A strong cold front moving across north Georgia during the pre-dawn hours produced an isolated severe thunderstorm in Pickens County where a few trees were blown down.
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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 FFC wrote it up.
A strong cold front moving across north Georgia during the pre-dawn hours produced an isolated severe thunderstorm in Pickens County where a few trees were blown down.
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 Feb 25, 3:54 AM EST, 1 hour 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 354 AM EST Sat Feb 25 2017 .SHORT TERM /Today through Sunday/... Early the morning still a lingering isolated strong to severe storm possible along leading edge of cold front making its way into NW GA. Strong winds are main threat given the supportive shear environment with enough ML/elevated instability (300-500 J/kg). Coverage should diminish and become just an isolated shower pop trend after about 7 am as front skirts southeastward. Enhanced NW gradient winds and gusts 20-25 mph (possibly high in NE mtns) can be expected this afternoon as the dry airmass is ushered in and parent 1025 mb sfc high quickly slides into the region. See fire weather section for details on fire danger concerns for today and Sunday. Tonight should see a long awaited return to what will feel like actual winter as many locations in north GA should dip into the low 30s with both the radiational and advective cooling components at play. Sunday will be less windy with ridge centered close to the CWA...and subsidence keeping mostly clear skies. Temps should stay right around climo norms with upper 50s to low 60s across most locations. Baker .LONG TERM /Sunday Night through Friday/... The long term starts relatively quiet will surface high pressure moving into the atlantic and a moist southerly flow developing. The increasingly moist flow associated with an upper level disturbance moving across the area on Monday will cause increasing rain chances rather quickly and somewhat favoring north GA. Some minimal instability creeps into the area for the afternoon with a slight chance of thunderstorms for portions of the western forecast area. Forecast low temperatures are running within 3 degrees of normal Sunday night and forecast high are running 2-7 degrees above normal for Monday. The GFS and European models are rather consistent with a moist SSW flow continuing across the area with the best rain chances affecting n GA until a cold front approaches the area late Wednesday and move across the area Wednesday night and Thursday morning. During this period...there is at least some instability across the area so a slight chance or a chance of thunderstorms will be included in the forecast. The front will have to be watched for severe weather potential as there will be 30-40 knots of low level shear associated. The forecast dries out starting Thursday with only a slight chance of showers over the southern portions of central GA to start the day... but any shower chances will be brief on Thursday with a dry day expected on Friday. Temperatures are expected to be above normal after Monday until Thursday where temperatures will be close to normal through Friday. BDL && .FIRE WEATHER... Borderline Fire Danger conditions this afternoon given forecast afternoon NW winds near 15 mph gusting 20-25 mph for most locations and min RH values near 25 percent for portions of east central GA. Duration of these RH values for now looks like a 3-4 hr period. Based mainly on wind criteria (borderline RH values in east)...thinking majority of area except far NW portion (where heavier precip occurred) has best chance for reaching critical levels. Will issue Fire Danger Statement accordingly. Sunday afternoon looks supportive for reaching critical Fire Danger levels area-wide given forecast RH values near 20-25 percent at least 4 hrs despite weaker winds. This will be looked at further to see where the drier fuels exist...though another Statement is likely. && .AVIATION... 06Z Update... Initial cigs ahead of cold front and associated showers/storms mainly in 4-6 kft range early this morning with gradual lowering to MVFR after about 09z near KATL. Tempo group for -SHRA (may need to include TS if line can hold together) and MVFR VSBY/possible high end IFR cigs across most sites in 10-14z period then diminishing coverage as front pushes southeast. Clearing skies expected by 16-18z. Winds will be initially SW to W at 7-10 kts ahead of front then enhanced NW 12-14 kts gusting 22-26 kts behind for the afternoon. Gradual lessening for overnight into Sunday. //ATL Confidence...06Z Update... Medium on cigs and precip coverage this morning. High on all else. Baker && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 66 32 61 38 / 30 0 0 5 Atlanta 62 34 60 42 / 30 0 0 5 Blairsville 56 26 56 33 / 40 5 0 10 Cartersville 59 31 59 36 / 40 0 0 5 Columbus 66 36 63 43 / 30 0 0 0 Gainesville 62 33 58 39 / 40 0 0 5 Macon 70 35 63 37 / 20 0 0 0 Rome 58 30 59 37 / 20 0 0 10 Peachtree City 63 31 61 37 / 30 0 0 0 Vidalia 76 40 66 45 / 20 5 0 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Baker LONG TERM....BDL AVIATION...Baker
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 500 AM EST Sat Feb 25 2017 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-261100- 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- 500 AM EST Sat Feb 25 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Isolated thunderstorms are possible over north Georgia this morning. Gusty winds and occasional lightning are possible. High fire danger conditions are expected for much of north and central Georgia this afternoon. Refer to the special weather statement /ATLSPSFFC/ for more information. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday... High Fire danger conditions are possible on Sunday afternoon. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will be possible over portions of north and central Georgia Monday into early Thursday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time on Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service PEACHTREE CITY GA
243 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
GAZ003-004-250815-
Whitfield GA-Catoosa GA-
243 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN WHITFIELD AND CATOOSA
COUNTIES UNTIL 315 AM EST...
