A cold front continued to drift slowly southward through the state and had finally drifted into central Georgia by May 10th. S.
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 cold front continued to drift slowly southward through the state and had finally drifted into central Georgia by May 10th. Weak disturbances embedded in west to southwest flow aloft within a mean eastern U.S. trough combined with a moist, unstable surface air mass, provided the ingredients necessary for scattered thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening. Several of these storms became severe, producing damaging downburst winds and penny to quarter-sized hail. The location of the front limited the severe weather to central areas of the state.
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 May 10, 1:55 PM EST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 255 PM EDT SUN MAY 10 2009 .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... ZONAL FLOW CONTINUES ACROSS A GOOD PORTION OF THE COUNTRY...WITH WEAK EMBEDDED IMPULSES KICKING UP SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. A WEAK STATIONARY FRONT IS DRAPED ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST FROM NEAR THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST TO CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI AT AFD TIME...WITH BEST INSTABILITY POOLED JUST SOUTH OF THE FRONT. WEAK SHORTWAVE ALOFT ALLOWING MCS ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH TO WORK THIS WAY...ALONG WITH PROVIDING WEAK SUSTAINABLE LIFT FOR THUNDER ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH. WITH THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE AND WEAK SHEAR (GFS MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH BOTH THAN THE NAM)...CANNOT RULE OUT THE CHANCE OF A STRONG TO POSSIBLY SEVERE STORM THIS EVENING ESPECIALLY ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA SOUTH OF THE FRONT. THE FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO SAG SOUTH AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. NAM INDICATING MORE STABILITY IN NORTH GEORGIA THAN THE GFS WITH THIS HIGH PRESSURE BUT OF COURSE GFS ALSO DEALING WITH ITS TYPICAL CONVECTIVE FEEDBACK. HAVE TRIED TO TAKE A COMPROMISE...SLOWLY PUSHING POPS (AND THUNDER) SOUTH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. SWODY2 NOT VERY IMPRESSED WITH SEVERE CHANCES FOR MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH INSTABILITY AXIS SHIFTING SOUTH BUT WITH UPPER SHORTWAVE MOVING THROUGH CANNOT AT LEAST RULE OUT STRONG STORM POSSIBILITY. TEMPS ON MONDAY ESPECIALLY IN NORTH GEORGIA NOTICEABLY COOLER THAN THE PAST FEW DAYS...WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S...THOUGH PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA MAY STILL BE PUSHING 90. GRADIENT WILL DEPEND ON LOCATION OF FRONT. RIDGING BUILDS IN OVER THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ON TUESDAY ALLOWING THE HIGH PRESSURE TO DOMINATE THE OHIO VALLEY AND RIDGE DOWN INTO THE SOUTHEAST...BRINGING A MUCH MORE STABLE AIRMASS ACROSS MOST OF THE STATE. BY THIS TIME HAVE PUSHED POPS DOWN TO ONLY THE EXTREME SOUTHERN ZONES. HIGH PRESSURE REALLY BUILDS IN...ALBEIT TEMPORARILY...BY TUESDAY NIGHT LEAVING US BRIEFLY STABLE IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT FRONT. .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... NEXT SHORTWAVE AND SURFACE LOW PUSHING OFF THE ROCKIES ON TUESDAY...WITH PRECIP AHEAD OF THE LOW MOVING INTO OUR AREA DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. 12Z GFS A LITTLE FASTER THAN 00Z ECMWF... THOUGH YESTERDAYS 12Z ECMWF CAME MORE IN LINE WITH THE 12Z GFS SO WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE NEW ECMWF RUN DOES TODAY. DUE TO WEAK SUBTROPICAL RIDGING OVER THE SOUTHEAST...THE APPROACHING FRONT HAS A HARD TIME ACTUALLY MOVING IN BUT IF NOTHING ELSE SHOULD HAVE PLENTIFUL MOISTURE FOR AFTERNOON PULSE-LIKE CONVECTION. FRONT SORT OF WASHES OUT BUT DEEPER WAVE APPROACHES FOR THE WEEKEND. AT THIS POINT...GFS IS ABOUT A DAY AHEAD OF THE ECMWF (GFS HAS A MUCH STRONGER UPPER LOW...ECMWF HAS A MUCH STRONGER SUBTROPICAL RIDGE) SO CONFIDENCE IS LOW THAT FAR OUT. