A series of fast moving short waves swept over the region in the persistent westerly upper-level flow on the north side of a large ridge of high pressure centered over the Gulf of Mexico. With ample moisture and a stalled frontal boundary over the state, numerous thunderstorms produced isolated wind damage late in the evening of the 22nd and in the morning of the 23rd.
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 series of fast moving short waves swept over the region in the persistent westerly upper-level flow on the north side of a large ridge of high pressure centered over the Gulf of Mexico. With ample moisture and a stalled frontal boundary over the state, numerous thunderstorms produced isolated wind damage late in the evening of the 22nd and in the morning of the 23rd.
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 Aug 22, 8:50 PM EST, 2 hours 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 950 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015 .UPDATE... UPPER SHORT WAVE MOVING INTO THE TN VALLEY OVERNIGHT SHOULD HELP KEEP SOME CONVECTION GOING THROUGH THE NIGHT...WITH THE FAVORED AREA ACROSS FAR NORTH GA. HAVE RAISED POPS FROM ATLANTA TO ATHENS NORTH FOR A FEW HOURS BASED ON CURRENT RADAR. 41 .PREVIOUS .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS STILL SHOWS THE REMNANTS OF AN OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY NEAR A LA GRANGE TO MILLEDGEVILLE LINE...WHERE DEWPOINTS NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY ARE MOSTLY IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S... AND MID TO UPPER 70S SOUTH. IN THE UPPER LEVELS...A STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WAS ANCHORED OVER THE NORTHEAST GULF REGION AND PROVIDING AN ACTIVE WESTERLY FLOW ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THE SHORT RANGE MODELS REMAIN IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND SHOW A SERIES OF DISTURBANCES EMBEDDED IN THIS WESTERLY FLOW TRAVERSING THE FORECAST AREA FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS COUPLED WITH WEAK WIND SHEAR AND MODEST CAPE VALUES IN THE 1500-2500 J/KG RANGE SUGGEST MOST STORMS WILL REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LIMITS TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER...MODEL SOUNDINGS ARE SHOWING SOME MID LEVEL DRY AIR THAT COULD SUPPORT STRONG DOWNDRAFTS...INDICATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STRONG TO POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IF AFTERNOON STORMS CAN GET STRONG ENOUGH OTHERWISE... A MAV AND MET BLEND WITH A LEAN TOWARD PERSISTENCE LOOKED REASONABLE FOR TEMPS AND POPS THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. 16 .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... MAINLY ONLY TWEAKS TO THE LONG TERM BASED ON THE LASTEST GUIDANCE. BDL PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... THE EXTENDED FORECAST START OFF WITH WEAKENING SHORTWAVE MOVING SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA AS THE NEXT FRONTAL SYSTEM APPROACHES NW GA. THIS FRONT MOVES INTO N GA MONDAY MORNING BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THIS BOUNDARY WILL ACT AS A CATALYST FOR STORMS TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY BUT DRIER AIR MOVES IN RIGHT BEHIND IT MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS DRIER AIR IS EXPECTED TO STAY ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH FRIDAY. THE FRONT DOES STALL ACROSS NORTHERN FL WED AND THU BEFORE MOVING EAST OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC FRIDAY. WITH THIS FRONT STALLING IT DOES HELP INCREASE MOISTURE ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE STATE THU AND FRIDAY BUT SHOULD JUST SEE MAINLY INCREASED CLOUD COVER. TEMPS REMAIN IN THE 80S TO MID 90S THROUGH THE EXTENDED. 01 && .AVIATION... 00Z UPDATE... WITH AN UPPER SHORT WAVE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE TN VALLEY OVERNIGHT THERE MAY BE ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE NIGHT. WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THEY WILL AFFECT THE TAF SITES. SOME MVFR POSSIBLE TOWARD MORNING WITH GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT. WINDS LIGHT AND VARIABLE OVERNIGHT BECOMING NORTHWEST 5 TO 8KT AFTER 14Z. //ATL CONFIDENCE...00Z UPDATE... MEDIUM ON ALL ELEMENTS. 41 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 71 88 71 92 / 30 30 10 30 ATLANTA 72 88 73 89 / 30 30 10 30 BLAIRSVILLE 65 83 66 83 / 40 30 10 20 CARTERSVILLE 70 88 70 88 / 30 30 10 20 COLUMBUS 75 91 74 93 / 30 20 10 30 GAINESVILLE 71 86 72 88 / 40 30 10 20 MACON 73 91 73 93 / 30 30 10 30 ROME 70 89 71 88 / 30 20 10 20 PEACHTREE CITY 71 89 71 90 / 30 30 10 30 VIDALIA 74 91 73 94 / 30 40 20 30 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...41 LONG TERM....BDL AVIATION...41
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 600 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-230930- 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- 600 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... ...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE TONIGHT... ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA TONIGHT...MAINLY THIS EVENING. INSTABILITY WILL BE MODERATE AT BEST AND A FEW STRONG STORMS ARE POSSIBLE...HOWEVER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED. .WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL THAT COULD CAUSE BRIEF FLOODING IN LOW-LYING...FLOOD-PRONE...AREAS. IN ADDITION... STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH TUESDAY FOR MOST OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. EXPECT LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING TO BE THE MOST LIKELY HAZARDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1109 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
GAZ014-022-023-034-035-230345-
DAWSON GA-GWINNETT GA-BARROW GA-FORSYTH GA-HALL GA-
1109 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN DAWSON...
