Tornado and Flash Flooding in Georgia, March 27 to 30, 2009

The river gage on the Alcovy river near Lawrenceville exceeded the flood stage of 9.0 feet at 404 pm EDT on March 27, 2009. It remained above flood stage until 812 pm EDT. The river crested at 9.5 feet at 630 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

The Houston County Emergency Management Director reported that a home was struck by lightning of Arena Road between Georgia Highway 129 and U.S. Highway 341. The home minor damage from the resulting fire. Lightning was also likely the culprit of a downed power line southwest of Perry near Henderson, but may also have been the result of thunderstorm winds.

The Stewart County Emergency Management Director reported that a few trees were down south of Lumpkin along with minor structural damage to a building in the far southern part of the county.

The Marion County Emergency Management Director reported that a few trees were down along Georgia Highway 30 in the far southeast part of the county between Draneville and Friendship.

The Sumter County Emergency Management Director considerable damage near the Americus Wal Mart at the corner of U.S. Highway 280 and Feldar Street. In addition to many trees and power lines down in the area, considerable damage was noted to several buildings and property in the general area. A Goodwill drop off box was turned over as well as several truck bed covers which were blown over and about. To the southeast of Americus, several trees and power lines were down along Brady Road. Part of the roof was blown of the Textron building and a wall of the same building collapsed. Another building at Caravel Boats also sustained roof damage. The liners of three trucks at a nearby Ford Dealership were blown near 1500 feet to the east and landed on Sherwood Road. The emergency manager indicated that the wind was caused by strong straight line winds and not a tornado.

Wind gusts of 62 mph were measured by a University of Georgia (UGA) Mesonet site located near Cordele. The Crisp County Emergency Management Director reported that some power lines were down on 15th Street in Cordele, five to six trees and some power lines were down near Lake Blackshear and Georgia Veterans State Park along U.S. Highway 280 in the western part of the county, and at least four trees were down north of Cordele near the Dooly county line.

The Dooly County Emergency Management Director confirmed that a brief EF0 tornado touched down along Pleasant Valley Road, between Steele Road and Truman Road, approximately four miles northwest of Vienna, and tracked northeast for about 1/4 mile or 500 yards. The maximum path width was determined to be 50 yards. At least 50 trees were uprooted or snapped in half along the path of the tornado. Several homes were damaged from the downed trees. Six homes sustained minor roof damage when shingles or guttering was blown off. Some metal carports were damaged and a few outbuildings were destroyed.

The Wilcox County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees were blown down across the county.

The Pulaski County Emergency Management Director reported that two trees were down in the area just southeast of Browndale. One of the trees was down on a home causing considerable damage to the roof of the structure.

An amateur radio operator reported that lightning struck a home in Planfield. The lightning entered the home through the satellite dish mounted the roof. Heavy rain extinguished the resulting fire. Damage was minor.

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director reported that strong winds on the back side of a large area of rain and thunderstorms (sometimes referred to as a wake low) blew down several large trees and power lines from northeast of Ball Ground, to Canton, to Holly Springs. Several roads were blocked from the downed trees and power lines.

The Houston County Emergency Management Director reported that lightning struck a home on Blue Ridge Lane resulting in minor electrical damage.

The Monroe County Emergency Management Director and local newspapers reported that up to five inches of rain fell during a 24-hour period on top of already saturated soils resulting in flooding of area creeks and streams. This caused several roads to be washed out and closed. In all, eights roads were closed as a result of flooding. Most of the damage was the result of washed out culvert or drainage pipes. Chambers Road at the intersection of Juliette Road was washed out by Chambliss Creek and left closed for an extended period of time. Montpelier Springs Road was flooded at the Tobosofkee Creek bridge near Georgia Highway 42 and left closed for several days. Zellner Road at Smith/Goodwyn Road was washed out and left impassible for an extended period of time. Ebenezer Road at Lake Juliette was flooded for several days until the water receded. Byars Road, a dirt road near the intersection of Georgia Highway 83 and Juliette Road, was covered with over a foot of water for over 24 hours, and washed out.

The Harris County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail. The Harris county Emergency Management Director observed less than penny-sized hail just south of Pine Mountain Valley.

