A short wave moving out of the central plains into the Tennessee Valley combined with strong instability and moderate shear in the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere to produce widespread severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail across central Georgia.
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 short wave moving out of the central plains into the Tennessee Valley combined with strong instability and moderate shear in the lower and middle levels of the atmosphere to produce widespread severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail across central Georgia.
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 Apr 25, 6:21 AM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 721 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 341 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015/ SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... COMPLICATED SURFACE PATTERN ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE THE U.S. ACROSS THE CWFA...HIGH PRESSURE HAS MOVED OFFSHORE AND AN OLD NEARLY DIFFUSE SURFACE BOUNDARY IS ACROSS NORTHERN GA. FURTHER WEST...LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE PLAINS STATES WILL MOVE EAST TODAY ALONG ANOTHER OLD SURFACE BOUNDARY...INTO THE TN AND OH VALLEYS. REGIONAL RADAR SHOWS A LARGE AREA OF CONVECTION...AN MCS...MOVING EAST/SLIGHTLY NORTHEAST ACROSS MISSISSIPPI INTO WESTERN AL. IN THE MID LEVELS...AN UPPER LOW/STRONG SHORTWAVE ACROSS THE CENTRAL U.S. WILL MOVE EAST INTO THE TN/OH VALLEYS. FURTHER SOUTH...STRONG SHORTWAVE ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MCS CURRENTLY ACROSS MISSISSIPPI WILL CONTINUE TO TREK EASTWARD/SLIGHTLY NORTHEASTWARD THIS MORNING. DON'T THINK THAT THE SYNOPTIC OR HI-RES MODELS INITIALIZED THIS FEATURE VERY WELL. IN ADDITION...THE MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE SOMEWHAT STEEPER THAN PROGGED. SPEAKING OF THE HI-RES MODELS...THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS FOR TODAYS SYSTEM...ESPECIALLY THE AFTERNOON CONVECTION. ALL OF THE HI-RES MODELS AGREE THAT THE ACTIVITY MOVING IN FROM ALABAMA WILL IMPACT THE CWFA BY AROUND 09Z. THE SECOND AREA OF STRONGER CONVECTION...BACK OVER MISSISSIPPI...DRIVEN BY THE STRONG SHORTWAVE ENERGY MAY NOT WEAKEN AS MUCH AS SOME OF THE HI-RES MODELS ARE PROGGING. AT THIS TIME...THE WRF SEEMS TO HAVE A PRETTY DECENT HANDLE ON WHAT IS GOING ON NOW...INCLUDING THE STRONGER ACTIVITY ACROSS MISSISSIPPI. SO...HAVE LEANED CLOSER TO THE WRF SOLUTION FOR THE VERY SHORT TERM PORTION OF THE FORECAST. THE AFTERNOON FORECAST BECOMES A LITTLE MORE MURKY. BELIEVE AFTERNOON CONVECTION WILL DEPEND VERY HEAVILY ON THAT HAPPENS THIS MORNING. THE HI-RES MODELS REALLY BEGIN TO DIVERGE AT THIS POINT. ALL THE PARAMETERS FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE IN PLACE...INCLUDING FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR A FEW TORNADOES. HOWEVER...EXACTLY WHEN/WHERE THE AFTERNOON CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP IS THE DIFFICULT PART OF THE FORECAST. CONVECTIVE INITIATION FOR THE AFTERNOON WILL DEPEND HEAVILY ON ANY OUTFLOW/DIFFERENTIAL HEATING BOUNDARIES THAT THE OVERNIGHT/EARLY MORNING CONVECTION LAYS DOWN. THIS COULD BE A PRIMARY FOCUS FOR CONVECTION/SURFACE CONVERGENCE. AS MENTIONED BEFORE...ALL OF THE PARAMETERS FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE PRESENT TODAY...ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON. GOOD LOW LEVEL SHEAR/HELICITY AND STRONG SURFACE INSTABILITY WHERE GOOD HEATING WILL OCCUR. PLUS...A SURFACE BOUNDARY FOR CONVECTION TO FOCUS UPON. DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WILL BE LIKELY WITHIN ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. WITH THE STRONG SHEAR PRESENT...A FEW TORNADOES ARE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. THE BEST/STRONGEST MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE ENERGY SHOULD BE ACROSS THE OH/TN VALLEYS...SO THE BEST CHANCES FOR LARGE HAIL SHOULD BE TO THE NORTH OF THE CWFA. HOWEVER...SINCE MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE CURRENTLY STEEPER THAN THE MODELS CURRENTLY HAVE FORECAST...WOULDN'T RULE OUT A LARGE HAIL PRODUCING THUNDERSTORM AT THIS TIME. CONVECTION SHOULD LAST INTO THE EVENING HOURS...ALONG WITH THE CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER. DO EXPECT ACTIVITY TO LOSE SOME STEAM WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING...BUT MAY NOT COMPLETELY DIMINISH WITH THE SETTING OF THE SUN. HAVE LEFT SOME POPS IN FOR SUNDAY...AS THE