An upper ridge remained over the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes area, with easterly flow dominating across the Southeast. An upper disturbance moving across in the easterly flow combined with the continued moist and unstable airmass allowed numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening hours.
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.
An upper ridge remained over the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes area, with easterly flow dominating across the Southeast. An upper disturbance moving across in the easterly flow combined with the continued moist and unstable airmass allowed numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening hours. Many of these became severe with damaging winds and even some reports of large hail. Isolated flash flooding was reported as well.
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 Jul 17, 2:37 PM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 337 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013 .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... CURRENT SATELLITE LOOP SHOWS MAIN EASTERN WAVE MOVING INTO NE GA AT THE MOMENT. THE CURRENT RADAR LOP SHOWS SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS POPPING UP ACROSS NE GA WHICH IS DEFINITELY BEING GENERATED BY THIS WAVE. THE MAIN ENERGY FROM THIS WAVE IS EXPECTED TO STAY ACROSS NORTH GA BUT BOTH OUR LOCAL WRF AND THE HRRR SHOW A BIT MORE DIURNALLY DRIVEN POP UP SHRA/TSRA ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH 02-04Z TONIGHT. THE SURFACE TO UPPER LEVEL RIDGE KEEPS OUR AREA IN MOIST EASTERLY FLOW THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. THE MODELS ARE SHOWING ANOTHER WEAKER WAVE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA THU IN THIS EASTERLY FLOW. WITH THIS IN MIND SHOULD SEE ANOTHER DIURNALLY DRIVEN CONVECTIVE DAY THU. THERE IS VERY LITTLE SHEAR IN THIS ATMOSPHERE BUT THE CAPES AND LIS BOTH PEAK BETWEEN 18Z AND 00Z THIS AFTERNOON AND THURSDAY. TODAY SHOULD BE THE WARMEST DAY THIS WEEK WITH RISING THICKNESSES TODAY HOWEVER PRECIP/CLOUDS MAY OFFSET THE WARMING A LITTLE. H5 HEIGHTS WILL BE DROPPING THURSDAY YIELDING A SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPS. STAYING CLOSE TO CURRENT FORECAST TEMPS AS THEY STILL LOOKS GOOD. 01 .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... NO SIG CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED. ONLY CHANGE WERE TO THE POPS ON SUNDAY WHERE OUR NEIGHBORS AND GUIDANCE SUGGESTS A LIKELY CHANCE OF POPS. DECIDED TO GO WITH THAT FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON. OTHERWISE UPDATED THE DEWPOINTS...WINDS AND TEMPERATURES WITH NEW GUIDANCE. HAVE ATTACHED PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOR BREVITY. ARG && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 730 AM EDT WED JUL 17 2013/ LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... /ISSUED AT 355 AM EDT WED JUL 17 2013/ A TRANSITION TAKES PLACE THIS PERIOD FROM EAST FLOW ALOFT TO WESTERLY FLOW WITH A UPPER TROUGH DEVELOPING OVER THE EASTERN STATES. GFS AND EUROPEAN ARE SIMILAR WITH THIS CHANGE UNTIL THE MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY TIME FRAME WHEN THE EUROPEAN MOVES THE TROUGH TO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC AND THE GFS KEEPS THE UPPER TROUGH OVER THE OH/TN VALLEYS AS A STRONGER UPPER SHORT WAVE MOVES OVER THE MID U.S. PLENTY OF MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY THIS PERIOD FOR AT LEAST SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR MOST AREAS...TENDING TO MAXIMIZE IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. DEEPER MOISTURE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA WITH THE INITIAL ONSET OF THE UPPER TROUGH SUNDAY/MONDAY AS A FRONT BECOMES STATIONARY JUST N OF GA AND A SURFACE TROUGH SETS UP FROM THE CAROLINAS INTO GA. TEMPERATURES GENERALLY CLOSE TO NORMAL EXCEPT HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RUN SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL FROM SATURDAY ON. BDL AVIATION... 18Z UPDATE... SOME FEW TO SCT CLOUDS FORMING ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON. CLOUDS MAINLY IN THE 4000-6000FT RANGE AND NOT EXPECTING THINGS TO GO BKN OR OVC. SHRA/TSRA HAVE BEGUN POPPING UP AND SHOULD SEE MORE COVERAGE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THESE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD STA OUT OF THE TAF SITES TILL 21Z. THIS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY IS DIURNALLY DRIVEN SO SHOULD SEE SHRA/TSRA DIMINISH BY 02-04Z. WINDS ARE TURNING TO THE EAST AND SHOULD STAY THERE THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD. NO RESTRICTIONS TO VSBYS EXPECTED EXCEPT IN AND AROUND TSRA DEVELOPMENT. //ATL CONFIDENCE...18Z UPDATE... CONFIDENCE HIGH ON ALL ELEMENTS. 01 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 71 92 71 90 / 40 30 30 40 ATLANTA 74 91 73 88 / 40 30 30 50 BLAIRSVILLE 69 88 68 84 / 40 50 30 50 CARTERSVILLE 70 91 71 89 / 40 40 30 50 COLUMBUS 73 94 73 90 / 20 30 30 50 GAINESVILLE 73 90 73 88 / 40 40 30 50 MACON 71 92 71 90 / 30 30 20 40 ROME 71 92 71 90 / 40 40 30 50 PEACHTREE CITY 71 91 70 89 / 40 30 30 50 VIDALIA 72 93 72 89 / 20 30 20 40 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...01 LONG TERM....ARG AVIATION...01
