Yet another flood event plauged north Georgia, just two weeks after the catastrohpic and historical flooding of late September. However, this event was considerably less severe than the September event.
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.
Yet another flood event plauged north Georgia, just two weeks after the catastrohpic and historical flooding of late September. However, this event was considerably less severe than the September event. A stationary front across the northern Gulf of Mexico and a large Canadian high across the northeast United States combined with abundant pacfic moisture and a strong southwesterly jet aloft, set the stage for a significant overrunning rain event across north Georgia. Several counties across north Georgia experienced minor to moderate flooding. Many streams, creeks, and rivers across this region were in flood once again for several days.
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 Oct 12, 4:35 AM EST, 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR AVIATION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 535 AM EDT MON OCT 12 2009 .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SHORT TERM MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH HEAVY RAIN EVENT SETTING UP FOR TODAY. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD EASTWARD INTO SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF NEW ENGLAND...WITH COLD AIR DAMMING AND A WEDGE SET UP BY THIS AFTERNOON. GOOD ISENTROPIC LIFT NOTED ABOVE THE WEDGE BY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH DEEP MOISTURE ACROSS THE AREA...AND A 35-40KT LOW LEVEL JET. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES EXPECTED ACROSS NORTH AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH THIS EVENING...AND WILL ISSUE A FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MIDNIGHT FOR AREAS NORTH OF A CENTRALHATCHEE...TO FORSYTH...TO LOUISVILLE LINE. EXPECT FLOODING WILL BE MAINLY ALONG CREEKS...STREAMS AND RIVERS. MODELS SHOW SURFACE FRONT OVER SOUTH GEORGIA LIFTING NORTHWARD THIS MORNING...BRINGING WARMER AIR ACROSS SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA. HAVE LEANED TOWARD MET FOR THE FIRST PERIOD AS IT CAPTURES COOLER TEMPERATURES ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA AND WARMER AIR OVER CENTRAL PORTIONS. HEAVY RAIN EXITS THE FORECAST AREA BY LATE THIS EVENING AS THE WEDGE ERODES...ALLOWING SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO BEGIN BUILDING SOUTHEASTWARD FROM THE PLAINS. ALTHOUGH THIS SHOULD BRING A RESPITE FROM THE RAIN ON TUESDAY...GOOD MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE AHEAD OF THE NEXT SYSTEM WHICH DEVELOPS OVER THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...SPREADING ANOTHER ROUND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY. SIMILAR TO TODAYS EVENT... CAD/WEDGE WILL SET UP DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH ISENTROPIC LIFT DEVELOPING BETWEEN 06-12Z...SUPPORTING CATEGORICAL POPS ONCE AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN NORTH AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA WILL BE THE AREAS FOR THE BEST RAINFALL...HAVE BROUGHT ISOLATED THUNDER AS FAR NORTH AS A CARROLLTON TO MILLEDGEVILLE LINE AS MODELS SHOWING WEDGE FRONT ACROSS THIS AREA. HAVE LEANED TOWARD COOLER MET GUIDANCE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM PERIODS. .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... BEGINNING PORTION OF EXTENDED PERIODS REMAIN ACTIVE AND WET...WITH ANOTHER SURFACE LOW DEVELOPING OVER THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ON THURSDAY AND PUSHING ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH GEORGIA THROUGH FRIDAY. THIS WILL BRING CONTINUED CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH FRIDAY WHEN THE DEEPENING TROUGH PUSHES THE SURFACE FRONT OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST. WRAPAROUND MOISTURE OVER THE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS CONTINUES INTO EARLY SATURDAY AS TROUGH PUSHES EAST AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE AREA FOR SUNDAY. COLDER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES EXPECTED BY NEXT WEEKEND. 