...PULLING A COLD FRONT ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH TONIGHT AS THIS COMPLEX WEATHER
SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST U.S. RAINFALL COULD BE HEAVY AT
TIMES...WITH ADDITIONAL TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE ACROSS
PORTIONS OF NORTH GEORGIA...TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS COULD BE 4 TO 7
INCHES BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE COMBINATION OF STRONG WIND SHEAR
AND WEAK INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED TO BE ENOUGH TO PRODUCE
THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE STRONG ENOUGH TO
PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS WITH AN ISOLATED TORNADO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED DURING THE PERIOD AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST INFORMATION FOR POSSIBLE
ACTIVATION THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 6, 6:43 AM EST, 5 hours 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
643 AM EST TUE JAN 06 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0630 AM     FLOOD            DUCKTOWN                34.24N 84.25W
01/06/2009                   FORSYTH            GA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EMA REPORTED SUTTON DOWN CREEK EXPERIENCING FLOODING AT
            CONCORD ROAD AND OAK GROVE ROAD. INDICATED THAT LOW LYING
            AREAS ALSO FLOODED...RESULTING IN 6 ROAD CLOSURES.

&&

GRIFFITH

Local storm report, Jan 6, 6:48 AM EST, 5 hours 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
648 AM EST TUE JAN 06 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 AM     FLOOD            ALPHARETTA              34.07N 84.27W
01/06/2009                   FULTON             GA   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FALLOW ROAD AND TIDWELL ROAD EXPERIENCING FLOODING.

&&

GRIFFITH

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:20 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 flood, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Cherokee

When: January 6, 12:20 PM EST to January 7, 7:02 PM EST
Where: Cherokee County, 1.79 mi WNW of Canton Cherokee Arpt to 2.48 mi E of Oak Grove
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 34.334, -84.446

The USGS gage on the Etowah River, 1.5 miles northeast of Canton near Interstate-575, reached flood stage of 17 feet at 1220 pm EST on January 6th and continued at or above flood stage until 702 pm EST. In addition, the Little River at Georgia Highway 5, two miles northeast of Woodstock, reached flood stage of 11.0 feet briefly at 230 pm EST on January 6th. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

Flood, Bartow

When: January 6, 12:20 PM EST to January 7, 8:30 AM EST
Where: Bartow County, 1.71 mi WNW of Ladds to 1.9 mi SSW of Emerson
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.163, -84.856

The Daily Tribune News of Cartersville reported that four roads in the county were closed because of flooding. These included Parr Wade Bishop and Old Grassdale Roads in Cartersville, Puckett Road in Emerson, and Euharlee Road in the Mission Ridge Subdivision. The later of which was a result of a collapsed retaining wall. Damage was limited to minor debris removal.

Flood, Forsyth

When: January 6, 12:30 PM EST to January 7, 6:45 AM EST
Where: Forsyth County, 2.52 mi NNW of Hightower to 0.67 mi NW of Hightower
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.335, -84.234

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Director reported that the Etowah River had risen out of it banks at Old Federal Road and Nicholson Road in the northwest part of the county. Nicholson Road was inundated with at least a foot of water near Bannister Creek. In addition, Setting Down Creek was flooding at Concord and Oak Grove Roads. Six roads were closed as a result of these flooding incidents. Windermere Park in the southeast part of the county was also closed as a consequence of flooding from the Etowah River. Damage was limited to debris removal.

Flood, Banks

When: January 6, 12:30 PM EST to 2:30 PM EST
Where: Banks County, 2.29 mi ESE of Homer to 1.95 mi WNW of Arp
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.322, -83.461

The Banks County Emergency Management Director reported that Webb Creek, approximately four miles southeast of Homer, overflowed its banks at Marshburn Drive. At least six inches of water was flowing over the road at this location for about two hours. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

Tornado, Chattooga

When: January 6, 5:05 PM EST to 5:08 PM EST
Where: Chattooga County, 0.56 mi SSW of Rowell Siding to 0.19 mi NW of Holland
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.1 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.323, -85.384

