Flash Flooding and Hail in Georgia, September 22, 2011

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Georgia, September 22, 2011
Start: 2011-09-22T13:57
End: 2011-09-22T21:30
Location: Georgia

September 22, 2011 · NWS FFC · 7 events in 3 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $344,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FFC wrote it up.

A deepening upper-level low was progressing slowly southeastward from the northern plains into the Ohio Valley region. By September 24th, this system had become a deep cutoff low which meandered about the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic region for over a week. On September 22nd as the upper low was progressing slowly southeast and deepening, a leading short wave and associated cold front progressing into the southeast U.S. encountered an unseasonably warm, moist, almost tropical air mass. Precipitable water values were well above average, running in the 1.8 to 2.1 range across the region as the upper low approached the region. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms persisted across parts of east central and central Georgia during the early to mid-morning hours. After a lull in activity during midday, afternoon heating helped initiate redevelopment across north and west central Georgia. Given the high water content of the air mass and slow movement of the individual thunderstorm cells, excessive rainfall was observed from the stronger cells. There were two incidents of flash flooding in the Atlanta metropolitan area. In addition, the storms were efficient cloud-to-ground lightning producers, with at least one lightning-related fire reported from this event.

What forecasters said that day

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 Sep 22, 12:50 PM EST, 1 hour 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 22, 12:50 PM EST, 1 hour 7 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
150 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1001 AM EDT THU SEP 22 2011/

UPDATE...
CONTINUED HIGH POPS ACROSS CENTRAL AND A LARGE PORTION OF N GA BUMPING
UP THE FAR SE CWA TO 80 PERCENT FOR THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS
PREDOMINATING WITH HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL BUT STILL THE CHANCE FOR
THUNDERSTORMS ANYWHERE AS A MOIST AIRMASS WITH GULF MOISTURE CONTINUES.
BDL

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 730 AM EDT THU SEP 22 2011/

.HIGH RAIN CHANCES TODAY TO GIVE WAY TO A DRIER WEEKEND...

SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...

LATEST MSAS ANALYSIS SHOWS A SUBTLE INVERTED TROUGH EXTENDING FROM
THE GULF COAST THROUGH MUCH OF WESTERN ALABAMA. THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THIS FEATURE HAS ALLOWED FOR A RICH TROPICAL FETCH INTO THE LOCAL
AREA WITH UNSEASONABLY HIGH DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER 70S FOR MUCH OF
THE SOUTHERN TIER. AT THE MID AND UPPER LEVELS...A SUBSTANTIAL
SHORTWAVE KINK IN THE FLOW HAS DEVELOPED OVER SW GEORGIA AND THE
PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA AND IS MOVING NORTHEAST. THIS ALONG WITH
ONGOING ISENTROPIC PROCESSES HAS ALLOWED FOR WIDESPREAD PRECIP
DEVELOPMENT...ALTHOUGH ONLY SCT CELLS ARE PRODUCING MODERATE TO
HEAVY RAINFALL. WHERE IT IS RAINING HEAVILY...THERE IS DEFINITELY
A TRAINING ASPECT TO THE ACTIVITY AND WILL NEED TO WATCH FOR
FLOODING ISSUES THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS EVEN THOUGH THE
RAIN WILL BE WELCOMED FOR MOST SITES,

FOR TODAY...AS SHORTWAVE MOVES NE...EXPECT PRECIP SHIELD TO
CONTINUE BUILDING BACK WESTWARD OVER THE FORECAST AREA WITH MORE
LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING.
THERE IS INDICATED IN THE MODELS AN AREA OF ENHANCED LIFT TO
DEVELOP LATE TODAY OVER NORTH GA. WOULD EXPECT THIS AREA WILL NEED
TO BE MONITORED FOR FLOODING POTENTIAL AS SETUP WILL REMAIN
CONDUCIVE FOR SOME TRAINING ECHOS. THIS AREA SHOULD BE SHORT LIVED
HOWEVER AS MODELS INDICATE OMEGA MAXIMA LIFTING OUT OF THE AREA BY
06Z FRIDAY.

