Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, May 18, 2015

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Georgia, May 18, 2015
Start: 2015-05-18T15:27
End: 2015-05-18T16:55
Location: Georgia

May 18, 2015 · NWS FFC · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

Diurnally-driven afternoon convection developed isolated severe thunderstorms across north and central GA, particularly just northwest of Atlanta, where hail and pockets of damaging wind occurred.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $2,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FFC wrote it up.

Diurnally-driven afternoon convection developed isolated severe thunderstorms across north and central GA, particularly just northwest of Atlanta, where hail and pockets of damaging wind occurred.

What forecasters said that day

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 May 18, 1:59 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 1:59 PM EST, 1 hour 28 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
259 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
SHORT WAVE MOVING NORTHEAST ACROSS AL THIS AFTERNOON IS VISIBLE ON
SATELLITE. THIS COULD CONTINUE TO ENHANCE CONVECTION ACROSS THE
FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THERE SHOULD BE A GRADUAL
DIMINISHING OF COVERAGE TONIGHT...BUT AIR MASS STILL UNSTABLE ENOUGH
TO LEAVE LOW CHANCE POPS IN ALL NIGHT. UPPER RIDGE FLATTENING SOME
THROUGH THE PERIOD AND A FRONTAL BOUNDARY SHOULD DRIFT SOUTH INTO GA
BY MORNING. MODELS SEEM TO BE HOLDING ON TO THE MOISTURE A BIT
LONGER...SO HAVE KEPT POPS IN FOR THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA THROUGH
TUESDAY. GRADUAL DRYING ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT EXCEPT FOR A
PORTION OF CENTRAL. GUIDANCE TEMPERATURES LOOK REASONABLE AND HAVE
STAYED CLOSE.

41

.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
MAINLY ONLY TWEAKS TO THE LONG TERM BASED ON THE LASTEST GUIDANCE.

BDL

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
LONG TERM PERIOD BEGINS WITH A DRIER AIRMASS MOVING INTO THE STATE
BEHIND THE EXITING FRONTAL SYSTEM. STILL KEEPING IN A SLIGHT
CHANCE ACROSS CENTRAL GA WED AS THERE IS STILL A BIT OF RESIDUAL
MOISTURE REMAINING ACROSS SOUTHERN PORTIO0NS OF THE CWA. THIS
DRIER AIRMASS IS SHORT LIVED AS A FEW WAVES MOVE ACROSS THE AREA
THROUGH THE WEEKEND IN THE ZONAL UPPER LEVEL FLOW. THESE WAVES ARE
ALL WEAK WITH VERY LITTLE DYNAMICS AND NOT MUCH INSTABILITY SO
WILL CONTINUE WITH SLIGHT/CHANCE POPS THROUGH DAY SEVEN WITH
ISOLATED TSRA.

01

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z UPDATE...CONVECTION WILL CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON AND MAY LAST
UNTIL 00Z-02Z IN SOME LOCATIONS. THERE COULD BE ISOLATED STORMS INTO
THE OVERNIGHT BUT CHANCE TOO LOW TO PUT IN TAF. A FRONT WILL BE
DROPPING INTO NORTH GA 12Z-15Z TUESDAY WITH WINDS BECOMING MORE
NORTHWEST AROUND 10KT. CEILINGS GENERALLY VFR BUT THERE WILL BE
SOME SCT-BKN025-035 THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. CONVECTION DEVELOPING
AGAIN TUESDAY...BUT MAINLY ACROSS CENTRAL GA FORECAST AREA.

//ATL CONFIDENCE...18Z UPDATE...
MEDIUM ON TO HIGH ON ALL ELEMENTS.

41

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
ATHENS          67  88  65  89 /  60  40  20  10
ATLANTA         69  86  67  87 /  60  40  10  10
BLAIRSVILLE     62  81  57  83 /  60  40  10   5
CARTERSVILLE    65  85  61  86 /  60  40  10  10
COLUMBUS        70  88  68  90 /  50  40  20  20
GAINESVILLE     67  85  65  86 /  60  40  10  10
MACON           67  90  66  91 /  60  40  20  30
ROME            65  85  61  86 /  60  40  10  10
PEACHTREE CITY  66  86  63  88 /  60  40  10  20
VIDALIA         69  90  70  91 /  60  50  40  30

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...41
LONG TERM....BDL
AVIATION...41

Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 9:30 AM EST, 5 hours 57 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1030 AM EDT MON MAY 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-
1030 AM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH AND
CENTRAL GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVER NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA
THROUGH TONIGHT.

WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED...
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS...WITH ANY
STRONGER STORMS. SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...

A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL BRING A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA TUESDAY. ALTHOUGH A FEW STORMS
COULD BE STRONG WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN...LIGHTNING AND
GUSTY WINDS...SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. A SLIGHTLY
DRIER AIRMASS MOVES IN ACROSS THE STATE WEDNESDAY BUT WILL KEEP
IN A SLIGHT CHANCE TO A CHANCE OF STORMS THROUGH SUNDAY AS WEAK
UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE
WEEKEND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 18, 1:28 PM EST, 1 hour 59 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
228 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

GAZ059-071-072-181900-
JONES GA-JASPER GA-MONROE GA-
228 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS...PEA SIZED
HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN JONES...JASPER AND MONROE COUNTIES
UNTIL 300 PM EDT...

AT 226 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FLOVILLA...OR 10 MILES
NORTHEAST OF FORSYTH...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND
HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF JONES...JASPER AND
MONROE COUNTIES...INCLUDING AREAS AROUND GRAY...JULIETTE...JARRELL
PLANTATION...BERNER...ADGATEVILLE...DAMES
FERRY...WAYSIDE...BRADLEY...ROUND OAK...MCELHENEYS CROSSROADS...
HILLSBORO...PLANT SCHERER AND CLINTON.

DRIVERS SHOULD ALSO USE CAUTION AS INTENSE RAINFALL WILL REDUCE
VISIBILITIES. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS IS ALSO LIKELY.

LAT...LON 3304 8391 3320 8387 3319 8385 3318 8382
      3321 8383 3329 8383 3328 8354 3317 8355
      3318 8351 3299 8352
TIME...MOT...LOC 1826Z 273DEG 13KT 3314 8382

Special weather statement, May 18, 1:46 PM EST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
246 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

GAZ037-047>049-181915-
MORGAN GA-OCONEE GA-NEWTON GA-WALTON GA-
246 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS...DIME SIZED
HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN MORGAN...OCONEE... NEWTON AND
WALTON COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT...

AT 245 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER JERSEY...OR NEAR MONROE...MOVING EAST AT 25
MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH...DIME SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND
HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF
MORGAN...OCONEE...NEWTON AND WALTON COUNTIES...INCLUDING AREAS
AROUND MONROE...COVINGTON...MADISON...SOCIAL
CIRCLE...OXFORD...WALNUT GROVE...RUTLEDGE...NORTH HIGH
SHOALS...BOSTWICK...BETWEEN...GOOD HOPE...JERSEY...EBENEZER...HARD
LABOR CREEK STATE PARK...BRICK STORE...PANNELL AND HERNDONVILLE.

DRIVERS SHOULD ALSO USE CAUTION AS INTENSE RAINFALL WILL REDUCE
VISIBILITIES. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS IS ALSO LIKELY.

LAT...LON 3358 8386 3384 8385 3386 8345 3359 8343
TIME...MOT...LOC 1845Z 266DEG 22KT 3371 8378

Special weather statement, May 18, 1:55 PM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
255 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

GAZ048-049-059-060-181930-
MORGAN GA-NEWTON GA-JASPER GA-PUTNAM GA-
255 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS...PEA SIZED
HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN MORGAN...NEWTON... JASPER AND
PUTNAM COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM EDT...

AT 254 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MONTICELLO...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

40 MPH WIND GUSTS...PEA SIZED HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF MORGAN...NEWTON...JASPER
AND PUTNAM COUNTIES...INCLUDING AREAS AROUND
COVINGTON...EATONTON...MADISON...MONTICELLO...NEWBORN...MANSFIELD...
SHADY DALE...BUCKHEAD...CALVIN...WARFIELD...HARMONY...EUDORA...ROCK
EAGLE 4-H
CENTER...FARRAR...GODFREY...STARRSVILLE...WILLARD...AND NORTH ALCOVY.

DRIVERS SHOULD ALSO USE CAUTION AS INTENSE RAINFALL WILL REDUCE
VISIBILITIES. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS IS ALSO LIKELY.

LAT...LON 3328 8327 3326 8382 3358 8386 3359 8337
TIME...MOT...LOC 1854Z 266DEG 22KT 3337 8373

Special weather statement, May 18, 2:12 PM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
312 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

GAZ001-181945-
DADE GA-
312 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 40 MPH WINDS IN DADE COUNTY UNTIL
345 PM EDT...