A storm survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that a brief EF0 tornado touched down four miles east-southeast of Chattoogaville and moved north-northeast paralleling Georgia Highway 100 for just a little over a 2-mile long track. Spotty tree damage was observed along Old Holland Road and Georgia Highway 100 along the tornado track. Light to moderate damage was observed to the roofs of three buildings and several outbuildings, some of which may have been a product of straight-line winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Floyd

When: January 6, 5:15 PM EST to 5:45 PM EST
Where: Floyd County, Coosa to Lindale
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 34.250, -85.350

A CocoRaHS observer on the southeast side of Rome reported that several trees and at least one power line were down in the area. A wind gust of 61 mph was measured at the Floyd Medical Center in Rome at 530 pm EST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gordon

When: January 6, 5:45 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Gordon County, Resaca to Redbud
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 34.580, -84.930

The Gordon County 911 Center reported that four trees and one power line were down across the northern part of the county.

Flood, Catoosa

When: January 6, 6:00 PM EST to January 8, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Catoosa County, 1.12 mi NNW of Burning Bush to 1.04 mi ESE of Shookville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.914, -85.231

A survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia determined that flooding occurred on the West Chickamauga Creek, the South Chickamauga Creek, and Peavine Creek. All of these creeks overflowed their banks and caused minor flooding of adjacent low-lying areas, woodlands, and fields. The Catoosa County News reported that the Battlewood Apartments off Fant Drive were threatended by flood waters. Residents of the apartment complex were evacuated as a precaution, but no damage to property occurred. Overall, damage was limited to debris removal.

Flood, Floyd

When: January 6, 6:15 PM EST to January 11, 10:15 AM EST
Where: Floyd County, 6.25 mi WSW of Crystal Spgs to 2.24 mi NNW of Coosa
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 34.355, -85.315

The USGS river gage on the Armuchee Creek, three miles southeast of Armuchee at Old Dalton Road, reached flood stage of 19 feet at 615 pm EST on January 6th. The creek remained in flood stage at this point until January 11th at 1015 am EST. Then, five miles west-southwest of Armuchee, Health Creek reached flood stage of eight feet for approximately 15 minutes at 1100 pm EST. Finally, the Coosa River six miles southwest of Rome at the Mayo Lock and Dam reached flood stage of 24 feet and remained in a minor flood state until January 10th at 725 am EST. Several roads in the county were at least temporarily closed because of high water and flooding. The Rome News Tribune reported that 62 roads across the county that were closed during the height of the flooding. In addition, Heritage Park and Ridge Ferry Park were also flooded. Damage from the flooding resulted in debris removal in portions of the county.

Flood, Pickens

When: January 6, 7:00 PM EST to January 7, 8:30 AM EST
Where: Pickens County, 0.9 mi NW of Talking Rock to 2.45 mi SSW of Talking Rock
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.508, -84.513

The Pickens County Progress of Jasper reported that heavy rain pushed many creeks in the county out of their banks. Talking Rock Creek rose from one foot to eight feet. Part of Talking Rock Highway had to be closed because of a mudslide. Several other roads were closed because of localized flooding, including Petit, Jordan, Mineral Springs, Fortner, and Thompson Lane. Damage was limited to debris removal, mostly as a result of the mudslide.

Flood, Whitfield

When: January 6, 8:26 PM EST to January 11, 9:30 AM EST
Where: Whitfield County, 0.84 mi WSW of Parrett Crossing to 3.03 mi SW of Carbondale
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.964, -84.963

The Daily Citizen of Dalton reported that heavy rain caused flooding on many roads throughout the county. Some specific roads impacted by high water included Cohutta-Varnell Road, Old Mill Road, Old Cleveland Highway, along with several others. Damage was confined to debris removal.

Flood, Polk

When: January 6, 10:00 PM EST to January 7, 9:15 AM EST
Where: Polk County, 0.76 mi WNW of Cedartown to 0.87 mi SSE of Fish
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.023, -85.263

The Rockmart Journal and the Cedartown Standard documented two flooding events in Polk county. Euharlee Creek overflowed its banks in downtown Rockmart submerging a portion of Silver Comet Trail. A portion of Seaborn James Park was also flooded. Cedar Creek also overflowed its banks causing temporary flooding of some city streets in Cedartown. A portion of West Avenue was briefly submerged under several inches of water at the height of the flooding. Damage was limited to debris removal.