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1222 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-181630- 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- 1222 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE MAINLY THIS AFTERNOON... WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... STRONG GUSTY WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND LIGHTNING. DISCUSSION... A MOIST AIRMASS AND AFTERNOON INSTABILITY WILL COMBINE AHEAD OF AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE...LEADING TO POTENTIAL ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE NORTH OF A LINE FROM COLUMBUS TO WARRENTON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH TUESDAY...MOST SO DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. THE MAIN HAZARDS WITH BE GUSTY WINDS...HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
241 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013
GAZ013-020-021-171930-
241 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS
IN PICKENS...BARTOW AND CHEROKEE COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM EDT...
AT 240 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THAT STRETCHED FROM NEAR TALMADGE IN
SOUTHWEST PICKENS COUNTY TO SALACOA VALLEY IN NORTHWEST CHEROKEE
COUNTY. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 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 PARTS OF PICKENS...BARTOW AND CHEROKEE COUNTIES THROUGH 330
PM EDT. HEAVY DOWNPOURS COULD CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3440 8479 3440 8474 3442 8473 3442 8472
3441 8471 3441 8465 3444 8465 3446 8454
3431 8447 3414 8482 3437 8495
TIME...MOT...LOC 1839Z 061DEG 9KT 3434 8465SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
329 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013
GAZ013-021-172000-
329 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL IN
PICKENS AND NORTH CHEROKEE COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM EDT...
AT 325 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM FROM NEAR TALMADGE TO SOUTH OF SALACOA VALLEY...
AND SHOWING VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT.
RADAR ESTIMATES AROUND 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN HAS ALREADY FALLEN OVER
THIS AREAS THE PAST HOUR... AND ANOTHER INCH OR MORE IS POSSIBLE.
PONDING OF WATER ALONG LOW LYING... FLOOD PRONE AREAS... ESPECIALLY
ALONG ROADWAYS IS LIKELY. DRIVERS SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION AS
INTENSE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE BRIEF FLOODING AND REDUCE VISIBILITIES.
&&
LAT...LON 3435 8443 3422 8465 3434 8466 3435 8464
3436 8466 3437 8466 3445 8465 3447 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 1924Z 065DEG 5KT 3439 8457SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 340 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013 GAZ053-054-172030- 340 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 45 MPH WINDS IN COWETA AND FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT... AT 338 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CANNONGATE...AND MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 45 MPH... PEA SIZED HAIL AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN ARE LIKELY AS THIS STORM MOVES ACROSS PARTS OF NORTH COWETA AND WEST FAYETTE COUNTIES THROUGH 430 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE TYRONE...CANNONGATE...PEACHTREE CITY... MADRAS...THOMAS CROSSROADS...SHARPSBURG...TURIN AND NEWNAN. && LAT...LON 3351 8480 3351 8456 3325 8459 3331 8490 TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 024DEG 9KT 3345 8469
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
402 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013
GAZ032-033-043-044-172045-
402 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS
IN COBB...DOUGLAS AND FULTON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...
AT 402 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA...AND MOVING WEST AT
10 TO 15 MPH.
THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AS IT MOVES
ACROSS PARTS OF COBB...DOUGLAS AND FULTON COUNTIES THROUGH 445 PM
EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE BOLTON...
