A deep, closed low continued to move grudgingly through the southeast United States. An associated nearly occluded front was located from middle Tennessee to the central Alabama Gulf Coast.
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 deep, closed low continued to move grudgingly through the southeast United States. An associated nearly occluded front was located from middle Tennessee to the central Alabama Gulf Coast. A warm, unstable air mass continued across Georgia in advance of the front. Earlier convection had pushed a pre-frontal trough into central Georgia. This trough served as a focus for scattered afternoon and early evening thunderstorms across east central and middle Georgia. Several of these became severe producing damaging wind gusts. All hail reported with these thunderstorms was penny-size or less.
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 14, 12:59 PM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 159 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1103 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011/ UPDATE... COLD FRONT CURRENT OVER EASTERN ALABAMA WILL CONTINUE MOVING EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. LATEST SOUNDINGS IN FFC AND BMX INDICATE A VERY DRY ATMOSPHERE JUST OFF THE SURFACE AND EVEN WITH SOME SURFACE HEATING TO REACH THE TOP OF THE CAP...THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE TOO DRY TO PRODUCE ANY PRECIP AND WILL THEREFORE REMOVE PRECIP FROM THE AFTERNOON FROM ATL-SUMTER AND WESTWARD. EXTREME NORTH GA REMAINS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE UPPER ENERGY AND MOISTURE WHERE A 20/30 POPS WILL BE NEEDED FOR THIS AFTERNOON. CONVECTION OVER SOUTH GA ABSORBING MOST OF THE ENERGY FROM THE SYSTEM AND IT APPEARS THE RISK OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS OVER THE EASTERN PART OF THE CWA HAS DIMINISHED. WILL LEAVE A 30/40 POP FOR THUNDER OVER EASTERN GEORGIA FOR THIS AFTERNOON IN ADVANCE OF THE COLD FRONT. 17 PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 731 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011/ SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH MONDAY/... /ISSUED 0237 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011/ LATEST MSAS ANALYSIS SHOWS SEVERAL TROUGHS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST STATES...THE CLOSEST BEING ALONG EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE STATE. A MORE PRONOUNCED TROUGH HOWEVER WAS LOCATED ALONG THE ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI BORDER AND EXTENDED THROUGH THE NORTHERN GULF COAST. ALONG THIS FEATURE...AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS ONGOING...AIDED BY THE PRESENCE OF INCREASING DIFFLUENCE ALOFT WITH THE APPROACH OF UPPER LOW INTO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. CURRENT INSTABILITY PARAMETERS SUGGEST A NARROW AXIS EXISTS FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO THROUGH SOUTHERN ALABAMA TO SUPPORT AFOREMENTIONED CONVECTION WITH CONSIDERABLY LOWER VALUES OVER THE FORECAST AREA. THEREFORE EXPECT SOME WEAKENING AS IT PROGRESSES EAST...ALTHOUGH SOME INSTABILITY WILL ADVECT NORTH AND EAST THROUGH DAYBREAK ALLOWING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A STRONG STORM OR TWO. ANTICIPATING THE FOCUS SHIFTING TO THE EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA LATER TODAY AS PREFRONTAL TROUGH AND DIFFLUENT ZONE ALOFT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INCREASING INSTABILITY WITH DAYTIME HEATING TO PRODUCE LIKELY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES. WILL BE CONTENDING WITH EARLY ONSET OF CONVECTION AND EXTENSIVE DEBRIS CLOUDS AHEAD OF ACTIVITY BUT MODEL SOUNDINGS SUGGEST IF SOUTHEAST SECTIONS CAN REACH THE MID 80S...INSTABILITY WOULD INCREASE TO OVER 3000 J/KG. EVEN WITH MORE MODEST 2000-2500 J/KG...WOULD ANTICIPATE SOME POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL THE MAIN CONCERNS. AS FOR ATLANTA METRO AND POINTS NORTHWARD...WILL STILL HAVE THE ACTUAL FRONT TO MOVE THROUGH AND ANY CLEARING DURING THE MORNING WOULD RESULT IN MORE INSTABILITY THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST BY MODELS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCT THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS BUT STILL NO SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED. ACTIVITY SHIFTS EAST OF THE AREA TONIGHT AS UPPER LOW BECOMES ENTRENCHED OVER THE OHIO AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS. DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW THIS UPPER LOW WILL SPECIFICALLY INFLUENCE THE AREA WX AS SURFACE INSTABILITY WITH THIS FEATURE IS MODEST AT BEST. CONTRAST THIS WITH THE FACT THAT INSTABILITY ALOFT IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE DUE TO -15C TEMPS AT 500MB OVER NORTHERN