Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, June 22, 2009

The Butts County Emergency Management Director reported that an apparent thunderstorm downburst or microburst caused extensive damage to trees, power lines, and property in the northeastern part of the county from the Henry county line, just northwest of Fincherville to the south side of Lake Jackson along the Butts/Jasper county line. At least 40 trees were down along this path. Some of the most significant damage occurred near the intersection of Georgia Highway 36 and Barnetts Bridge Road, where a number of trees and power lines were down and one home in the area suffered major damage. A total of six homes sustained damage, two of which were severely damaged and four others sustained moderate damage.

The Bibb County 911 Center reported that at least eight trees were down across the county from just north of Macon near Cross Keys to approximately five miles south of Macon. This included a 70 foot pine tree that was down on Park Drive at Wimbliss Road near Cross Keys. Several power lines were also down as a result of the downed trees.

The Dodge County Fire and Rescue Department along with a trained spotter reported that at least four large trees were down in the western part of the county, along with several large limbs. One of the trees were down on Daniels Church Road in Eastman.

The public observed half-dollar-sized hail.

The Houston County 911 Center reported that four trees were down in the southern part of the county, generally around Hayneville. Two additional trees were reported down in the west central part of the county near Perry, one of which caused damage to the roof of a home.

The Laurens County 911 Center reported that several trees were down in the western part of the county between Dexter and Cedar Grove. A storm spotter personally observed at least three of these downed trees.

The Pulaski County 911 Center and the public reported that at least eight trees were down across the eastern part of the county. At least three trees were down in the Hawkinsville area, including on Anderson and 5th Streets. Five trees were down in the far southeastern corner of the county, well east of Wallace, on Midway Church Road near the Dodge county line.

A trained spotter reported that at least eight trees were down in the far western portion of the county near the Wheeler county line from the Erick and Avants area near Little Ocmulgee State Park to just across the Telfair county line from Scotland. Some county roads were blocked from the downed trees.

The public observed quarter-sized hail in the far southeast part of DeKalb county, south of Lithonia, near the Rockdale county line.

The Cobb County 911 Center reported that at least 15 trees were down around Marietta.

The Telfair County 911 Center reported that at least 12 trees were down in the far eastern part of the county along the Wheeler county line from Scotland to Lumber City.

The Wilcox County 911 Center reported that a couple of trees were down on power lines in the far eastern portion of the county near the Dodge county line.

The Henry County Emergency Management Director reported that 10 Poplar Trees were down in the Pebble Brook Subdivision east of Stockbridge near the Rockdale county line.

The Greene County 911 Center reported that over a dozen trees were down in the western part of the county from southwest of Greensboro to southwest of Veazey. Some power lines were also down in the area as a result. At least one tree was down on Georgia Highway 44 southwest of Greensboro.

The Butts County 911 Center reported that at least six trees were down scattered about the county from northwest to southeast.

The Laurens County Fire and Rescue Department reported that lightning set several hundred hay bales on fire in a field in the far northeastern part of the county, north of Dublin.

The Baldwin County 911 Center reported that at least 10 trees were down in the far eastern part of the county, with some down on Georgia Highway 22 and 24.

An amateur radio operator reported quarter-sized hail in the far eastern part of the county near the Bibb county line.

A CoCoRaHS observer reported that several trees and power lines were down in the southeastern part of Crawford county. Several power outages were observed in the area.

Broadcast media, through the National Weather Service Charleston, South Carolina office relayed a report of several trees down across the county, especially in the Powersville area. Trees were down on Georgia Highways 49, 97, and 247.

The Laurens County 911 Center reported that around 100 or more trees were down across the county. Doppler radar data suggests that the strongest winds with these thunderstorms tracked from the northeast corner, north of Dublin, south-southwest to the southwest corner of the county, southwest of Cedar Grove.

An amateur radio operator reported that at least a dozen trees were down in the far western part of the county, especially around Perry. Some structural damage was reported. Trees were down on Georgia Avenue, Georgia Extension, Fourth Street, Georgia Highway 96, and U.S. Highway 41, near the high school, all in the Perry area. A home and an adjacent vehicle on Fourth Street sustained damage from a downed tree. Two business signs were also damaged on Georgia Highway 7, either side of Interstate-75 in Perry. The west bound lane of Georgia Highway 96 was blocked by a large downed oak tree and a tree was also down on Valley Drive at Interstate-75.