A strong short wave sweeping through the Tennessee Valley combined with a moderately unstable atmosphere across north Georgia to produce isolated severe thunderstorms with several reports of large hail across northwest Georgia.
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 strong short wave sweeping through the Tennessee Valley combined with a moderately unstable atmosphere across north Georgia to produce isolated severe thunderstorms with several reports of large hail across northwest Georgia.
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 Mar 27, 2:43 PM EST, 3 hours 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 343 PM EDT Mon Mar 27 2017 .SHORT TERM /Tonight through Tuesday Night/... Frontal boundary moving east of the Arklatex. A pre-frontal trough/convective line has developed just east of the MS river and is also moving eastward. Hi-res models keep the line moving across AL and entering the western portions of the CWFA later this afternoon into the early evening hours. Models have been pretty consistent with weakening the line as it moves through. However, there should be enough instability/mid level energy/steep lapse rates to support some strong/isolated severe thunderstorms. In addition, the hi-res models bring in another round of storms overnight, mostly associated with the cold front. These storms could also be strong with the potential for isolated severe. The main threats for any severe thunderstorms would be damaging wind gusts and large hail. The frontal boundary looks to sag slowly southward during the day tomorrow. Convection should fire along any old outflow boundaries from the overnight convection and/or the weak front. With copious cloud cover, marginal surface instability and weak lapse rates, storm coverage should be limited to iso/sct and the potential for strong/severe should be limited. NListemaa .LONG TERM /Wednesday through Monday/... Limited changes through the extended period aside from slight massaging for latest model consensus. Overall, forecast looks on track. Previous forecast discussion is included below. 31 /Issued 337 AM EDT Mon Mar 27 2017/ At the beginning of the forecast period, the system that traversed the area on Tuesday will have exited eastward. As upper ridging builds in on Wednesday a warm and generally drier day can be expected. A few showers or an isolated thunderstorm can't be ruled in the vicinity of a remnant weak boundary, but most places will remain dry. Rain chances will be increasing again by Thursday afternoon, especially across eastern sections of the area where showers and a few thunderstorms will develop near the wedge front along the periphery of the CAD airmass over the Carolinas. The opportunity for showers and thunderstorms will increase in earnest Thursday night into Friday morning across the remainder of the area as the primary storm system approaches the area from the west. There is generally better model agreement with regard to the track of this system as the parent low lifts across the Midwest into the Ohio Valley. This system evolution would favor the chance for some strong to severe thunderstorms in our region with 0-6 km bulk shear values as high as 40-60 knots and 0-1 km values around 30 knots during the Friday morning time frame. Forecast instability is not overly high, but the several hundred J/kg of CAPE forecast by the GFS would likely still be sufficient given aforementioned shear values and favorable upper dynamics. One thing to note is that models have been indicating the development of weak low pressure along the Gulf coast which could rob some instability. Nevertheless, the severe potential with this system late Thursday into Friday morning will continue to be watched over the coming days. After this system departs Friday, upper ridging once again takes hold for the weekend. At this point next weekend's weather appears benign with warm and dry weather before models diverge on the timing and details of the next storm system for early next week. RW && .AVIATION... 18Z Update... Most terminals including ATL have mixed out to VFR flight category early this afternoon following the low cigs this morning. Showers have begun to develop around the vicinity of ATL as of 18z, but continue to not highlight any prevailing TSRA. Prob30 remains in the TAF for the evening hours with the chance of storms moving into the area between 02z and 06z. Surface winds will prevail between 200 and 240 this afternoon around 10 knots with some gusts up to 15 knots possible. IFR cigs are expected to develop once again overnight tonight and have kept mention of lower clouds in the planning period. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... Medium on IFR potential overnight tonight and possibility of TSRA. High on all remaining elements. GOGGINS && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 58 79 56 84 / 50 30 5 5 Atlanta 60 77 58 82 / 50 30 5 20 Blairsville 55 73 50 77 / 60 30 10 5 Cartersville 59 77 54 81 / 60 30 10 10 Columbus 61 80 61 86 / 30 30 5 20 Gainesville 58 76 55 81 / 60 30 5 5 Macon 58 81 58 84 / 30 30 5 20 Rome 58 78 53 81 / 60 30 10 10 Peachtree City 59 77 56 83 / 50 30 10 20 Vidalia 60 84 62 85 / 20 20 5 20 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...NListemaa LONG TERM....31 AVIATION...NListemaa
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 415 PM EDT Mon Mar 27 2017 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-281000- 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- 415 PM EDT Mon Mar 27 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight... Scattered thunderstorms are expected primarily over north Georgia this afternoon into tonight. A few storms could be strong to severe with gusty winds, frequent lightning, and hail. A brief tornado is possible over the far northwest. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday... The chance for thunderstorms will increase Thursday evening into Friday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
407 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
GAZ011-012-019-272030-
Chattooga GA-Gordon GA-Floyd GA-
407 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN CHATTOOGA...GORDON AND
NORTHEASTERN FLOYD COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT...
