Weak upper-level ridging continued over the region, however very warm afternoon temperatures and ample moisture resulted in moderate instability across North and Central Georgia with isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms each afternoon and evening.
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.
Weak upper-level ridging continued over the region, however very warm afternoon temperatures and ample moisture resulted in moderate instability across North and Central Georgia with isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms each afternoon and evening.
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 18, 2:06 PM EST, 2 hours 3 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 306 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015 .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... EASTERN PERIPHERY OF THE UPPER RIDGE POSITIONED OVER THE SOUTHEAST... ALLOWING WEAK IMPULSES TO FOCUS SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. HAVE CONTINUED TO ADVERTISE SLIGHT CHANCE TO CHANCE POPS EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING...BUT WITH NO REALLY DEFINED FEATURES IN THE UPPER FLOW...STORMS ARE POSSIBLE ANYWHERE IN THE CWA. HOT TEMPERATURES CONTINUE...AND WITH MODELS HINTING AT SLIGHTLY WARMER TEMPERATURES IN THIS SET OF MODEL RUNS FOR SUNDAY...A LARGER AREA OF CRITICAL HEAT INDEX VALUES ARE POSSIBLE. WILL ALLOW THE OVERNIGHT SHIFT TO EVALUATE LATEST GUIDANCE AND MODEL TRENDS TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE HEAT INDEX AREA...BUT A HEAT ADVISORY WILL BE NECESSARY. 31 .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... ONLY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO THE LONG TERM FORECAST GRIDS FOR THIS CYCLE. MODEL TRENDS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TEMPERATURES AT OR ABOVE SEASONAL NORMALS AND SCATTERED...GENERALLY DIURNAL...THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT EACH DAY THROUGH THE PERIOD. PLEASE SEE THE PREVIOUS LONG TERM FORECAST DISCUSSION BELOW. 20 PREVIOUS LONG TERM FORECAST DISCUSSION /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH THE LONG TERM PERIOD. UPPER LEVEL RIDGING DOMINATES THE GULF COAST STATES...AND MODELS ARE NOW KEEPING NEARLY ZONAL FLOW ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. A WEAK SURFACE FRONT APPROACHES THE FORECAST AREA...BUT WASHES OUT ACROSS NORTH GA. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO FIRE DURING PEAK HEATING HOURS. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL CONTINUE IN THE MID 90S THROUGH THE WEEK. ATWELL && .AVIATION... 18Z UPDATE... VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. ISOLATED TO SCATTERED CONVECTION EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND AGAIN SUNDAY. BEST CHANCES LOOK TO BE 19-23Z...WITH LINGERING SHOWERS INTO THE EVENING HOURS. WESTERLY WINDS WILL DIMINISH OVERNIGHT...THEN INCREASE TO 4-6KT BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. //ATL CONFIDENCE...18Z UPDATE... HIGH FOR ALL ELEMENTS. 31 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ATHENS 74 98 74 97 / 20 30 20 20 ATLANTA 76 95 77 94 / 20 30 10 30 BLAIRSVILLE 68 90 69 89 / 20 30 10 30 CARTERSVILLE 73 96 72 94 / 20 30 10 20 COLUMBUS 77 97 77 96 / 20 30 20 30 GAINESVILLE 75 95 75 94 / 20 30 10 20 MACON 75 98 75 98 / 20 30 20 30 ROME 73 96 73 96 / 20 30 10 20 PEACHTREE CITY 73 95 72 94 / 20 30 10 30 VIDALIA 75 97 75 97 / 20 30 20 40 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...31 LONG TERM....20 AVIATION...31
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 1200 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-191000- 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- 1200 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA...MAINLY BETWEEN 2 PM AND 8 PM. WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED... OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. STRONG GUSTY WINDS... FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
302 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
GAZ030-031-181945-
PAULDING GA-POLK GA-
302 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PAULDING AND POLK COUNTIES UNTIL
345 PM EDT...
AT 302 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR DALLAS...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...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 TO TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE
DALLAS...POWDER SPRINGS...HIRAM...BRASWELL...YORKVILLE...
BROWNSVILLE...NEW HOPE...CROSS ROADS AND NEW GEORGIA.
LAT...LON 3402 8474 3395 8474 3395 8472 3379 8472
3377 8488 3381 8500 3400 8500
TIME...MOT...LOC 1902Z 264DEG 10KT 3388 8491SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
340 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
GAZ015-016-023-182030-
LUMPKIN GA-WHITE GA-HALL GA-
340 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LUMPKIN...WHITE AND HALL COUNTIES
UNTIL 430 PM EDT...
