A strong shortwave moved from the Ohio Valley into the Mid Atlantic States during the day. A surface cold front pushed into north Georgia ahead of the shortwave during the morning, progressing into central Georgia during the afternoon 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.
A strong shortwave moved from the Ohio Valley into the Mid Atlantic States during the day. A surface cold front pushed into north Georgia ahead of the shortwave during the morning, progressing into central Georgia during the afternoon hours. Temperatures climbed into the 90s across most of the area with strong instability in place as well as deep layer shear, supportive of severe thunderstorm development. Numerous severe thunderstorms did indeed develop with mainly downed trees and some large hail, but two small tornadoes also touched down.
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 Jun 13, 2:28 PM EST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 328 PM EDT THU JUN 13 2013 .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... NORTHWEST UPPER FLOW DOMINATES THROUGH THIS FORECAST PERIOD. MODERATE SHORT WAVE CURRENTLY SWEEPING THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES...BRUSHING THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA THIS EVENING. UNSEASONABLY SHARP FRONTAL BOUNDARY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL SWEEP ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA OVERNIGHT. CLEAR SKIES HAVE ALLOWED TEMPERATURES TO CLIMB INTO THE LOWER TO MID 90S ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON ALLOWING THE ATMOSPHERE TO BECOME MODERATELY UNSTABLE. BEST LOW-LEVEL AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR REMAIN NORTH OF THE STATE...BUT ARE SUFFICIENT ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA FOR A HIGH-END SLIGHT RISK OF DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL WITH A LINEAR CONVECTIVE SYSTEM. 12Z FFC SOUNDING...MODEL SOUNDINGS FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND THE SPECIAL 18Z FFC SOUNDING ARE ALL SHOWING THE LIMITING FACTOR ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA WILL LIKELY BE A FAIRLY DRY VERTICAL MOISTURE PROFILE. THIS WOULD NOT SUPPRESS CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY COMPLETELY ACROSS THE AREA BUT WILL LIKELY KEEP THE COVERAGE LIMITED TO THE CURRENT TREND OF A RELATIVELY NARROW BAND WITH MORE SCATTERED COVERAGE ALONG THE LINE. THE POTENTIAL FOR SCATTERED DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL REMAINS HIGH WITH THIS PROFILE. 18Z SOUNDING IS AMAZINGLY SIMILAR TO THE 18Z FORECAST SOUNDING FROM THE 12Z GFS. SHOWS ONLY 1.3 INCHES PW AND USING THE MIXED LAYER YIELDS AROUND 1700 J/KG CAPE. ALSO SHOWS A 2.5-3.5 DEGREE CAP AROUND THE LCL WITH AROUND 125 J/KG CIN TO OVERCOME BEFORE REACHING THE LFC. THIS MIGHT BE HARD TO ACCOMPLISH WITH SURFACE HEATING ALONE... HOWEVER ADDED MECHANICAL LIFT JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT WITH THE CURRENT LINE OF CONVECTION WILL LIKELY BE SUFFICIENT TO KEEP THE NARROW LINE OF CONVECTION ACTIVE. DRIER...MILDER AIRMASS MOVES INTO THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA BY SUN UP FRIDAY ENDING PRECIPITATION CHANCES. HIGHS FRIDAY WILL BE AT OR SLIGHTLY BELOW SEASONAL NORMALS WITH LOWS SATURDAY MORNING NOTICEABLY BELOW NORMAL. 20 .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... VERY LITTLE CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED FORECAST TODAY AS MAIN CONCERN HAS BEEN WITH THE NEAR-TERM /SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL THIS EVENING/. DID LOWER MAX TEMPS FOR SATURDAY JUST A TAD AND GENERALLY REFRESHED THE 4TH-5TH PERIODS WITH NEW GUIDANCE FOR WINDS AND DEWPOINTS...BUT OTHERWISE NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. ONE CONCERN FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK WOULD BE EXTENT OF CLOUD COVER WHICH MAY LEAD TO COOLER HIGHS THAN ARE CURRENTLY ADVERTISED...BUT THIS WILL BE REEVALUATED OVER THE NEXT FEW FORECASTS. TDP LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... /ISSUED 426 AM EDT THU JUN 13 2013/ MAINLY QUITE DRY WEATHER FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE DRIFTS