SECTIONS. GIVEN A LACK OF DEEP LAYER MOISTURE INITIALLY...FEEL IT WILL BE MORE OF A SCT SHRA EVENT SUNDAY. ENHANCED DYNAMIC LIFT POSSIBLE MONDAY AND GIVEN INCREASED MOISTURE...MAY NEED HIGHER POPS THAN CURRENTLY ADVERTISED BUT WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW SUNDAY EVENT PLAYS OUT BEFORE GOING TOO HIGH. REGARDLESS OF POP DISTRIBUTION...WILL BE MUCH COOLER WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE WITH HIGH TEMPS PUSHING CLOSE TO 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL PER THE MAV BY MONDAY. HARD TO BITE OFF ON SUCH DEPARTURES...BUT GIVEN LIKELY CLOUD COVER TO BE IN PLACE WITH UPPER LOW...WILL NOT STRAY TOO FAR FROM GUIDANCE AT THIS POINT. LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... /ISSUED 0237 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011/ EVEN COLDER TEMPS ALOFT FOR TUESDAY WITH 500 TEMPS PUSHING -20C...LEADING TO ADDITIONAL SHRA DEVELOPMENT...ESPECIALLY OVER THE MOUNTAINS. AGAIN...INSTABILITY APPEARS WEAK NEAR THE SURFACE BUT WILL NEED TO MONITOR AS ANY VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT COULD QUICKLY LEAD TO MORE ROBUST DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEED FOR TSRA INCLUSION IN THE EXTENDED. NEXT LARGE SCALE SYSTEM NOT SLATED UNTIL NEXT SATURDAY. DEESE AVIATION... 12Z UPDATE... SHOWER ACTIVITY CONTINUES TO DIMINISH ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING...BUT EXPECT ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON ACROSS PORTIONS OF N AND C GA AS COLD FRONT PUSHES INTO GA. IFR CIGS PRESENT THIS AM ASSOCIATED WITH SHOWERS OR DISSIPATED SHOWERS...AND EXPECT MVFR BY MID AM. SW WINDS WILL BECOME MORE W...WITH GENERALLY 12G18KTS AFTER 15-16Z AS FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA. CONDITIONS CLEAR QUICKLY THIS AFTERNOON...THEN MVFR CIGS RETURN AGAIN SUN AM. HAVE JUST KEPT CB IN TAFS AFTER 15Z...AND INTO THE AFTERNOON...DUE TO UNCERTAINTY WITH CONVECTION. //ATL CONFIDENCE...12Z UPDATE... MEDIUM CONFIDENCE ON ALL ELEMENTS...EXCEPT HIGH ON WINDS. 31 && .AVIATION... 18Z UPDATE... COLD FRONT IS KNOCKING ON GEORGIA'S DOOR...WITH GUSTY WNW WINDS EXPECTED ONCE IT PUSHES IN. STILL A CHANCE OF THUNDER ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT...SO HAVE LEFT CB IN THE CLOUD GROUPS FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS. SIGNIFICANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE SHOULD MOVE INTO MAINLY NORTH GEORGIA BEHIND THE FRONT...SO LOW MVFR CIGS EXPECTED SUNDAY MORNING FOR THE NORTHERN TAFS. SOME HINT AT IFR CIGS BUT HAVE NOT INCLUDED ANY FOR NOW. SHOULD START CLEARING BACK TO VFR BY MIDDAY SUNDAY WITH GUSTY WINDS BUILDING BACK IN. //ATL CONFIDENCE...18Z UPDATE... HIGH ON WINDS. MEDIUM ON CIGS. LOW ON DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIAL TSRA THROUGH 00Z TONIGHT. TDP && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 79 55 74 50 / 30 10 5 20 ATLANTA 76 54 69 50 / 10 10 5 20 BLAIRSVILLE 72 51 63 46 / 30 30 30 30 CARTERSVILLE 75 53 67 47 / 10 10 20 30 COLUMBUS 79 56 75 51 / 10 10 0 10 GAINESVILLE 76 54 69 50 / 20 10 20 30 MACON 83 55 77 51 / 40 10 5 10 ROME 77 54 69 50 / 20 20 20 30 PEACHTREE CITY 78 52 70 48 / 10 10 5 20 VIDALIA 84 63 80 56 / 50 20 5 10 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1145 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-150915- 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- 1145 AM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH THIS EVENING. .SYNOPSIS... LOW PRESSURE OVER THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY WILL DRAG A COLD FRONT THROUGH GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON. .PRIMARY HAZARDS... THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WILL BE GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL...AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. THE BEST LOCATION FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NORTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM ROME...TO GAINESVILLE...TO MACON...TO CORDELE. .DISCUSSION... LOW PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY WILL DRAG A COLD FRONT THROUGH GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...WITH SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY FOCUSED ALONG AND AHEAD OF THIS BOUNDARY. MODERATE INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED WITH CAPES BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500. SOME STORMS MAY BECOME STRONG...BUT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA EARLY SUNDAY. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
117 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
GAZ074-076-085-086-141745-
117 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS
IN WASHINGTON...JOHNSON...EMANUEL AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM
EDT...