A BRIEF RESPITE THU NIGHT BEFORE COLD POOL APPROACHES THE AREA
FRIDAY AFTERNOON. MODELS DIFFER ON HOW MUCH MOISTURE AXIS SHIFTS
EAST OF THE AREA BUT AT THIS POINT FAVOR THE GFS WITH A MORE
PROGRESSIVE SOLUTION OF CLEARING THINGS OUT FROM NW TO SE. THERE
ARE STILL INDICATIONS OF SECONDARY DEVELOPMENT ALONG ACTUAL FRONT
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND CONSEQUENTLY WILL KEEP CHANCE POPS IN THROUGH
THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

LARGE SCALE EAST COAST TROUGH WILL KEEP ACTIVITY SE OF THE AREA
FOR SATURDAY WITH MINIMAL POPS IF ANY EXPECTED. COULD STILL SEE A
FEW INSTABILITY BASED SHOWERS OR STORMS DEVELOP DUE TO COLD POOL
PROXIMITY TO THE NORTH BUT CHANCES WILL BE LOW.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...SURFACE REFLECTION
OF DEEP UPPER LOW EVENTUALLY DEVELOPS OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND
DRAGS AND FRONTAL BOUNDARY INTO THE LOCAL AREA PER GFS. ECMWF HAS
NO SUCH FEATURE. REGARDLESS...RAIN CHANCES ASSOCIATED WITH FEATURE
WOULD BE QUITE LOW AND HAVE JUST INDICATED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR
NOW.

23

.AVIATION...
18Z UPDATE...
MVFR AND VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD BE THE NORM FOR THE PERIOD TONIGHT.
DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF PRECIP WE GET...MAY NEED TO MOVE MOST
OF THE TAF SITES TO IFR OR LIFR CEILINGS TOMORROW MORNING. AS OF
NOW...WILL LEAVE ALL SITES EXCEPT FOR AHN IN LOW MVFR TOMORROW
MORNING. ALSO OF CONCERN IS THE CHANCE FOR TS. IT LOOKS LIKE ALL
TAF SITES MAY SEE SHRA...AND SOME MAY SEE TSRA THIS AFTERNOON
THROUGH MID MORNING. WILL NEED TO MONITOR FOR POSSIBLE TEMPOS.

//ATL CONFIDENCE...18Z UPDATE...
LOW CONFIDENCE ON THE CEILINGS AND VISBYS FOR TOMORROW MORNING.
MEDIUM CONFIDENCE OF TS AND RA AFFECTING TAF SITES AND HIGH
CONFIDENCE ON ALL OTHER ELEMENTS.

26

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
ATHENS          81  66  82  62 /  90  70  40  30
ATLANTA         81  68  79  60 /  90  60  30  30
BLAIRSVILLE     76  62  73  52 /  60  70  30  20
CARTERSVILLE    81  64  77  55 /  60  60  30  20
COLUMBUS        82  69  84  64 /  80  50  40  30
GAINESVILLE     79  66  77  59 /  90  70  30  30
MACON           84  66  85  63 /  90  50  50  40
ROME            82  65  77  55 /  40  50  30  10
PEACHTREE CITY  80  63  80  56 /  90  60  40  30
VIDALIA         86  68  86  66 /  80  50  60  40

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

26

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 22, 3:54 AM EST, 10 hours 3 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
454 AM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-231000-
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-
454 AM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.SYNOPSIS...
A STALLED UPPER TROUGH AND SURFACE BOUNDARY EXTENDED ACROSS
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA INTO THE CAROLINAS. A DEEPENING UPPER TROUGH WAS
DIGGING INTO THE CENTRAL U.S...WITH AN ASSOCIATED STRONG COLD
FRONT. THE UPPER TROUGH ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA WILL MOVE LITTLE
THROUGH FRIDAY...AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF THE SYSTEM FROM THE
NORTHWEST LATER ON FRIDAY TO FINALLY MOVE IT EASTWARD OUT OF THE
STATE.

.PRIMARY HAZARDS...
THE PRIMARY HAZARD TODAY WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THAT MAY
RESULT IN AREAS OF LOCALIZED FLOODING OR FLASH FLOODING. IN ADDITION...
OCCASIONAL CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING WILL BE A HAZARD WITH ANY
THUNDERSTORMS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF NORTH
AND CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY AND TONIGHT...BUT ARE EXPECTED TO BE
MOST NUMEROUS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE STATE.