Flood, Murray

When: January 6, 11:33 PM EST to January 9, 9:00 AM EST
Where: Murray County, 2.51 mi WNW of Gregory to 0.59 mi WSW of Holley
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 34.963, -84.821

The Dalton Citizen of Dalton reported that heavy rain caused several creeks and streams across the county to overflow their banks. High water forced the closure of several roads. Approximately 4000 acres of the Perry Farm were flooded by the Conasauga River and Sumach Creek when they came out of their banks. Mill Creek rose out of its banks and flooded a trailer park on Third Avenue. Norton Bridge on the north end of the county was flooded and had to be closed as well as parts of Georgia Highway 225 North above Red Cut Road and Patricia Avenue in Spring Place. Also on Georgia Highway 255, saturated soil from the heavy rain caused a tree to fall on the road blocking the highway in both directions between Spring Place and Central for more than an hour. In addition, several pastures on Maddox Mill Road were flooded by Cohulla Creek. Two men stranded in high water near Old Georgia Highway 2 in Cisco had to be rescued and two other men had to be rescued from rising waters while boating down Jacks River. All were rescued without injury or incident.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chattahoochee

When: January 7, 2:16 AM EST to 2:20 AM EST
Where: Chattahoochee County, Cusseta to Manta
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 32.300, -84.770

The Chattahoochee County 911 Center reported that numerous trees were down on Fire Tower Road east of Cusseta and about six trees were down on Georgia Highway 26 east of Cusseta near mile marker number eight.

Tornado, Monroe

When: January 7, 3:00 AM EST to 3:04 AM EST
Where: Monroe County, 1.18 mi W of Smarr to 1.71 mi ENE of Smarr
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.88 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.979, -83.890

A survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that an EF0 tornado touched down near 412 Reedy Creek Road, approximately five miles southeast of Forsyth, then tracked eastward for approximately three miles across southeast Monroe county. The maximum path width was estimated to be 100 yards. Maximum winds were estimated at 85 mph. The tornado moved east across U.S. Highway 41 near the Smarr water tower, then dissipated as it crossed Interstate-75 southeast of the Rumble Road Industrial Park. One home sustained moderate damage to its roof and siding. Three other structures sustained minor shingle damage along the path of the tornado. Trees were sporadically either snapped or uprooted along the path of the tornado.

Flood, Gordon

When: January 7, 3:00 AM EST to January 8, 5:12 AM EST
Where: Gordon County, 1.48 mi W of Hill City to 1.96 mi SSW of Curryville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 34.603, -85.026

The USGS stream gage on Oothkalooga Creek at Georgia Highway 53 Spur, one mile south of Calhoun, reached its flood stage of 18 feet at 0300 AM EST on January 7th, and remained at or above flood stage until 1345 on January 7th. In addition, the Coosawattee River at Pine Chapel Road, five miles east of Resaca, reached flood stage of 22 feet at 0712 AM EST on January 7th and remained above flood stage until 0512 AM EST on January 8th. The Calhoun Times reported that 36 roads across the county were closed because of flooding. Two drivers that disregarded barricades had to be rescued from flood waters. Finally, parts of the Calhoun Recreational Department were flooded for the first time in 10 years. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

Flood, Chattooga

When: January 7, 12:00 PM EST to January 8, 2:32 AM EST
Where: Chattooga County, 1.3 mi NNE of East Trion to 1.23 mi NW of Chattoogaville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.568, -85.274

A survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia determined that flooding occurred on Racoon Creek at Hair Lake Road, and Spring Creek at Spring Creek Road. Small streams also overflowed their banks at Fish Hatchery Road and Ragland Road. In addition, the Chattooga River went into minor flood until the January 8th at 232 AM EST. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

What these are

Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Georgia, 2009 Warnings in Georgia, January 2009

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: 144721, 149752, 144715, 144723, 146871, 147411, 147854, 147851, 144722, 150239, 150242, 150237, 150247, 148249, 148266, 148931, 147852.