The USGS gage located on Falling Creek four miles east of Juliette in far northwest Jones county, reached the flood stage of 13.0 feet at 221 pm EDT on March 28, 2009. The creek crested at 1045 pm EDT more than five feet above flood stage later at 18.79 feet. The creek fell below flood stage at 1219 pm EDT on March 29, 2009, but flash flooding ended at 815 pm EDT on March 28th. Given that the flooding was confined to very rural areas immediately along the creek, damage was confined to minor debris removal.

A Harris County Sheriff's Deputy observed penny-sized hail west of Hamilton. Radar data suggests that hail of similar size likely fell across much of southwest, west central and north central Harris county. This is a separate thunderstorm from the storm which also produced penny-sized hail earlier between Hamilton and Pine Mountain Valley.

The public observed penny-sized hail southwest of Zebulon. At one location, the hail lasted for approximately two minutes.

The public observed quarter-sized hail in the Greenleaf Subdivision near the intersection of Georgia Highways 85 and 92. Pea-sized hail was observed further west in Peachtree City from this same thunderstorm. One tree was also blown down in Peachtree City at the intersection of Hippocket Road and Loblolly Court.

The public observed nickel-sized hail on the southside of Jonesboro.

The Telfair County Emergency Management Director reported that three trees were blown down in the far southern part of the county near between Jacksonville and Lumber City.

An amateur radio operator relayed a report of golf ball-sized hail on the east side of Griffin. Nickel-sized hail was observed in Griffin. Radar data suggests that hail of nickel or larger size likely continued to the far east central portion of the county as the storm produced hail just across the line in Henry county.

Several reports of large hail were received from the public across southeast Henry county. This was one of two severe thunderstorms to track across the county in the 400 pm to 430 pm EDT time frame. Penny to golf ball-sized hail was reported near Locust Grove with quarter-sized hail near Ola as the storm moved further northeast.

Numerous reports of quarter to half-dollar-sized hail were received from Henry county as a second thunderstorm tracked from the southwest corner of the county to the northeast corner of the county. An off-duty National Weather Service employee measured 1.25 inch diameter hail at the Atlanta FAA Air Traffic Control Center in Hampton, while the public observed penny, but mostly quarter to half-dollar-sized hail from Hampton, to McDonough, to east of Stockbridge.

Amateur radio operators relayed reports of nickel to quarter-sized hail in the Conyers area. Radar data and reports from Henry county suggest that hail of similar size fell from the southwest to the northeast part of the county.

An amateur radio operator relayed a report of quarter-sized hail from extreme northern Newton county in the Gum Creek area near the Rockdale county line.

Amateur radio operators relayed reports of quarter-sized hail from the Newton/Rockdale county line west of Walnut Grove to five miles southeast of Loganville, or just southwest of Between.

The Manchester Star Mercury reported that heavy rain, upwards of two inches during the afternoon on already saturated ground, caused a 27-foot long gas tank at the Quick Stop Food Mart on Georgia Highway 85 to rise out of the ground. This occurred despite the fact that there were eight inches of concrete on top of the tank. The tank had been empty for some time.

The Harris County Emergency Management Director observed flooding along the Ossahatchie and Mulberry Creeks in southern Harris county. Damage was confined to minor debris cleanup.

Although flash flooding had ended along Falling Creek in northwestern Jones county, the stream gage on Falling Creek near Juliette remained above bankful through the morning. No additional damage was observed.

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

Flooding was observed along the Flint River, which forms the western border of Spalding and Pike counties. Flood stage of 12.0 feet was reached along the Flint River west of Griffin at the Georgia Highway 16 bridge. The river crested at 12.9 feet at 1145 am EDT on March 29th. Flooding continued until 300 am EDT on March 30, 2009. Flooding was confined to low lands immediately adjacent to the river with no reported damage to structures or property. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

Flooding was observed along the Flint River, which forms the western border of Spalding and Pike counties. Flood stage of 12.0 feet was reached along the Flint River west of Griffin at the Georgia Highway 16 bridge, just northwest of Hollonville. The river crested at 12.9 feet at 1145 am EDT on March 29th. Flooding continued until 300 am EDT on March 30, 2009. Flooding was confined to low lands immediately adjacent to the river with no reported damage to structures or property. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.

The river gage on the Little River west of Washington exceeded the flood stage of 22 feet at 1246 pm EDT on March 29, 2009. The river remained above the flood stage through 815 am EDT on March 30, 2009. The river crested at 22.6 feet on March 29, 2009 at 1015 am EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris clean up.