BANKHEAD...VININGS... SANDTOWN... MABLETON... AUSTELL... SWEETWATER
CREEK STATE PARK...LITHIA SPRINGS...DOUGLASVILLE AND CHAPEL HILL.
HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3379 8475 3379 8473 3385 8472 3389 8445
3375 8441 3361 8477
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 074DEG 11KT 3380 8453SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
430 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013
GAZ095-105-107-172100-
430 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DIME SIZED HAIL AND 50 MPH WINDS
IN PULASKI...DOOLY AND HOUSTON COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM EDT...
AT 426 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER BROWNDALE...MOVING WEST AT 20 MPH.
THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE DIME SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AS IT MOVES ACROSS
PULASKI...DOOLY AND HOUSTON COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM EDT. SOME
LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING
AREA...PULASKI STATE PRISON...HARTFORD...HAWKINSVILLE...KLONDIKE...
CLINCHFIELD...HAYNEVILLE...BROWNDALE...MOCK SPRINGS...GROVANIA...
GROVE PARK...ELKO...UNADILLA...PINEHURST AND HENDERSON. HEAVY
DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3225 8384 3241 8383 3243 8349 3241 8348
3240 8350 3235 8344 3226 8341 3214 8371
TIME...MOT...LOC 2031Z 072DEG 16KT 3231 8358PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
431 PM EDT WED JUL 17 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0429 PM HAIL 3 S PALMETTO 33.48N 84.67W
07/17/2013 E0.75 INCH COWETA GA PUBLIC
&&
AGIBBSThe Atlanta radar (KFFC), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:30 UTC.
17 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported quarter to golf ball sized hail south of Palmetto.
The public reported golf ball sized hail west of Fairburn.
The Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Get-A-Way reported quarter sized hail northeast of Chatsworth.
The Mulberry Gap Mountain Bike Get-A-Way reported several trees down northeast of Chatsworth.
The Lumpkin County 911 Center reported several trees down across the northern part of the county.
A Philips Arena employee reported that a section of the arena roof sustained damage, resulting in the evacuation of some of the seating space. Roof debris was reported to be scattered on nearby sidewalks. No injuries were sustained. Several trees were blown down in the downtown area as well, including one onto a historic home on Beecher Street.
A gas station attendant on the corner of Brownsville Road and Highway 92 reported quarter sized hail.
The White County 911 Center reported that numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county.
The DeKalb County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were blown down in Chamblee. One tree fell on a car.
Th public reported quarter sized hail in Cleveland.
The Jefferson County 911 Center reported numerous trees and power lines down across the county.
The public reported quarter sized hail west of Conyers on Interstate 20.
The Washington County 911 Center reported numerous trees and power lines down across the county.
The public reported nickel to quarter sized hail east of Auburn.
The Greene County Emergency Manager reported that numerous trees were down, blocking Highway 278.
The DeKalb County emergency manager reported an apartment off of Lansbury Village Drive was flooded with several inches of water by Peachtree Branch overflowing its banks. Also the upper end of the North Fork Peachtree Creek in the Doraville area experienced minor flooding.
The public reported quarter sized hail near Harbin and Dacula.
The Wilkinson County 911 Center reported numerous trees and power lines down across the county.
The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office reported numerous trees down, especially near Highway 24 and Deepstep Road, Wavey Road, and Gordon Highway near the Baldwin-Wilkinson County line.
The Oglethorpe County 911 Center reported numerous trees down across the county.
The Greene County 911 Center reported numerous trees and power lines down across the county.
The Oconee County Sheriff's Office reported several trees down east of Farmington.
The broadcast media relayed a report of a couple of trees down along Interstate 475 in Macon. Power lines were down in east Macon on Upper River Road.
The Jones County 911 Center reported that eight trees were blown down in the western part of the county.
The Morgan County 911 Center reported that two trees were blown down on Highway 441, and another tree was down just outside of Rutledge.
The Greene County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were blown down near Reynolds Plantation.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, July 2013
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: 467965, 467967, 467974, 468003, 467977, 467994, 467969, 468001, 467995, 467970, 467979, 467971, 467983, 467972, 467985, 468090, 467973, 467987, 467991, 467988, 467989, 467992, 467993, 467998, 467996, 468000.