12 && .AVIATION... CEILINGS DROPPING QUICKLY INTO IFR RANGE THIS MORNING AS FAIRLY HEAVY RAIN MOISTENS THE LOWEST LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE. EXPECT IFR CONDITIONS TO PERSIST THROUGH THE NEXT 24+ HRS...WITH INTERMITTENT +RA POSSIBLE UNTIL THIS EVENING. WINDS REMAIN FROM EAST THROUGH THE PERIOD AS HIGH REMAINS TO OUR NORTHEAST AND FRONT LIFTS ONLY AS FAR NORTH AS CENTRAL GA TODAY. LIFR CEILINGS ARE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT. 07 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 60 54 77 58 61 / 100 30 5 50 90 ATLANTA 64 57 73 61 65 / 100 30 5 60 90 BLAIRSVILLE 61 50 72 53 58 / 100 30 5 70 80 CARTERSVILLE 63 55 73 59 64 / 100 30 0 70 90 COLUMBUS 80 64 78 66 74 / 80 30 20 70 80 GAINESVILLE 59 53 73 57 57 / 100 30 5 60 90 MACON 74 61 80 64 70 / 90 30 20 50 80 ROME 65 57 78 61 66 / 100 30 5 80 80 PEACHTREE CITY 69 58 74 59 68 / 100 30 5 70 90 VIDALIA 79 64 79 63 74 / 70 30 30 30 70 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLOOD WATCH FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BALDWIN...BANKS...BARROW...BARTOW...BUTTS... CARROLL...CATOOSA...CHATTOOGA...CHEROKEE...CLARKE...CLAYTON... COBB...COWETA...DADE...DAWSON...DEKALB...DOUGLAS...FANNIN... FAYETTE...FLOYD...FORSYTH...GILMER...GLASCOCK...GORDON... GREENE...GWINNETT...HALL...HANCOCK...HARALSON...HEARD...HENRY... JACKSON...JASPER...JEFFERSON...JONES...LAMAR...LUMPKIN... MADISON...MONROE...MORGAN...MURRAY...NEWTON...NORTH FULTON... OCONEE...OGLETHORPE...PAULDING...PICKENS...PIKE...POLK... PUTNAM...ROCKDALE...SOUTH FULTON...SPALDING...TALIAFERRO... TOWNS...UNION...WALKER...WALTON...WARREN...WASHINGTON...WHITE... WHITFIELD...WILKES. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 353 AM EDT MON OCT 12 2009 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-131000- 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- 353 AM EDT MON OCT 12 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT WIDESPREAD RAIN AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL TODAY AND THIS EVENING. .SYNOPSIS... A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT FROM FAR NORTH FLORIDA INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY. TROPICAL MOISTURE OVERRUNNING THE FRONT WILL RESULT IN WIDESPREAD RAIN ACROSS NORTH AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. THE RAIN WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING...HOWEVER ANOTHER APPROACHING WEATHER DISTURBANCE MAY BRING ANOTHER BOUT OF HEAVY RAIN ON WEDNESDAY. .PRIMARY HAZARDS... HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TODAY ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA... ALONG AND NORTH OF A NEWNAN TO MILLEDGEVILLE LINE...WHERE A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TUESDAY. MINOR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE ALONG CREEKS...STREAMS...AND A FEW RIVERS. .DISCUSSION... DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES NEAR 2 INCHES AND A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...SETTING THE STAGE FOR A COUPLE SIGNIFICANT WEATHER DISTURBANCES TO BRING HEAVY RAIN TO OUR AREA. THIS FIRST DISTURBANCE WILL CROSS GEORGIA TODAY...WITH A SECOND ONE ARRIVING ON WEDNESDAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY...WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE ON WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED BUT SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER...HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS...OR FLOODING THROUGH THE WEB BY GOING TO WEATHER.GOV/ATLANTA.
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:01 UTC.
9 flash flood, 7 flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
The Gordon County Emergency Management Director reported that around 30 roads were closed across the county because of high water.
Several USGS stream gages indicated flooding on creeks and streams across Gwinnett county. At 914 am EDT, Pew Creek near Lawrenceville reached its flood stage of 11.0 feet. At 1020 am EDT, Level Creek near Suwanee reached its flood stage of 9.0 feet. At 1138 am EDT, the Alcovy River near Lawrenceville reached its flood stage of 9.0 feet. At 1150 am EDT, Crooked Creek near Norcross reached its flood stage of 11.0 feet. At 1259 pm EDT, Big Haynes Creek reached its flood stage of 10.0 feet. Finally, the Yellow River near Lithonia reached its flood stage of 13.0 feet at 135 pm EDT. Flooding continued along the creeks, streams, and rivers through 230 pm EDT. However, damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creeks and streams.