AT 311 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR TRENTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM AS THIS STORM MOVES
ACROSS DADE COUNTY THROUGH 345 PM EDT.

SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE
TRENTON...RISING FAWN...CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK...NEW ENGLAND...
COLE CITY...MORGANVILLE...WILDWOOD...HOOKER AND STEPHENSVILLE.

LAT...LON 3498 8537 3483 8545 3477 8545 3464 8552
      3463 8553 3498 8560
TIME...MOT...LOC 1911Z 224DEG 21KT 3489 8556

Special weather statement, May 18, 2:27 PM EST, 1 hour before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
327 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

GAZ037-038-049-050-182000-
MORGAN GA-OGLETHORPE GA-OCONEE GA-GREENE GA-
327 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR 50 MPH WINDS AND PEA SIZED HAIL
IN MORGAN... OGLETHORPE...OCONEE AND GREENE COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM
EDT...

AT 327 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER MADISON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

WIND GUSTS OF 50 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM AS THIS STORM MOVES
ACROSS MORGAN...OGLETHORPE...OCONEE AND GREENE COUNTIES THROUGH 400
PM EDT.

SOME LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE
MADISON...GREENSBORO...WATKINSVILLE...UNION POINT...RUTLEDGE...
BOSTWICK...WOODVILLE...BISHOP...MAXEYS...BUCKHEAD...PENFIELD...
BARNETT SHOALS...FARMINGTON...WRAYSWOOD...HARD LABOR CREEK STATE
PARK...APALACHEE AND GRESHAMVILLE.

LAT...LON 3351 8350 3364 8364 3391 8340 3387 8336
      3387 8333 3386 8333 3385 8329 3363 8302
TIME...MOT...LOC 1927Z 246DEG 20KT 3362 8346

Special weather statement, May 18, 3:15 PM EST, 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
415 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

GAZ021-032-033-182045-
COBB GA-CHEROKEE GA-NORTH FULTON GA-
415 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR DIME SIZED HAIL...40 MPH
WINDS...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN COBB... CHEROKEE AND NORTH FULTON
COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...

AT 413 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER FAIR OAKS...OR OVER MARIETTA...MOVING EAST
AT 25 MPH.

DIME SIZED HAIL...40 MPH WIND GUSTS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY
RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS COBB...CHEROKEE AND NORTH FULTON
COUNTIES...INCLUDING AREAS AROUND ATLANTA...MARIETTA...SANDY
SPRINGS...ROSWELL...ALPHARETTA...SMYRNA...
KENNESAW...WOODSTOCK...ACWORTH...POWDER SPRINGS...AUSTELL...FAIR
OAKS...WHITE WATER PARK...DUE WEST...MOUNT BETHEL...VININGS...
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY...JIM R MILLER PARK...SWEAT MOUNTAIN AND
CHASTAIN MEMORIAL PARK.

DRIVERS SHOULD ALSO USE CAUTION AS INTENSE RAINFALL WILL REDUCE
VISIBILITIES. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS IS ALSO LIKELY.

LAT...LON 3404 8473 3415 8432 3400 8425 3399 8425
      3399 8426 3397 8426 3396 8428 3397 8433
      3397 8435 3387 8435 3381 8464
TIME...MOT...LOC 2013Z 249DEG 23KT 3393 8458

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Cobb

When: May 18, 3:27 PM EST to 3:32 PM EST
Where: Cobb County, Marietta
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 33.950, -84.550

Report relayed to NWS by local television station (WSB).

Thunderstorm Wind, Gilmer

When: May 18, 4:45 PM EST to 4:50 PM EST
Where: Gilmer County, 1.79 mi SW of New Hope
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.700, -84.520

Gilmer county Emergency Manager reported multiple trees down along GA Highway 282.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gilmer

When: May 18, 4:50 PM EST to 4:55 PM EST
Where: Gilmer County, Ellijay
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.700, -84.480

Gilmer county EM reported additional trees down near Highways 52 and 382.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gilmer

When: May 18, 4:50 PM EST to 4:55 PM EST
Where: Gilmer County, 1.79 mi SW of Santaluca
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.760, -84.450

Gilmer county EM reported trees down on Boardtown Road. Size and number of trees down is unknown.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, May 2015

Sources

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: 582924, 582930, 582932, 582933.