.DISCUSSION...
A STALLED UPPER TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED WEAK SURFACE TROUGH REMAINED
ACROSS CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA...DELINEATING VERY MOIST
TROPICAL AIR WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE 70S FROM SLIGHTLY DRIER AIR TO
THE NORTHWEST...WHERE DEWPOINTS WERE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S.
BROAD SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WAS PROVIDING AN AMPLE LIFTING
MECHANISM FOR THE WARM...MOIST AIR RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING. THIS PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. MEANWHILE...A MUCH STRONGER UPPER-LEVEL
LOW PRESSURE AREA AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE
STATE FROM THE NORTHWEST TONIGHT...THEN SWEEP SLOWLY THROUGH THE
REGION FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL DYNAMICS FOR MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AS IT
ENCOUNTERS THE VERY MOIST AIR MASS ACROSS THE STATE. HOWEVER...WEAK
SHEAR AND MARGINAL INSTABILITY SHOULD PRECLUDE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.
A GREATER CONCERN WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER
VALUES NEAR 2.0 INCHES...THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE EFFICIENT RAIN PRODUCERS.
WITH PERSISTENT SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT...SOME TRAINING OF
THUNDERSTORM AND SHOWER CELLS CAN BE EXPECTED...RESULTING IN
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IN SOME AREAS...HENCE FLOODING OR POSSIBLY EVEN
LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
THERE WILL BE A CONTINUED CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY.
ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MONDAY
THROUGH TUESDAY...MAINLY ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED BUT SPOTTERS AND COCORAHS
OBSERVERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT REPORTS OF HEAVY RAINFALL THROUGH
THE WEB BY GOING TO WEATHER.GOV/ATLANTA.

19

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 22, 12:33 PM EST, 1 hour 24 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
133 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

GAZ097-098-109-111-221815-
133 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HEAVY RAIN IN WHEELER...
TREUTLEN...LAURENS AND DODGE COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM EDT...

AT 128 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CEDAR GROVE...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH.

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN ACROSS WHEELER...TREUTLEN...LAURENS AND
DODGE COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF
THIS STORM INCLUDE ALAMO...CEDAR GROVE...RENTZ AND LOWERY. HEAVY
DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 3217 8298 3247 8301 3238 8272 3234 8273
      3233 8275 3229 8270 3230 8266 3229 8265
      3213 8278
TIME...MOT...LOC 1732Z 201DEG 14KT 3226 8284

Special weather statement, Sep 22, 1:01 PM EST, 56 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
201 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

GAZ041-042-221845-
201 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 35 MPH WINDS
IN CARROLL AND HARALSON COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM EDT...

AT 157 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER BOWDON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AS IT MOVES ACROSS
CARROLL AND HARALSON COUNTIES THROUGH 245 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN
THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE BOWDON...MOUNT ZION...JOHN TANNER
STATE PARK...WACO AND BOWDON JUNCTION. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE
PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED FOR WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...
HAIL LESS THAN THE SIZE OF QUARTERS...OR SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND
LIGHTNING.

&&

LAT...LON 3379 8516 3354 8512 3353 8528 3367 8533
TIME...MOT...LOC 1801Z 258DEG 7KT 3359 8522

Special weather statement, Sep 22, 1:32 PM EST, 25 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
232 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

GAZ086-098-111>113-221915-
232 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HEAVY RAIN IN WHEELER...
TREUTLEN...TOOMBS...MONTGOMERY AND EMANUEL COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM
EDT...

AT 224 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS...WITH HEAVY RAIN...FROM AROUND KIBBEE TO GLENWOOD...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS UP TO AN
INCH AND A HALF IN AN HOUR...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
AND WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AS THEY MOVE ACROSS WHEELER...TREUTLEN...
TOOMBS...MONTGOMERY AND EMANUEL COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM EDT. SOME
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE GLENWOOD...AILEY...
MOUNT VERNON...LANDSBURG...AILEY...VIDALIA...HIGGSTON...BARNHILL...
FIVE POINTS...NORMANTOWN...KIBBEE...TARRYTOWN...ORLAND AND ZAIDEE.
HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED FOR HEAVY RAIN...WINDS UP
TO 50 MPH...HAIL LESS THAN THE SIZE OF QUARTERS...OR SIGNIFICANT
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING.

&&

LAT...LON 3217 8237 3212 8248 3209 8269 3222 8282
      3231 8272 3234 8275 3241 8270 3246 8269
      3246 8265 3250 8265 3252 8261 3253 8247
      3251 8238 3248 8232 3240 8226
TIME...MOT...LOC 1829Z 238DEG 8KT 3224 8251 3218 8258
          3217 8268

Special weather statement, Sep 22, 1:49 PM EST, 8 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
249 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

GAZ020-021-221915-
249 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DIME SIZED HAIL AND 35 MPH WINDS
IN BARTOW AND CHEROKEE COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT...

AT 247 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES WEST OF LAKE ARROWHEAD...MOVING EAST AT
10 MPH.

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DIME SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AS IT MOVES ACROSS
BARTOW AND CHEROKEE COUNTIES THROUGH 315 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN
THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE SUTALLEE AND LAKE ARROWHEAD. HEAVY
DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED FOR WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...
HAIL LESS THAN THE SIZE OF QUARTERS...OR SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND
LIGHTNING.

