Scattered afternoon thunderstorms developed in an environment favorable for severe wet microbursts with high Wet Microburst Severity Index values.
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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 TAE wrote it up.
Scattered afternoon thunderstorms developed in an environment favorable for severe wet microbursts with high Wet Microburst Severity Index values.
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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 6, 9:34 AM EST, 11 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1034 AM EDT THU AUG 6 2015
.Near Term [Through Today]...
A 12Z regional surface analysis showed low pressure along the
southern Illinois-Indiana border with a cold front extending
southwestward from it roughly along the Mississippi River through
Memphis, then diagonally across Arkansas. A warm front also extends
eastward from this low, analyzed to arc around northern Kentucky and
southern West Virginia then along the North Carolina-Virginia
border. Southeast of this low lies a stationary boundary from about
Biloxi, MS to Swainsboro, GA. Convection started early this morning
along and south of this boundary and a localized area of low
pressure appears to have developed near Cordele, GA. These storms
have generally been moving parallel to the boundary, or southwest to
northeast. By this afternoon, most of the convective activity is
expected to be focused over our northern zones.
The 12Z TAE sounding showed a PW of 2.12", which is well above
normal with 0-6 km steering flow from the southwest which will
continue to keep Gulf moisture in place over the area today. Mid
level lapse rates were around 6 C/km, which is quite unstable
considering how moist the profile is, and SBCAPE was around 1700
J/kg which has already begun to increase to around 2000 J/kg
according to the SPC mesoanalysis page and will continue to increase
into the afternoon. With this instability in place, some of the
storms today are expected to become strong enough to produce
downbursts of damaging winds. Due to the early start to convection
across the area, highs will be around 90.
&&
.Aviation...
[Through 12Z Friday] Outside of convection, VFR conditions are
expected to prevail. Afternoon convection appears to be most likely
near DHN and ABY.
&&
.Prev Discussion [326 AM EDT]...
.Short Term [Tonight Through Saturday]...
With the main shortwave, associated with the deepening upper
trough, crossing the forecast area during the overnight hours,
showers and thunderstorms may linger longer than usual this
evening, especially over the northern portion of the forecast
area.
For Friday, while the shortwave will exit to the east, the
associated surface front will sag southward into SE Alabama and
SW Georgia by afternoon. Stronger than normal mid-level
northwesterly flow (30 knots at 500mb) combined with relatively
strong westerly to southwesterly low-level flow and plenty of
instability will support some stronger storms Friday afternoon
into the evening. Best chances for severe storms currently
expected to be across South Central Georgia into the Florida Big
Bend. Damaging straight line winds will be the primary threat with
these storms, although some large hail cannot be ruled out. SPC
has maintained a Marginal Risk for Friday.
There is some disagreement among the guidance for Saturday on how
much dry air works its way into the forecast area. The GFS
substantially drier with limited support for convection. The
ECMWF is not as dry, although it has trended drier from its
previous few runs. Given the GFS and trend of the ECMWF, have
lowered PoPs somewhat for Saturday, with best rain chances over
the coastal waters and the eastern Big Bend. The lower rain
chances and low-level northerly flow will allow temperatures to
heat back up, with highs pushing back into the mid 90s.
.Long Term [Saturday Night Through Thursday]...
Northerly flow will continue on Sunday into Monday with a big
ridge holding in place over Texas. This should help to confine the
best rain chances closer to the coast. The upper trough along the
east coast will begin to amplify again by Tuesday with rain chance
increasing through the middle of next week. Above normal
temperatures are on tap for Sunday and Monday, before returning to
more seasonal levels by mid week.
.Marine...
A front approaching from the north will tighten the pressure
gradient over the waters into Friday with increasing west to
southwest flow. Conditions will likely reach exercise caution
levels by late tonight with marginal advisory conditions by Friday
afternoon. Conditions will improve by Saturday into early next
week as the gradient weakens.
.Fire Weather...
Hazardous fire weather conditions are not expected over the next
several days.
.Hydrology...
The Steinhatchee River continues to slowly fall. It is expected
that the river will remain above flood stage through at least
Friday morning.
With mainly scattered afternoon and evening storms the next few
days, do not anticipate any additional river flood concerns.
However, areas in the Southeast Florida Big Bend, particularly in
Dixie County, will be especially prone to further areal flooding,
should any storms move over the area during the next couple of
days.
&&
.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...
Tallahassee 92 76 92 76 96 / 50 20 50 30 30
Panama City 87 80 89 79 91 / 30 30 40 30 30
Dothan 91 75 93 74 95 / 60 40 40 20 30
Albany 91 75 92 74 94 / 70 50 50 20 20
Valdosta 91 75 92 73 94 / 50 30 50 20 30
Cross City 90 76 89 76 92 / 20 20 50 40 40
Apalachicola 89 79 90 79 92 / 30 20 40 30 30
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK through late tonight FOR Coastal Bay-
Coastal Gulf-South Walton.
GA...NONE.
AL...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&
NEAR TERM...MOORE
SHORT TERM...CAMP
LONG TERM...CAMP
AVIATION...MOORE
MARINE...CAMP
FIRE WEATHER...DVD
HYDROLOGY...CAMPThe Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 101 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:42 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a tree limb that then fell through a roof and struck a woman in the face. Damage was estimated.
Several trees were blown down in and near Dasher.
Trees were blown down along Jackson Road.
Trees were blown down near Morven.
A large tree was blown down onto a house on Gornto Road. Damage was estimated.
There were approximately 60 reports of trees and power lines down in Valdosta and extending into southern Lowndes county. Damage was estimated.
One residence had 6 to 7 trees blown down and many shingles blown off the roof. Damage was estimated.
A shed was destroyed near Highway 285 east of Highway 39. Damage was estimated.
Trees were blown down near Coolidge.
Trees were blown down near Pavo.
Trees were blown down near Quitman.
Trees were blown down near Highway 122 and 76.
Trees were blown down on Old Madison Road.
Trees were blown down on Union Church 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, 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: 600247, 600292, 600293, 600294, 600295, 600296, 600297, 600298, 600299, 600300, 600301, 600302, 600303, 600304.