S. and a stationary front draped from the Tennessee Valley southwest into Texas.
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.
The pattern of early May continued, namely a series of weak short waves moving through a broad trough across the eastern half of the U.S. and a stationary front draped from the Tennessee Valley southwest into Texas. The majority of the thunderstorm development on this day was across north central and northeast Georgia. A few storms became strong to severe during the late afternoon.
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 8, 3:05 PM EST, 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 405 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS HAS MOVED INTO THE CAROLINAS...WITH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS THAT DIMINISHED ON TRAILING END ACROSS EASTERN GEORGIA. LARGE MCS OVER OHIO VALLEY MOVING MOSTLY EASTWARD. SOME DEVELOPMENT SEEN ON SOUTHERN END. WITH A MOSTLY UNSTABLE AIR MASS OVER THE CWA...AND OLD OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES...HAVE LEFT POPS ACROSS THE NORTH AND PARTS OF THE EAST TONIGHT. CWA REMAINS IN A SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WITH A BOUNDARY FLUCTUATING ACROSS THE NORTHERN BORDER. A SERIES OF IMPULSES MOVE ACROSS THIS BOUNDARY THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. HAVE LEFT POPS ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA...WITH HIGHEST POPS ACROSS THE NORTH. MODELS INDICATE THE BOUNDARY MAY SLIP INTO NORTH GEORGIA ON SUNDAY. NOT SURE HOW FAR SOUTH THE BOUNDARY WILL GET SINCE WINDS ALOFT REMAIN GENERALLY ZONAL. MODELS SHOW COOLER TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY AND FOR NOW HAVE GONE ALONG WITH THIS. .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... NO CHANGES TO THE LONG TERM. MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW SOME DRYING FOR THE FIRST OF THE WEEK AS UPPER FLOW TURNS NORTHWEST. MOISTURE RETURNING BY MID WEEK AHEAD OF A TROUGH DEEPENING INTO THE MIDWEST. HAVE KEPT THE FORECAST DRY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH POPS RETURNING THEREAFTER. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 62 85 62 79 57 / 30 30 20 30 30 ATLANTA 67 83 64 78 59 / 20 30 20 30 30 BLAIRSVILLE 57 75 56 72 52 / 40 60 30 30 40 CARTERSVILLE 63 83 59 75 56 / 20 50 30 30 30 COLUMBUS 67 88 68 86 64 / 10 10 10 20 20 GAINESVILLE 64 83 62 78 56 / 40 40 30 40 30 MACON 64 88 66 88 63 / 20 10 10 30 20 ROME 65 84 62 79 58 / 20 50 30 30 30 PEACHTREE CITY 60 84 63 80 60 / 20 20 20 30 30 VIDALIA 64 91 67 88 66 / 5 5 10 30 20 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 41
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 559 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-091000- 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- 559 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA. .SYNOPSIS... A SHORT WAVE OVER TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY WILL MOVE SLOWLY SE AND HELP SPARK A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTH GA TODAY. THE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER FLORIDA AND SOUTH GEORGIA SHOULD HELP KEEP ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS CONFINED TO NORTH GEORGIA THROUGH TONIGHT. .PRIMARY HAZARDS... THE MAIN THREAT FROM ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS TODAY WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. THE BEST TIME FOR ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ALONG AND NORTH OF A ROME TO CANTON TO CLEVELAND LINE. .DISCUSSION... THERE IS A SHORT WAVE THIS MORNINGS PUSHING SOUTHEAST THROUGH TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY WHICH WILL HELP TO SPARK A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY ACROSS NORTH GA. THERE IS ALSO A SURFACE TROUGH AND WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY PARKED OVER NORTH GA WHICH WILL PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR SCATTERED CONVECTION LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS COUPLED WITH MODERATE INSTABILITIES (1500-2000 CAPES...MINUS 5 TO MINUS7 LI'S) AND A SERIES OF WEAK UPPER DISTURBANCES SUGGEST A FEW STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG TO SEVERE. NORTH GEORGIA IS CURRENTLY UNDER A SLIGHT RISK AREA...GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A ROME TO CANTON TO CLEVELAND LINE WHERE THE BETTER FORCING WILL EXIST. THIS THREAT WILL DIMINISH TONIGHT WITH THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY.AND AGAIN ON THURSDAY...OTHERWISE NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT EACH DAY...EXCEPT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... DUE TO THE ISOLATED AND MARGINAL SEVERITY OF ANY STORMS THAT DEVELOP...SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT.
GAC187-281-291-311-081530- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 1057 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 GAZ008-009-015-016-081530- LUMPKIN-TOWNS-UNION-WHITE- 1057 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR LUMPKIN...WHITE...UNION AND TOWNS COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 AM EDT... AT 1057 AM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 19 MILES NORTH OF CLEVELAND TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF CLEVELAND TO 16 MILES NORTHWEST OF DAHLONEGA...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THE PRIMARY THREATS ARE STRONG GUSTY WINDS UP TO 45 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. STRONG WINDS WILL BREAK OFF SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN FURNITURE AND TRASH CANS. TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM LIGHTNING BY SEEKING SHELTER IN A SUBSTANTIAL ENCLOSED BUILDING OR A METAL AUTOMOBILE. IF YOU ARE ON THE WATER AND YOUR BOAT HAS A CABIN...USE THE CABIN FOR A LIGHTNING SHELTER. OTHERWISE...BOATERS SHOULD HEAD TO SHORE AND SEEK SHELTER THERE. AVOID ELECTRICAL DEVICES AND OTHER OBJECTS WHICH CAN CONDUCT LIGHTNING. WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST RUMBLE OF THUNDER BEFORE RESUMING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. 75
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1058 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 GAZ016-081530- 1058 AM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR 45 MPH WINDS IN WHITE COUNTY UNTIL 1130 AM EDT... AT 1057 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM SAUTEE TO QUALATCHEE LAKE...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AS THEY MOVE ACROSS WHITE COUNTY THROUGH 1130 AM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE SMITHGALL WOODS CONSERVATION AREA... ROBERTSTOWN...HELEN...QUALATCHEE LAKE...SAUTEE...CLEVELAND...LEAF AND MOSSY CREEK. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. THESE WIND GUSTS MAY PRODUCE MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOW LIGHT...UNSECURED OBJECTS AROUND.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1253 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 GAZ022>025-081800- 1253 PM EDT FRI MAY 8 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR 35 MPH WINDS IN JACKSON...FORSYTH... BANKS AND HALL COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM EDT... AT 1251 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM OAKWOOD TO FLOWERY BRANCH...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AS THEY MOVE ACROSS JACKSON...FORSYTH...BANKS AND HALL COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE OAKWOOD... FLOWERY BRANCH...GAINESVILLE...CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN...CANDLER...TALMO AND GILLSVILLE. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 147 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:50 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A CoCoRaHS observer reported nickel-sized hail near Oasis in northwest Fannin county.
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: 172588.