NORTHEASTERN GWINNETT...NORTHWESTERN BARROW...EASTERN FORSYTH AND
WESTERN HALL COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 PM EDT...
AT 1107 PM EDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM SOUTH
OF DAWSONVILLE TO NEAR SUWANEE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...UP TO PENNY SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN.
IMPACT...PEOPLE OUTDOORS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. EXPECT
MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND OF LIGHT...
UNSECURED OBJECTS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SHOULD NOT BE
USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY. LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW-
LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IS ALSO LIKELY. MOTORISTS
SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE LOSS OF
CONTROL DUE TO HYDROPLANING.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE
GAINESVILLE...LAWRENCEVILLE...CUMMING...SUGAR HILL...SUWANEE...
BUFORD...BRASELTON...AUBURN...FLOWERY BRANCH...DACULA...OAKWOOD...
CARL...REST HAVEN...DOUGHERTY...AQUALAND PARK...CHATEAU ELAN...LAKE
LANIER ISLANDS...MATT...CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN AND COAL MOUNTAIN.
LAT...LON 3447 8388 3415 8379 3413 8382 3411 8382
3410 8379 3409 8379 3407 8377 3397 8374
3391 8406 3434 8417 3442 8398 3445 8392
3447 8393 3446 8389
TIME...MOT...LOC 0307Z 242DEG 7KT 3432 8409 3402 8401SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1118 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
GAZ015-016-230400-
LUMPKIN GA-WHITE GA-
1118 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN LUMPKIN AND WHITE
COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT...
AT 1116 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR CLEVELAND. THIS STORM
WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.
HAZARD...HEAVY RAIN.
IMPACT...LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW-LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS
IS LIKELY. MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND BE PREPARED FOR
POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO HYDROPLANING. WHEN WATER
COVERS THE ROAD REMEMBER...TURN AROUND...DO NOT DROWN.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE
CLEVELAND...HELEN...QUALATCHEE LAKE...PORTER SPRINGS...SAUTEE...MOSSY
CREEK...THE SMITHGALL WOODS CONSERVATION AREA...ROBERTSTOWN...LEAF AND
CAMP COLEMAN LAKE.
LAT...LON 3473 8370 3461 8364 3460 8364 3451 8366
3451 8367 3452 8392 3463 8395
TIME...MOT...LOC 0316Z 261DEG 4KT 3458 8384SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1122 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
GAZ019-020-230400-
BARTOW GA-FLOYD GA-
1122 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN BARTOW AND SOUTHEASTERN
FLOYD COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT...
AT 1121 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR ROME...MOVING EAST AT
15 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...NICKEL SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN.
IMPACT...PEOPLE OUTDOORS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. EXPECT
MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND OF
LIGHT...UNSECURED OBJECTS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SHOULD
NOT BE USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY. LOCALIZED FLOODING IN
LOW-LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IS ALSO LIKELY.
MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE
LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO HYDROPLANING. WHEN WATER COVERS
THE ROAD REMEMBER...TURN AROUND...DO NOT DROWN.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE
ROME...EUHARLEE...KINGSTON...TAYLORSVILLE AND LINDALE.
LAT...LON 3428 8524 3434 8495 3418 8493 3408 8497
3408 8503 3409 8505 3410 8505 3410 8509
3413 8526
TIME...MOT...LOC 0321Z 281DEG 15KT 3421 8517SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1135 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
GAZ014>016-023-230415-
DAWSON GA-LUMPKIN GA-WHITE GA-HALL GA-
1135 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN DAWSON...