ACROSS THE AREA. THE UPPER HIGH FLATTENS SUNDAY WITH THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE WESTERLIES MOVING INTO N GA SUNDAY NIGHT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT WAVE TO AFFECT THE NORTHERN COUNTIES WITH SMALL CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY RETURN MONDAY...MOST SO FOR N GA...GIVING POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LOOK TO BE IN THE CARDS ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SHORT WAVES TO ENHANCE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AS A WEAK COLD FRONT APPROACHES N GA. THE FRONT LOOKS TO STALL ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY CONTINUING SOME CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS. BDL && .AVIATION... 18Z UPDATE... VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PREDOMINATE THROUGH THIS FORECAST PERIOD OUTSIDE OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AREAS OF MVFR VISIBILITIES ARE POSSIBLE BETWEEN 06Z AND 14Z...HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE ANY MVFR PERIODS AT THE TAF SITES. WINDS WILL REMAIN WESTERLY BETWEEN 08-14KT WITH GUSTS 18-24KT THROUGH 00Z. WINDS WILL DIMINISH TO 4-8KT AND BECOME MORE NORTHWESTERLY BY 06Z. LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO SWEEP SOUTH ACROSS THE AREA BETWEEN 20Z AND 08Z...IMPACTING THE ATLANTA METRO AREA AND KAHN TAF SITES BETWEEN 21Z AND 01Z AND THE KCSG AND KMCN TAF SITES BETWEEN 23Z AND 03Z. //ATL CONFIDENCE...18Z UPDATE... HIGH ALL ELEMENTS...EXCEPT MEDIUM FOR COVERAGE OF CONVECTION. 20 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 67 86 63 89 / 60 5 0 0 ATLANTA 69 85 65 87 / 60 5 0 0 BLAIRSVILLE 61 82 59 82 / 10 5 0 5 CARTERSVILLE 65 85 60 88 / 30 5 0 5 COLUMBUS 72 90 67 90 / 60 5 0 0 GAINESVILLE 67 84 65 85 / 30 5 0 0 MACON 70 90 64 90 / 60 5 0 0 ROME 65 86 60 88 / 20 5 0 5 PEACHTREE CITY 66 86 61 88 / 60 5 0 0 VIDALIA 74 90 67 92 / 60 10 0 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BANKS...BARTOW...CATOOSA...CHATTOOGA... CHEROKEE...DADE...DAWSON...FANNIN...FLOYD...FORSYTH...GILMER... GORDON...HALL...JACKSON...LUMPKIN...MADISON...MURRAY...PICKENS... TOWNS...UNION...WALKER...WHITE...WHITFIELD. && SHORT TERM...20 LONG TERM....TDP AVIATION...20
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1230 PM EDT THU JUN 13 2013 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-141000- 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- 1230 PM EDT THU JUN 13 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... DAMAGING WINDS TO 70 MPH...LARGE HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN. DISCUSSION... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO NORTH GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH TONIGHT. THE FRONT WILL BE SUPPORTED BY AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND WILL ENCOUNTER AN INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE AIRMASS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND PROGRESS SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THERE IS ENOUGH UNCERTAINTY THAT WIDESPREAD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL RETURN MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AS MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY RETURN TO THE AREA ALONG WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES TO ENHANCE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED STARTING AT 200 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON. EMERGENCY MANAGERS SHOULD MONITOR THE FORECAST AND PROGRESSION OF ANY SEVERE WEATHER.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
431 PM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
GAZ006>008-014-015-132100-
431 PM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS IN PARTS OF
UNION...LUMPKIN...DAWSON...FANNIN AND GILMER COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM
EDT...
AT 428 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MARION... AND MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH AND BRIEF HEAVY RAIN ARE LIKELY AS THIS STORM
MOVES ACROSS PARTS OF UNION...LUMPKIN...DAWSON...FANNIN AND GILMER
COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM EDT.