AT 340 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM CLEVELAND TO DAHLONEGA...
AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...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 TO TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE
GAINESVILLE...DAHLONEGA...CLEVELAND...CLERMONT...HELEN...MOSSY
CREEK...GARLAND...SMITHGALL WOODS CONSERVATION ARE...LEAF...CAMP
COLEMAN LAKE...QUALATCHEE LAKE...PORTER SPRINGS...WHITLEY GAP
SHELTER...MURRAYVILLE AND TURNERS CORNER.
LAT...LON 3462 8364 3458 8364 3455 8362 3454 8362
3453 8364 3453 8363 3451 8367 3446 8364
3433 8387 3460 8411 3474 8378
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 328DEG 13KT 3458 8377 3454 8396SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
409 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
GAZ032-033-044-045-055-182045-
DEKALB GA-COBB GA-NORTH FULTON GA-SOUTH FULTON GA-CLAYTON GA-
409 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DEKALB...COBB...NORTH FULTON...
SOUTH FULTON AND CLAYTON COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...
AT 409 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ATLANTA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...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 TO TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE
ATLANTA...DECATUR...SMYRNA...EAST POINT...FOREST PARK...RIVERDALE...
COLLEGE PARK...MORROW...HAPEVILLE...AVONDALE ESTATES...LAKE CITY...
MIDTOWN...CANDLER-MCAFEE...BELVEDERE PARK...GRANT PARK-ZOO ATLANTA...
HARTSFIELD-JACKSON AIRPORT...DRUID HILLS...TURNER FIELD...LAKEWOOD
PARK AND SWEET AUBURN.
LAT...LON 3386 8454 3373 8419 3365 8427 3365 8428
3364 8427 3353 8437 3378 8460
TIME...MOT...LOC 2009Z 310DEG 22KT 3376 8450SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
424 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
GAZ023-024-182115-
BANKS GA-HALL GA-
424 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BANKS AND HALL COUNTIES UNTIL 515
PM EDT...
AT 424 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CLERMONT...OR 9 MILES NORTH OF
GAINESVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...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 TO TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE
GAINESVILLE...LULA...CLERMONT AND GILLSVILLE.
LAT...LON 3445 8363 3443 8361 3444 8361 3440 8348
3422 8374 3444 8385 3450 8378
TIME...MOT...LOC 2024Z 320DEG 11KT 3443 8379SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
439 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
GAZ032-033-044-045-055-182115-
DEKALB GA-COBB GA-NORTH FULTON GA-SOUTH FULTON GA-CLAYTON GA-
439 PM EDT SAT JUL 18 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DEKALB...COBB...NORTH FULTON...
SOUTH FULTON AND CLAYTON COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM EDT...
AT 438 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR SMYRNA TO FOREST
PARK...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
HAZARD...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...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 TO TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE
ATLANTA...MARIETTA...DECATUR...SANDY SPRINGS...SMYRNA...EAST POINT...
UNION CITY...FOREST PARK...RIVERDALE...COLLEGE PARK...CHAMBLEE...
MORROW...HAPEVILLE...AVONDALE ESTATES...LAKE CITY...NORTH ATLANTA...
MIDTOWN...DRUID HILLS...NORTH DECATUR AND CANDLER-MCAFEE.
LAT...LON 3392 8451 3387 8426 3363 8424 3365 8425
3365 8428 3364 8428 3363 8426 3361 8426
3360 8424 3358 8426 3359 8457
TIME...MOT...LOC 2038Z 307DEG 8KT 3387 8447 3365 8437The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 38 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:09 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Clayton County 911 Center reported multiple trees down in the Conley area.
The Bartow County 911 Center reported several trees blown down including one on a house.
The Cobb County 911 Center reported several trees blown down.
An Atlanta television news station reported trees and power lines down at Harbin Drive and Landrum Drive. Many residents in the area were without power.
The Taylor County 911 Center reported multiple trees blown down.
The Laurens County 911 Center reported trees and power lines blown down from Highway 19 near Dudley to Scotland Road and Capps Browning Road near Rentz.
The broadcast media reported trees blown down along Logan Store Road.
The Crisp County 911 Center reported trees blown down from around Scenic Route and South Cedar Creek Road to Antioch Road and into Arabi.
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, July 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: 592400, 592401, 592402, 592403, 592404, 592406, 592407, 592410.