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 62 76 51 78 56 / 60 50 10 10 10 ATLANTA 63 73 55 77 59 / 50 50 20 10 10 BLAIRSVILLE 57 68 45 74 54 / 70 50 10 10 10 CARTERSVILLE 58 74 51 78 57 / 70 50 10 10 10 COLUMBUS 65 83 60 81 63 / 40 50 20 20 10 GAINESVILLE 60 70 52 76 56 / 70 50 10 10 10 MACON 63 84 56 80 60 / 40 50 20 20 10 ROME 60 73 52 79 58 / 70 50 10 10 10 PEACHTREE CITY 60 77 54 78 57 / 50 50 20 10 10 VIDALIA 64 87 58 80 58 / 30 40 30 20 10 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && TDP
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1108 AM EDT SUN MAY 10 2009 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-111015- 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- 1108 AM EDT SUN MAY 10 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .SYNOPSIS... A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVER NORTH GEORGIA WILL CONTINUE MOVING SOUTH AND STALL SOMEWHERE ACROSS CENTRAL OR SOUTH GEORGIA TONIGHT. .PRIMARY HAZARDS... THE MAIN THREAT FROM ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FREQUENT LIGHTNING...LARGE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS. THE BEST TIME FOR ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG AND SOUTH OF A CARROLLTON TO ATHENS LINE. .DISCUSSION... A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA WILL CONTINUE MOVING SOUTH AND STALL SOMEWHERE ACROSS CENTRAL OR SOUTH GEORGIA TONIGHT. THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL BE THE MAIN FOCUSING MECHANISM FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON ALONG AND SOUTH OF A CARROLLTON TO ATHENS LINE. INCREASED INSTABILITY INDICES EXPECTED MAINLY ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA WITH CAPES IN THE 1000 TO 2000 RANGE AND LIFTED INDICES AROUND MINUS 3 TO MINUS 6. MID TO UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE RATHER WEAK...BUT THERE IS STILL SOME WEAK CONVERGENCE EXPECTED ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WHICH SUGGESTS THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME ISOLATED STORMS REACHING SEVERE LIMITS MAINLY ACROSS CENTRAL GA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED BUT SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH THE WEB BY GOING TO WEATHER.GOV/ATLANTA.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 thunderstorm wind, 9 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The Harris County 911 Center relayed reports of penny to nickel-sized hail from the southwest part of the county, between the Alabama border and Mulberry Grove. One tree was also blown down on Bethlehem Church Road.
The public observed penny to quarter-sized hail in far eastern Harris county, just east of Waverly Hall at the intersection of Georgia Highway 208 and 36, eastward toward the Talbot county line, continuing into Talbot county. This hail occurred from a re-intensification of the the same thunderstorm that earlier dumped nickel-sized hail west of Mulberry Grove.
The Talbot County Emergency Management Director reported golf ball-sized hail in Talbotton at the Timberline North Subdivision. Two large pine trees were also snapped in half within this subdivision. The public observed penny to quarter-sized hail along the Talbot/Harris county line, approximately eight miles west of Talbotton. A report of penny-sized hail was also received from the Talbot County 911 Center.
The Taylor County Emergency Management Director reported that four trees were blown down in the area around Fickling Mill in the far northern part of the county. This damage was caused by a small thunderstorm that tracked southeast along the Upson, Taylor, Crawford county line. This thunderstorm produced quarter-sized hail just north of the Taylor/Crawford county line, southwest of Roberta. Meanwhile, a stronger severe thunderstorm was almost simultaneously tracking across the southwestern part of Taylor county.