SOUTHEASTERN LUMPKIN...SOUTHWESTERN WHITE AND NORTHERN HALL COUNTIES
UNTIL 1215 AM EDT...
AT 1133 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS SOUTH OF DAHLONEGA...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...UP TO PENNY SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN.
IMPACT...PEOPLE OUTDOORS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. EXPECT
MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND OF LIGHT...
UNSECURED OBJECTS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SHOULD NOT BE
USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY. LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW-
LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IS ALSO LIKELY. MOTORISTS
SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE LOSS OF
CONTROL DUE TO HYDROPLANING. WHEN WATER COVERS THE ROAD
REMEMBER...TURN AROUND...DO NOT DROWN.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE
GAINESVILLE...DAHLONEGA...CLERMONT...AURARIA...MURRAYVILLE...GARLAND
AND WAR HILL PARK.
LAT...LON 3455 8374 3442 8370 3428 8392 3429 8393
3429 8394 3430 8393 3430 8394 3432 8395
3433 8395 3434 8399 3442 8408 3462 8392
TIME...MOT...LOC 0333Z 228DEG 18KT 3440 8394SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1138 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
GAZ023-025-034-035-046-047-230415-
GWINNETT GA-ROCKDALE GA-BARROW GA-JACKSON GA-HALL GA-WALTON GA-
1138 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN GWINNETT...NORTHEASTERN
ROCKDALE...BARROW...WESTERN JACKSON...SOUTHERN HALL AND WALTON
COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 AM EDT...
AT 1137 PM EDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR
REST HAVEN TO NEAR DACULA TO WALNUT GROVE...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...UP TO PENNY SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND HEAVY RAIN.
IMPACT...PEOPLE OUTDOORS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. EXPECT
MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND OF LIGHT...
UNSECURED OBJECTS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SHOULD NOT BE
USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY. LOCALIZED FLOODING IN LOW-
LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IS ALSO LIKELY. MOTORISTS
SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE LOSS OF
CONTROL DUE TO HYDROPLANING. WHEN WATER COVERS THE ROAD
REMEMBER...TURN AROUND...DO NOT DROWN.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE
WINDER...MONROE...BUFORD...LOGANVILLE...BRASELTON...AUBURN...
DACULA...SOCIAL CIRCLE...GRAYSON...HOSCHTON...WALNUT GROVE...
BETHLEHEM...BETWEEN...GOOD HOPE...CARL...JERSEY...GRATIS...CHATEAU
ELAN...CAMPTON AND EBENEZER.
LAT...LON 3421 8375 3392 8363 3391 8364 3389 8363
3388 8361 3383 8359 3375 8360 3363 8365
3370 8385 3374 8391 3374 8393 3375 8398
3393 8393 3410 8402
TIME...MOT...LOC 0337Z 270DEG 11KT 3409 8393 3392 8384 3376 8383SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1149 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
GAZ014-021-022-230430-
DAWSON GA-CHEROKEE GA-FORSYTH GA-
1149 PM EDT SAT AUG 22 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN DAWSON...EASTERN
CHEROKEE AND NORTHWESTERN FORSYTH COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 AM EDT...
AT 1148 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER BUFFINGTON...OR NEAR
CANTON...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...PEA SIZED HAIL AND FREQUENT
LIGHTNING.
IMPACT...PEOPLE OUTDOORS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. EXPECT
MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOWING AROUND OF LIGHT...
UNSECURED OBJECTS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SHOULD NOT BE
USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE
CANTON...CUMMING...FREE HOME...BUFFINGTON...DREW...LATHEMTOWN...
MATT...HOLBROOK...HIGHTOWER...UNION HILL AND DUCKTOWN.
LAT...LON 3436 8412 3417 8411 3419 8426 3419 8433
3418 8434 3422 8447 3431 8445
TIME...MOT...LOC 0348Z 275DEG 12KT 3426 8439The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:54 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Barrow County Emergency Manager reported wind damage to a barn on Dee Kennedy Road. Some farm equipment was overturned and several trees were blown down.
The Peach County 911 Center reported numerous trees and power lines blown down in the Fort Valley area, including West Church Street, Knoxville Street, North jones Street and White Street.
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, August 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: 598847, 598852.