&&

LAT...LON 3440 8461 3422 8456 3422 8472 3428 8475
TIME...MOT...LOC 1849Z 253DEG 10KT 3428 8469

Special weather statement, Sep 22, 1:54 PM EST, 3 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
254 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

GAZ019-221930-
254 PM EDT THU SEP 22 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DIME SIZED HAIL AND 35 MPH WINDS
IN FLOYD COUNTY UNTIL 330 PM EDT...

AT 252 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LINDALE...MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 15 MPH.

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DIME SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH AS IT MOVES ACROSS
FLOYD COUNTY THROUGH 330 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS
STORM INCLUDE LINDALE AND SENEY. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING
OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED FOR WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...
HAIL LESS THAN THE SIZE OF QUARTERS...OR SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND
LIGHTNING.

&&

LAT...LON 3413 8532 3425 8516 3408 8512 3408 8516
      3410 8516 3410 8525 3408 8526 3408 8530
TIME...MOT...LOC 1855Z 259DEG 12KT 3411 8527

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 12 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:57 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 lightning, 2 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Coweta

When: September 22, 1:57 PM EST
Where: Coweta County, 0.97 mi SW of Thomas Xrds
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.392, -84.694

The Coweta County Emergency Management Director reported that a home in Thomas Crossroads on Sandra Lane in the Legacy Estates Subdivision just south of Georgia Highway 34 was struck by lightning and set on fire. The attic of the home suffered considerable fire damage before the fire was brought under control. The home was rendered uninhabitable as a result of the fire.

Lightning, Coweta

When: September 22, 2:04 PM EST
Where: Coweta County, 1.33 mi ENE of Thomas Xrds
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.404, -84.657

The Coweta County Emergency Management Director reported that a second home was struck by lightning. This home was located at 220 Spring Forest Way, again in the Thomas Crossroads area. No fire occurred and only minor electrical damage was observed.

Flash Flood, Fayette

When: September 22, 4:15 PM EST to 6:45 PM EST
Where: Fayette County, 1.09 mi S of Aberdeen to 0.73 mi SE of Clover
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.404, -84.599

The Fayette County Emergency Management Director reported flash flooding in the Tinsley Mill Village area of Peachtree City. The flood was the result of Cherry Branch coming out of its banks as over two inches of rain fell in less than two hours in a flash flood prone area. The waters from Cherry Branch surrounded two condominums, but did not enter the properties. No evacuations were required. Elsewhere in Peachtree City, a detention pond on Crosstown Road flooded the basement of a home on Prestwick Lane with two to three feet of water and a pond at Luther Glass Park along South Peachtree Parkway overflowed and flooded portions of the adjacent golf cart path with approximately two feet of water. Monetary damage to the flooded basement and debris cleanup along roads, golf cart paths, and property was estimated to be approximately $10,000.

Lightning, Coweta

When: September 22, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Coweta County, 2.7 mi WNW of Welcome
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.417, -84.922

The Coweta County Emergency Management Director reported that lightning struck yet a third home, this time in western Coweta county. The home suffered extensive fire and smoke damage as a result of the lightning strike, rendering the home uninhabitable.

Thunderstorm Wind, Forsyth

When: September 22, 5:50 PM EST to 5:57 PM EST
Where: Forsyth County, Matt to Silver City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.300, -84.150

The Forsyth County Emergency Management reported that at least six trees were down in the far northern part of the county near Silver City. One tree was down on a home causing damage to the structure. At least two power lines were also down. Three of the trees and one of the power lines were snapped in half. There was suspicion that the event may have been caused by a weak EF0 tornado. However, this was not confirmed. WSR-88D base velocity data indicated at least weak rotation in the area at the time.

Hail, Forsyth

When: September 22, 6:30 PM EST to 6:40 PM EST
Where: Forsyth County, 3.59 mi E of Silver City to 4.06 mi ENE of Silver City
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.328, -84.057

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Director relayed reports of pea to penny-sized hail near Jot-Em-Down Road and Georgia Highway 400.

Flash Flood, Forsyth

When: September 22, 6:40 PM EST to 9:30 PM EST
Where: Forsyth County, 1.15 mi WNW of Hightower to 0.47 mi SW of Heardville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.304, -84.240

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Director reported flash flooding near Georgia Highway 369 in the Heardsville area in the northwest part of the county. Debris was observed on the roadway. KFFC WSR-88D estimated that four to five inches of rain fell across the northwest part of Forsyth county. Monetary damage was confined to debris removal.

What these are

Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, September 2011

Sources

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: 347928, 347930, 347921, 347932, 347934, 347936, 347925.