AT 115 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER JOHNSON AND EMANUEL
COUNTIES...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZED HAIL ARE LIKELY AS THESE STORMS
MOVE ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON...JOHNSON...EMANUEL AND
SOUTH JEFFERSON COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM EDT.
&&
LAT...LON 3254 8203 3255 8209 3251 8215 3236 8224
3233 8224 3229 8228 3238 8240 3244 8238
3245 8240 3250 8255 3275 8287 3313 8228
3293 8227 3283 8231 3281 8221 3282 8215
3266 8207 3261 8200
TIME...MOT...LOC 1716Z 242DEG 18KT 3277 8267SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
212 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
GAZ071-072-081>083-094>096-105-107-141900-
212 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS
IN TWIGGS...PULASKI...PEACH...MONROE...JONES...BIBB...BLECKLEY...
CRAWFORD...DOOLY AND HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM EDT...
AT 207 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM RUSSELLVILLE TO VIENNA...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 30 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZED HAIL ARE LIKELY AS THESE STORMS
MOVE ACROSS TWIGGS...PULASKI...PEACH...MONROE...JONES...BIBB...
BLECKLEY...CRAWFORD...DOOLY AND HOUSTON COUNTIES THROUGH 300 PM EDT.
&&
LAT...LON 3272 8385 3288 8412 3312 8351 3305 8339
3293 8336 3289 8340 3258 8323 3241 8322
3234 8331 3233 8329 3225 8337 3220 8331
3211 8352 3212 8360 3208 8361 3202 8374
3203 8381
TIME...MOT...LOC 1812Z 245DEG 28KT 3285 8395 3276 8375
3247 8374 3213 8371SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
233 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
GAZ086-141900-
233 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS
IN EMANUEL COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM EDT...
AT 230 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER COLEMANS LAKE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH AND PEA SIZED HAIL ARE LIKELY AS THIS STORM
MOVES ACROSS NORTHEAST EMANUEL COUNTY THROUGH 300 PM EDT. SOME
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE
CANOOCHEE...SUMMERTOWN...THREE POINTS AND COLEMANS LAKE.
&&
LAT...LON 3264 8230 3282 8236 3284 8233 3283 8226
3281 8221 3282 8218 3282 8215 3280 8213
3278 8212 3268 8209
TIME...MOT...LOC 1833Z 245DEG 23KT 3280 8227SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
254 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
GAZ061-072>074-083>085-096-097-109-141945-
254 PM EDT SAT MAY 14 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS IN WASHINGTON...
TWIGGS...LAURENS...JONES...JOHNSON...WILKINSON...BALDWIN...
BLECKLEY...DODGE AND HANCOCK COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...
AT 248 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM GRAY TO BAILEYS PARK...MOVING EAST AT 30
MPH.
THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AS THEY MOVE
ACROSS WASHINGTON...TWIGGS...LAURENS...JONES...JOHNSON...WILKINSON...
BALDWIN...BLECKLEY...DODGE AND HANCOCK COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM EDT.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE PAULK...ROYAL...
PORTER...COLEY STATION...BAILEYS PARK...COCHRAN...DISTRICT PATH...
RIPLEY...FITZPATRICK...DRY BRANCH...MOUNTAIN SPRINGS...POSTELL...
CLINTON...BRADLEY AND WAYSIDE. BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE
PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
LAT...LON 3227 8335 3235 8344 3257 8342 3279 8352
3282 8349 3286 8355 3309 8365 3326 8302
3273 8280 3239 8282 3225 8337
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 253DEG 27KT 3304 8350 3260 8331
3235 8333The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 25 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:25 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The Wilkinson County 911 Center reported that several trees were down between Nicklesville and Toomsboro.
The Laurens County 911 Center reported that a small storage building was blown across a road three miles west of Dublin. At least three trees were also down from west to northeast of Dublin, including one on Elmwood Road at Whispering Pines Lane and on Crestview Drive at Powell Drive.
The public observed penny-sized hail south of Phoenix in east central Putnam county.
The Treutlen County Emergency Management Director reported penny-sized hail near Soperton.
Middle Georgia Electric Membership Cooperative reported that several trees and power lines were down along Connor Road, just south of Cedar Creek in northeast Wilcox county and along Antioch Church Road, near Antioch Church in southeast Wilcox county. The Wilcox County Emergency Management Director reported that at least two trees were down just south of Abbeville in far eastern Wilcox county.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 2011
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: 311505, 311267, 311512, 311535, 311545.