ACTUAL FRONTAL BOUNDARY DOESN'T MOVE THROUGH UNTIL THEN. NLISTEMAA LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... WEAK RIDGING AT THE SFC AND MOSTLY DRY CONDITIONS TO BEGIN THE LONG TERM. SHORTWAVE SLIDES FROM THE MS VALLEY INTO THE TN VALLEY TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY WHILE A SFC LOW TRACKS ALONG THE GULF COAST. THIS RESULTS IN THE RETURN OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. GFS IS SLOWER THAN MODEL RUN LAST NIGHT IN CLEARING OUT THE PRECIPITATION AND HOLDS ONTO IT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SLIGHT DIFFERENCES IN FEATURES BETWEEN THE GFS AND THE ECMWF THE TIMING OF DIMINISHING PRECIPITATION IS FAIRLY SIMILAR. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN BEHIND THAT SYSTEM AND SHOULD LEAD TO A FEW DRY DAYS. 11 && .AVIATION... 12Z UPDATE... MCS CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH THE CWFA. EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD ONLY LAST UNTIL 13Z OR SO...BUT THE SHOWERS MAY LINGER A LITTLE LONGER. HI-RES MODELS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFTERNOON CONVECTION. CONFIDENCE IS LOW ON THE WHEN/WHERE CONVECTION WILL INITIATE. WINDS WILL FLIRT WITH DUE SOUTH THIS MORNING. THE CURRENT RAINFALL MAY REINFORCE THE SE WINDS FOR A FEW HOURS LONGER...BUT SUSTAINED SPEEDS SHOULD BE PRETTY LIGHT. A SWITCH OVER TO THE SW SHOULD OCCUR BY THE EARLY //ATL CONFIDENCE...12Z UPDATE... LOW CONFIDENCE ON WHEN/WHERE AFTERNOON CONVECTION WILL OCCUR. MEDIUM CONFIDENCE REMAINING ELEMENTS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 74 63 81 55 / 90 50 20 10 ATLANTA 75 65 80 56 / 100 30 20 5 BLAIRSVILLE 68 58 71 46 / 100 50 20 10 CARTERSVILLE 76 63 78 51 / 100 30 20 10 COLUMBUS 80 67 85 60 / 90 30 30 5 GAINESVILLE 71 63 77 54 / 100 40 20 5 MACON 79 67 86 58 / 90 50 30 5 ROME 75 62 78 51 / 100 30 20 5 PEACHTREE CITY 77 64 82 54 / 100 30 20 5 VIDALIA 81 69 87 62 / 90 50 30 10 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 419 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-261000- 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- 419 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE TODAY... WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL..TORNADOES AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. DISCUSSION... A STORM SYSTEM WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST TODAY BRINGING TWO CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE FIRST ROUND OF STORMS WILL BE THIS MORNING /THROUGH ABOUT NOON/ WITH A COMPLEX OF STORMS FROM THE WEST MOVING INTO GEORGIA. THESE STORMS SHOULD WEAKEN AS THEY APPROACH THE STATE BUT CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WITH THIS SYSTEM. THE MAIN THREAT IS DAMAGING WINDS. THE MOST LIKELY AREA FOR STRONG TO SEVERE SEVERE STORMS THIS MORNING WOULD BE ACROSS WESTERN GEORGIA. THE SECOND ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED DURING THE AFTERNOON /GENERALLY AFTER 3PM/ AND LASTING INTO THE EVENING. WHILE THERE IS MORE UNCERTAINTY WITH THIS SECOND ROUND IN TERMS OF COVERAGE OF STORMS...SEVERE WEATHER PARAMETERS SUGGEST A GREATER THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WITH THIS AFTERNOON/EVENINGS ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA...BUT THE BETTER CHANCES ARE ACROSS THE NORTHERN AREAS. DAMAGING WIND...HAIL AND TORNADOES WILL ALL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE SEVERE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS TODAY AND TONIGHT FORECAST TO BE AROUND ONE TO ONE AND A HALF INCHES...WIDESPREAD FLOODING IS NOT ANTICIPATED...HOWEVER LOCALIZED FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY...WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED LATER TODAY. IN THE MEANTIME...SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH THE WEB BY GOING TO WEATHER.GOV/ATLANTA.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
755 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015
GAZ056-058-068-070-251230-
SPALDING GA-PIKE GA-BUTTS GA-LAMAR GA-
755 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN IN
SPALDING... PIKE...BUTTS AND LAMAR COUNTIES UNTIL 830 AM EDT...
AT 754 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR
WILLIAMSON TO NEAR ZEBULON...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM AS THIS STORM MOVES
ACROSS SPALDING...PIKE...BUTTS AND LAMAR COUNTIES THROUGH 830 AM EDT.
HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE
GRIFFIN...BARNESVILLE...ZEBULON...MILNER...ORCHARD HILL...
MEANSVILLE...ALDORA...CHAPPEL MILL...REDBONE...LIFSEY SPRINGS...