At 243 AM EST...a strong thunderstorm was over Ringgold...moving
northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind...pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, Varnell, Tunnel Hill, Cohutta, Indian
Springs, Wood Station, Graysville, Blue Spring, Boynton, Beaumont,
Beaverdale, Red Clay S.p. and Apison.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
LAT...LON 3499 8481 3497 8481 3494 8484 3492 8484
3490 8483 3489 8483 3477 8518 3477 8520
3485 8520 3486 8526 3495 8526 3499 8511
TIME...MOT...LOC 0743Z 239DEG 49KT 3489 8512
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service PEACHTREE CITY GA
315 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
GAZ001-002-011-250845-
Chattooga GA-Walker GA-Dade GA-
315 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CHATTOOGA...WALKER
AND SOUTHWESTERN DADE COUNTIES UNTIL 345 AM EST...
At 315 AM EST...a strong thunderstorm was near Cloudland, or 10 miles
northwest of Summerville...moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind...pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Lafayette, Trion, Naomi, Center Post, Linwood, Suttles Mill, Noble,
Cloudland and Rock Spring.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
LAT...LON 3485 8520 3478 8520 3478 8516 3477 8515
3472 8517 3472 8514 3463 8513 3449 8551
3471 8555
TIME...MOT...LOC 0815Z 239DEG 49KT 3459 8548
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service PEACHTREE CITY GA
346 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
GAZ002-011-250915-
Chattooga GA-Walker GA-
346 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN CHATTOOGA AND SOUTHERN
WALKER COUNTIES UNTIL 415 AM EST...
At 346 AM EST...a strong thunderstorm was over Center Post, or near
Summerville...moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind...pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Lafayette, Summerville, Trion, Menlo, Naomi, Center Post, Linwood,
Subligna, Suttles Mill, Villanow and Cloudland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
LAT...LON 3478 8517 3477 8515 3472 8517 3472 8505
3462 8505 3461 8506 3459 8506 3459 8511
3454 8513 3443 8548 3461 8552
TIME...MOT...LOC 0846Z 238DEG 49KT 3458 8539
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service PEACHTREE CITY GA
410 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
GAZ011-019-250945-
Chattooga GA-Floyd GA-
410 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN CHATTOOGA AND FLOYD
COUNTIES UNTIL 445 AM EST...
At 410 AM EST...a strong thunderstorm was over Fullerton, or near
Cedar Bluff...moving east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind...pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Rome, Shannon, Lyerly, Coosa, Chattoogaville, Tidings, Armuchee,
Everett Springs, James H. Floyd State Park and Holland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
LAT...LON 3454 8509 3447 8509 3446 8511 3443 8509
3441 8511 3440 8508 3427 8508 3415 8543
3439 8548
TIME...MOT...LOC 0910Z 248DEG 47KT 3427 8549
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHGAZ013>016-020>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-089>098- 102>113-252300- Pickens-Dawson-Lumpkin-White-Bartow-Cherokee-Forsyth-Hall-Banks- Jackson-Madison-Polk-Paulding-Cobb-North Fulton-Gwinnett-Barrow- Clarke-Oconee-Oglethorpe-Wilkes-Haralson-Carroll-Douglas- South Fulton-DeKalb-Rockdale-Walton-Newton-Morgan-Greene- Taliaferro-Heard-Coweta-Fayette-Clayton-Spalding-Henry-Butts- Jasper-Putnam-Hancock-Warren-Troup-Meriwether-Pike-Upson-Lamar- Monroe-Jones-Baldwin-Washington-Glascock-Jefferson-Harris-Talbot- Taylor-Crawford-Bibb-Twiggs-Wilkinson-Johnson-Emanuel-Muscogee- Chattahoochee-Marion-Schley-Macon-Peach-Houston-Bleckley-Laurens- Treutlen-Stewart-Webster-Sumter-Dooly-Crisp-Pulaski-Wilcox-Dodge- Telfair-Wheeler-Montgomery-Toombs- Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 417 AM EST Sat Feb 25 2017 ...HIGH FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING FOR PARTS OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA DUE TO STRONG WINDS... SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 MPH. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES LOOK TO REACH 20 TO 30 PERCENT FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS THIS AFTERNOON. WITH DRY FUELS...HIGH FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED. PLEASE REFER TO YOUR LOCAL BURN PERMITTING AUTHORITIES CONCERNING WHETHER YOU MAY BURN OUTDOORS. IF YOU DO BURN OUTSIDE, USE EXTREME CAUTION.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service PEACHTREE CITY GA
504 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
GAZ012-013-020-021-251030-
Cherokee GA-Gordon GA-Bartow GA-Pickens GA-
504 AM EST SAT FEB 25 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CHEROKEE...
SOUTHEASTERN GORDON...NORTHERN BARTOW AND WESTERN PICKENS COUNTIES
UNTIL 530 AM EST...
At 504 AM EST...a strong thunderstorm was near Adairsville, or 10
miles south of Calhoun...moving east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind...pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Canton, Cartersville, Calhoun, Jasper, Adairsville, White, Waleska,
Kingston, Talking Rock, Cassville, Fairmount, Ranger, Sonoraville,
Lake Arrowhead, Folsom, Salacoa Valley, Pine Log, Blaine, Talmadge
and Funkhouser.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
LAT...LON 3452 8441 3428 8448 3422 8499 3441 8500
3453 8469
TIME...MOT...LOC 1004Z 248DEG 49KT 3436 8488
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHThe Atlanta radar (KFFC), 121 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:34 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The Pickens County 911 center reported a few trees blown down from around Gum Circle and White Oak Drive to Camp Road near the Cornerstone Church.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, February 2017
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: 675332.