&&
LAT...LON 3459 8386 3456 8387 3453 8383 3450 8384
3446 8389 3447 8393 3442 8398 3433 8396
3433 8403 3445 8426 3447 8426 3447 8432
3457 8435 3455 8437 3455 8442 3471 8431
TIME...MOT...LOC 2030Z 295DEG 37KT 3459 8432SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
439 PM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
GAZ001>005-132130-
439 PM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 40 MPH WINDS
IN WHITFIELD...WALKER...MURRAY...CATOOSA AND DADE COUNTIES UNTIL 530
PM EDT...
AT 434 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM 9 MILES NORTH OF HOOKER TO INDIAN
SPRINGS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 40 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 WHITFIELD...WALKER...MURRAY...CATOOSA AND DADE COUNTIES
THROUGH 530 PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS
INCLUDE GRAYSVILLE...HOOKER...MORGANVILLE...SALEM...LOOKOUT
MOUNTAIN...WILDWOOD...INDIAN SPRINGS...COHUTTA...CHATTANOOGA
VALLEY...VARNELL...LAKEVIEW...FAIRVIEW...RINGGOLD...FORT OGLETHORPE
AND BEAVERDALE. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON
ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3499 8500 3494 8485 3474 8475 3471 8518
3486 8545 3499 8550
TIME...MOT...LOC 2040Z 305DEG 33KT 3507 8544 3502 8528
3497 8514SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
523 PM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
GAZ002>005-132200-
523 PM EDT THU JUN 13 2013
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PEA SIZED HAIL AND 45 MPH WINDS
IN WHITFIELD...WALKER...MURRAY AND CATOOSA COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM
EDT...
AT 519 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM BEAVERDALE TO WOOD STATION...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 35 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 WHITFIELD...WALKER...MURRAY AND CATOOSA COUNTIES THROUGH 600
PM EDT. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE TUNNEL
HILL...BEAVERDALE...VARNELL...WOOD STATION...BLUE SPRING...
BEAUMONT...SUMAC...VILLANOW...ROCKY FACE...DAWNVILLE...MILL CREEK...
ETON...CRANDALL...DALTON AND CONASAUGA LAKE. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL
CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
&&
LAT...LON 3486 8462 3482 8459 3478 8464 3474 8465
3458 8465 3460 8472 3462 8471 3463 8473
3461 8475 3461 8486 3464 8491 3462 8499
3465 8515 3489 8523 3490 8508 3497 8485
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 301DEG 29KT 3489 8484 3484 8500
3482 8510The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:44 UTC.
28 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The Whitfield County 911 Center reported that two trees were downed just north of downtown Dalton near North Thornton Avenue and West Tyler Street.
The Towns County 911 Center reported that numerous trees were down particularly in the Hiawassee area.
The Murray County 911 Center reported that several trees were down in the southwest part of the county.
The Union County 911 Center reported that numerous trees were down countywide, with many taking down power lines.
The Fannin County 911 Center reported numerous trees and power lines down along Highway 60 in the south part of the county.
The Gordon County 911 Center reported numerous trees and power lines down across the county, including a few along Highway 61.
The public reported a wind gust of 60 MPH in downtown Dahlonega.
The Lumpkin County 911 Center reported that many trees were down across the county and especially to the northeast of Dahlonega.
A National Weather Service storm survey team determined that an EF-1 tornado touched down near the intersection of Patriot Trail and Rampley Trail, causing mainly tree damage as it headed southeast toward Canton. Along Marietta Road and Hickory Flat Highway, a Chevron gas station sustained roof damage, and a gas pump was blown over. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado then headed south-southeast causing additional tree damage, lifting near the intersection of New Light Road and Hickory Road. Two minor injuries occurred in Canton as a result of trees falling.|[06/13/13: Tornado #1, County #1-1, EF1, Cherokee, 2013:011].
The broadcast media passed along a report of a 59 MPH wind gust measured from a viewer's Davis weather station.
The Bartow County 911 Center reported numerous trees down in the town of White.
The Barrow County Emergency Manager reported that several large trees were blown down across the county.
A National Weather Service survey team determined that a second tornado touched down just within a tenth of a mile of the Cherokee-Cobb County line along Woodhaven Drive. Trees and large limbs were reported down at this location before the tornado moved into Cobb County.|[06/13/13: Tornado #2, County #1-3, EF1, Cherokee-Cobb-Fulton, 2013:012].