JOHNSTONVILLE...HILLTOP...GOGGINS...PIEDMONT AND LIBERTY HILL.
THESE WIND GUSTS MAY PRODUCE MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOW
LIGHT...UNSECURED OBJECTS AROUND.
LAT...LON 3321 8432 3322 8388 3320 8389 3320 8404
3296 8405 3298 8412 3299 8412 3299 8417
3305 8450
TIME...MOT...LOC 1154Z 274DEG 45KT 3319 8430 3309 8442SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
809 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015
GAZ069-079-251245-
TALBOT GA-UPSON GA-
809 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN IN
TALBOT AND UPSON COUNTIES UNTIL 845 AM EDT...
AT 808 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR
MEANSVILLE TO NEAR WOODLAND...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM AS THIS STORM MOVES
ACROSS TALBOT AND UPSON COUNTIES THROUGH 845 AM EDT.
HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE
THOMASTON...YATESVILLE...LINCOLN PARK...THE ROCK...SUNSET VILLAGE...
HANNAHS MILL...PLEASANT HILL...BIG LAZER CREEK WMA...REDBONE
CROSSROADS...SALEM...LOGTOWN...SUNNYSIDE AND SPREWELL BLUFF STATE
PARK.
THESE WIND GUSTS MAY PRODUCE MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOW
LIGHT...UNSECURED OBJECTS AROUND.
LAT...LON 3299 8433 3299 8430 3300 8430 3299 8429
3299 8412 3280 8412 3280 8415 3271 8419
3272 8423 3273 8423 3272 8426 3274 8428
3274 8429 3273 8429 3281 8460
TIME...MOT...LOC 1208Z 280DEG 42KT 3299 8432 3286 8452SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
927 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015
GAZ085-097-098-251400-
JOHNSON GA-LAURENS GA-TREUTLEN GA-
927 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS...LIGHTNING AND
HEAVY RAIN IN JOHNSON...LAURENS AND TREUTLEN COUNTIES UNTIL 1000 AM
EDT...
AT 926 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EAST DUBLIN...OR OVER DUBLIN...MOVING EAST
AT 55 MPH.
WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM AS THIS STORM MOVES
ACROSS JOHNSON...LAURENS AND TREUTLEN COUNTIES THROUGH 1000 AM EDT.
HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE
DUBLIN...EAST DUBLIN...ADRIAN...KITE...LOVETT...SPANN...MEEKS...
ORIANNA...MINTER...BLACKVILLE...BREWTON AND SCOTT.
THESE WIND GUSTS MAY PRODUCE MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOW
LIGHT...UNSECURED OBJECTS AROUND.
LAT...LON 3247 8297 3266 8298 3271 8248 3268 8250
3266 8249 3265 8247 3264 8251 3262 8252
3258 8259 3256 8259 3253 8256 3253 8259
3252 8260 3252 8263 3251 8264 3250 8250
3246 8241
TIME...MOT...LOC 1326Z 268DEG 46KT 3258 8289The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:27 UTC.
15 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The Laurens County Emergency Manager reported several large oak trees and numerous pine trees blown down along I-16 near Highway 199.
The Laurens County Emergency Manager reported 35-40 trees blown down across the southern portion of the county.
The Taylor County 911 center reported numerous trees blown down across the county with the greatest number around Butler. A large tree fell on a shed on Ed Davis Road.
The broadcast media reported trees blown on Charles Drive on the west side of Fort Valley and in Fort Valley.
The broadcast media reported trees and power lines blown down on Buena Vista Road near Holly Hills.
The Fire Department in Montrose reported quarter size hail.
The public reported golf ball size hail on Richardson Mill Road.
A picture of several golf ball size hail stones that fell on Hartley Bridge Road was received via social media.
The broadcast media relayed a photo of golf ball size hail in Byron.
The broadcast media relayed photos of baseball size hail that fell on the Academy Avenue Extension in Dublin.
The broadcast media reported a tree blown down on Highway 257 near West Laurens High School.
The Peach County Emergency Manager reported 20-30 pecan trees uprooted near Valley View Drive and State Highway 96. Power lines were also blown down in the area and light standards were blown down at the Peach County High School baseball field.
The Sumter County 911 center reported trees blown down across the county. The greatest damage was just north of Leslie.
Several reports of trees blown down from the Lake Joy and Houston Lake area to Bob White Road in Kathleen were received from the broadcast media.
The Crisp County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the county. At least one tree was on a house.
The Laurens County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees blown down south of Dublin.
The Treutlen County Sheriff's Office reported numerous trees blown down across the county, some blocking roadways.
The Telfair County 911 center reported numerous trees blown down across the county with the highest concentration near Workmore.
The Toombs County 911 center reported numerous trees blown down across the county, including in Lyons.
The Monroe County 911 center reported several trees blown down on Boxankle Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, April 2015
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: 574111, 574107, 574132, 574125, 574113, 574103, 574087, 574086, 574124, 574099, 574100, 574122, 574128, 574092, 574089, 574096, 574137, 574134, 574135, 574112.