At 406 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Armuchee, or 10 miles
east of Summerville...moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...up to penny 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, Calhoun, Resaca, Plainville, Shannon, Sonoraville, Pinson,
Oostanaula, Tidings, Armuchee, Lake Marvin, Sugar Valley, Everett
Springs and Nickelsville.
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 3462 8498 3462 8493 3463 8493 3463 8491
3462 8491 3462 8486 3440 8477 3440 8495
3438 8496 3438 8497 3440 8498 3438 8498
3439 8501 3435 8501 3431 8522 3448 8530
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 249DEG 17KT 3443 8518
HAIL...0.75IN
WIND...50MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
450 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
GAZ011-272115-
Chattooga GA-
450 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHATTOOGA COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM
EDT...
At 450 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over New Moon, or 7 miles
east of Little River Canyon National Preserve...moving northeast at
40 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...up to penny sized hail...frequent
cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Summerville, Trion, Lyerly, Menlo, Cloudland, Berryton,
Chattoogaville, 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. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3459 8546 3459 8537 3458 8536 3459 8535
3459 8525 3453 8514 3452 8515 3428 8546
3429 8546 3453 8551
TIME...MOT...LOC 2050Z 221DEG 36KT 3439 8551
HAIL...0.75IN
WIND...50MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
510 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
GAZ002-011-272145-
Chattooga GA-Walker GA-
510 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CHATTOOGA AND WALKER
COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM EDT...
At 510 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near Cloudland, or near
Summerville...moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...up to penny sized hail...frequent
cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Lafayette, Summerville, Trion, Menlo, Naomi, Center Post, Linwood,
Suttles Mill, Noble, Villanow, Cloudland and Berryton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3487 8534 3478 8520 3477 8520 3475 8515
3472 8517 3472 8510 3469 8505 3442 8537
3450 8551 3457 8552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 214DEG 37KT 3454 8541
HAIL...0.75IN
WIND...50MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
539 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
GAZ002-003-272215-
Catoosa GA-Walker GA-
539 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CATOOSA AND WALKER COUNTIES UNTIL
615 PM EDT...
At 539 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Noble, or near
Lafayette...moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...up to penny sized hail...frequent
cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Ringgold, Fort Oglethorpe, Chickamauga, Noble, Lakeview, Indian
Springs, Wood Station, Graysville, Blue Spring, Fairview, Boynton,
Beaumont, Rock Spring, East Ridge 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. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3497 8498 3497 8500 3492 8501 3491 8502
3489 8502 3486 8504 3486 8506 3484 8506
3482 8508 3481 8512 3482 8513 3472 8517
3472 8516 3469 8518 3477 8538 3499 8527
3499 8498
TIME...MOT...LOC 2139Z 207DEG 33KT 3480 8524
HAIL...0.75IN
WIND...50MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
544 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
GAZ011-019-272215-
Chattooga GA-Floyd GA-
544 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHATTOOGA AND FLOYD COUNTIES
UNTIL 615 PM EDT...
At 544 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Holland, or 10 miles
south of Summerville...moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...up to penny sized hail...frequent
cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Rome, Summerville, Trion, Lyerly, Subligna, Tidings, Armuchee, Coosa,
Berryton, Chattoogaville, 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. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3459 8539 3459 8537 3458 8536 3458 8535
3459 8535 3459 8526 3452 8509 3451 8509
3422 8530 3429 8546 3436 8548
TIME...MOT...LOC 2144Z 204DEG 21KT 3434 8537
HAIL...0.75IN
WIND...50MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
649 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
GAZ003-272315-
Catoosa GA-
649 PM EDT MON MAR 27 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CATOOSA COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM
EDT...
At 649 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Boynton, or near
Ringgold...moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind...nickel 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, Boynton, Lakeview, Indian Springs,
Graysville, Blue Spring, East Ridge, Fairview 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 3498 8498 3497 8500 3496 8501 3482 8516
3490 8527 3498 8527 3499 8526 3499 8498
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 218DEG 42KT 3495 8519
HAIL...0.88IN
WIND...50MPHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The public reported nickel size hail on I-75 near the Tennessee state line.
The public reported half dollar size hail in Resaca.
The public reported quarter size hail along Conasauga Road near Highway 52.
The Gilmer County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail at the intersection of Boardtown Road and Whitepath Road.
An amateur radio operator reported dime size hail and wind gusts to 30 MPH.
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, March 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: 689146, 689147, 689148, 689149, 689150.