The tornado that touched down just inside the Cherokee County line moved into Cobb County and strengthened to an EF-1. The tornado tracked southeast through Cobb County with the most significant damage occurring near Wendwood Drive Northeast and near Bishop Lake where dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted, many causing damage to homes. The tornado continued to track southeast, and crossed the Chattahoochee River at the Cobb-Fulton County line near the Morgan Falls Dam.|[06/13/13: Tornado #2, County #2-3, EF1, Cherokee-Cobb-Fulton, 2013:012].
The Jackson County 911 Center reported that numerous trees and power lines were blown down county wide.
Trained spotters and the public reported several trees down in Cobb County that were not related to the tornado. Trees were snapped and uprooted in the area of Kennesaw State University and near Southwick and Etheridge Drives specifically. A home northeast of Kennesaw had its shutters blown off.
A National Weather Service storm survey team determined that the tornado that began in Cherokee County and passed through Cobb County lifted in Fulton County. It moved over the Chattahoochee River near Morgan Falls, retaining its EF-1 strength as it snapped and uprooted dozens of trees along the riverbank. It damaged roofs at the Laurel at Overlook Park Apartments. Netting polls at the driving range at the Steel Canyon Golf Club were damaged, with the netting ripped off or tangled. The tornado continued southeast, snapping or uprooting trees until it finally lifted just short of the DeKalb County line, where it snapped and uprooted a few trees along Twin Branch Road.|[06/13/13: Tornado #2, County #3-3, EF1, Cherokee-Cobb-Fulton, 2013:012].
The Fulton County Emergency Manager and the Sandy Springs Fire Department reported several trees down across Sandy Springs, especially near North Ridge and Roswell Roads.
The Clarke County 911 Center reported that over 30 trees were blown down county wide.
The ASOS station at Peachtree DeKalb Airport reported a 60 MPH gust.
A National Weather Service storm survey team determined that the tree damaged caused in northern DeKalb County was a result of strong thunderstorm winds. Several trees were snapped or uprooted along Ashford Dunwoody Road Northeast, especially near Murphey Candler Park. Some trees were down on houses. Additional trees were snapped and uprooted off Lanier Drive Northeast, and a large tree was blown down across Peachtree Road Northeast not far from the Peachtree-Ashford Dunwoody intersection.
The Gwinnett County Emergency Manager reported multiple trees down and some structural damage to businesses and homes in the Liberty Heights area of Norcross and Doraville, near Susan Lane and Buford Highway.
The public reported quarter sized hail in Cedartown.
A trained spotter reported that several trees were snapped and uprooted across Bolton Road between Marietta Boulevard and Marietta Road. Power lines were down as well.
The Paulding County Emergency Manager reported that several trees and power lines were blown down across Bobo Road.
The public reported quarter sized hail in Bold Springs.
The Henry County Emergency Manager reported several trees and power lines down across Henry County, including six blocking roads. A sign was also damaged at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton.
The Clayton County 911 Center reported that numerous trees and power lines were blown down from Jonesboro southward through the panhandle.
The Douglas County Emergency Manager reported that several trees were down on Huey Road, Hillside Drive and Reynolds Road. Some power outages were reported as well.
The Butts County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down across Shiloh Road and Highway 42.
The Monroe County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down countywide.
The Coweta County Emergency Manager reported that around a dozen trees were down across the county. This included Highway 29 North, Payton Road, Griffin Street, Greison Trail, Highway 34 West, Bridgewater Place, Swint Place, Highway 29 South, and Donald Lamb Road. One tree was also reported on a house on Johnson Avenue.
The Bibb County 911 Center reported that a couple of trees were blown down across Macon.
The Wilkinson County 911 Center reported several trees down in Irwinton, with a few each at MLK Road and 8th Street.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2013Warnings in Georgia, June 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: 464425, 464423, 464431, 464426, 464457, 464458, 464468, 464430, 464404, 464469, 464459, 464435, 464409, 464416, 464461, 464447, 464466, 464432, 464441, 464470, 464473, 464481, 464400, 464437, 464439, 464401, 464478, 464463, 464453, 464443, 464452, 464456, 464454, 464465.