The Banks County Emergency Management Director reported flash flooding in certain areas across the county. The most significant flooding occurred in the highly flash flood prone area of Banks Crossing near the intersection of Interstate-85 and U.S. Highway 441. Portions of the roads experienced minor flooding. Crooked Creek was out of its banks in the Commerce Factory Mall parking lot. Damage was minor and confined to debris removal.
The Jackson County Emergency Management Director reported flash flooding in the far northeast part of the county near the Banks county line in the Banks Crossing area, or near the intersection of Interstate-85 and U.S. Highway 441. Flash flooding was observed in the Commerce Factory Mall parking lot, along the county line. Damage was confined to minor debris removal.
The USGS stream gage on Dick Creek near Suwanee reached its flood stage of 10.0 feet at 1025 am EDT. The creek remained in flood until 215 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creek.
The USGS stream gage on Dick Creek near Suwanee reached its flood stage of 10.0 feet at 1025 am EDT and remained in minor flood through 215 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creek.
USGS stream gages across Cobb county showed several locations going into flood. On Sope Creek near Marietta, the flood stage of 12.0 feet was reached at 1037 am EDT. At 1041 am EDT, Allatoona Creek near Mars Hill reached its flood stage of 13.0 feet. At 1044 am EDT, Nickajack Creek near Mableton reached its flood stage of 10.0 feet. Finally, at 1212 pm EDT, flood stage of 10.0 feet was reached on Noonday Creek near Woodstock. The creeks and streams remained in flood through 230 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creeks and streams.
The USGS stream gage on the North Fork of Peachtree Creek near Atlanta reached its flood stage of 12.0 feet and remained in flood for nearly four hours. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creek.
USGS stream gages along Nancy Creek and Peachtree Creek in north Atlanta reached and exceeded their flood stages during an approximate three-hour period. Nancy Creek reached its flood stage of 11.0 feet at 1148 am EDT while Peachtree Creek reached its flood stage of 17.0 feet at 150 pm EDT. The creeks remained in flood through 230 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creeks.
The USGS stream gage on Noonday Creek near Woodstock rose to minor flood stage at 1230 pm EDT and remained in flood until 2:30 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creek.
The USGS stream gage on the Little River near Woodstock reached its flood stage of 11 feet at 333 pm EDT. The Etowah River near East Canton reached its flood stage of 17 feet at 856 pm EDT. Flooding subsided after 0130 am EDT on the 13th. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the rivers.
The USGS stream gage on Noses Creek near Powder Springs reached its flood stage of 11.0 feet at 742 pm EDT and remained in flood until 1130 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creek.
The USGS stream gage along the North Fork of Peachtree Creek in northeast Atlanta showed that minor flooding continued across the region following earlier flash flooding. Minor flooding was also observed along the Yellow River in the eastern and southern part of the county. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creeks and rivers.
The USGS stream gage along Big Creek between Alpharetta and Cumming in the southwest part of the county showed that minor flooding continued across the area following earlier flash flooding. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creek.
The USGS stream gages along Nancy and Peachtree Creeks in north and northeast Atlanta, as well as along the Chattahoochee River, showed that minor flooding continued across areas adjacent to the creeks and rivers. This followed earlier flash flooding along Peachtree Creek. Additional damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creeks and rivers.
USGS stream gages indicated that minor flooding continued along Pew Creek, Level Creek, Crooked Creek, and Big Haynes Creek. Minor flooding also continued along the Alcovy and Yellow Rivers. This followed earlier flash flooding along many of these same creeks and rivers. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the creeks, streams, and rivers.
The USGS stream gage along the Coosa River near Rome reached its flood stage of 24.0 feet at 307 am EDT and remained in flood until 745 pm EDT. Damage was confined to minor debris removal adjacent to the river.
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, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 203998, 203958, 203960, 203964, 203956, 206036, 203954, 203955, 203957, 203953, 203988, 203989, 203991, 203993, 203994, 203996, 203997.