A Crawford county sheriff's deputy observed quarter-sized hail in the southwest part of the county, southwest of Roberta.
The Taylor County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were blown down in the southern part of the county, between Butler and Charing. Doppler velocity base radar data strongly suggests that additional trees were likely blown down in very rural areas further eastward as well, between Rupert, Butler, and Potterville. The 911 Center reported that some trees were down in many areas of the county. A few trees were down on Georgia Highway 137 southwest of Roberta.
The Schley County 911 Center reported that several trees were down in the far northern part of the county between Murray's Crossroads and the Taylor/Crawford county borders.
The Macon County 911 Center reported that several trees were down in the northwest part of the county around Hicks.
The Houston County 911 Center reported that an apparent downburst had resulted in several dozen downed trees, power lines, and structural damage in the Centerville area. Much of the damage was concentrated in the Sentry Oaks Neighborhood, where more than a dozen trees were down, some resulting in damage to homes. A portion of Interstate-75 had to be closed until downed trees blocking the lanes could be cleared. In addition, a business in Centerville, adjacent to the Galleria Mall, sustained moderate structural damage, including several blown out windows as well as damage to siding and awnings. A number of trees were also blown down further east near and east of Warner Robins toward the Twiggs county line.
Several reports of hail, ranging in size from pennies to quarters, were received from the Houston County 911 Center and trained spotters across northern Houston county.
Several reports of penny to nickel-sized hail were received from Macon television stations, trained spotters, and the public. The hail fell across southern Houston county from just southwest of Perry to southeast of Hayneville. This hail was caused by a separate thunderstorm occurring almost simultaneously with the thunderstorm producing extensive wind damage and penny to quarter-sized hail in the northern portion of the county.
Macon television stations reported that from 20 to 30 trees were blown down or uprooted in the southern part of the county, especially within the Longleaf Subdivision near Elko. This damage occurred from a separate thunderstorm from the one that was almost simultaneously causing extensive wind damage and penny to quarter-sized hail in the far northern portion of the county.
The Pulaski County Emergency Management Director reported extensive wind damage in the northern part of the county from Hawkinsville to just northwest of Mobley Crossing near the Bleckley county line. More than two dozen trees were down in the area and a number of power lines. At least one structure suffered substantial damage when a tree fell on the structure. Several homes on the northwest side of Hawkinsville, especially along Jackson and Dooly streets, sustained minor to moderate roof damage when shingles or portions of the roofs were torn off the homes.
The Pulaski County 911 Center reported nickel-sized hail in the northeast part of the county between Hawkinsville and Mobley Crossing.
The Bleckley County Emergency Management Director and Macon television stations reported extensive wind damage in the southern part of Bleckley county. Several dozen trees trees and many power lines were down, especially in the vicinity of Mac Thompson Road and Chicken Road. Structural damage was also observed. Some 20 to 25 homes sustained minor damage from downed trees. One mobile home sustained significant damage when a tree fell on the structure. A horse barn near the intersection of Mac Thomsron Road and Chicken Road collapsed during the strong winds. A horse inside was initially rescued from the fallen structure, but later died from injuries.
Macon television stations relayed reports of quarter-sized hail from southern Bleckley county, near Frazier.
The Dodge County 911 Center reported that several trees were down in the far northern part of the county near Roddy.
The Dodge County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail in the far northern part of the county between Gresston and Yonkers.
The Wheeler County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were down in the southern part of the county between Jordan and Lumber City along the Wheeler/Telfair county line. Some trees and power lines were down on Georgia Highway 19.
The Telfair County 911 Center reported that several trees were down in the Lumber City area near the Wheeler county line.
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, May 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: 172734, 172739, 172741, 172753, 172748, 172756, 172769, 172767, 172786, 172795, 172796, 172798, 172808, 172833, 172842, 172844, 172849, 172851, 172857, 172861.