A strong low-level jet, associated with a deep upper-level low and an accompanying strong cold front, combined with the effects of a mesoscale surface low to produce numerous reports of wind damage across north and parts of central Georgia.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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 low-level jet, associated with a deep upper-level low and an accompanying strong cold front, combined with the effects of a mesoscale surface low to produce numerous reports of wind damage across north and parts of central 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 May 4, 2:43 AM EST, 3 hours 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 343 AM EDT Thu May 4 2017 .SHORT TERM /Today through Friday/... First wave of precipitation associated with the complex system that will be impacting the region over the next few days is currently sweeping east into the forecast area. Gulf coast convection appears to be limiting the instability and moisture farther north across our forecast area somewhat this morning, but enough potential for isolated thunder to keep it in the forecast for this morning. Better chance for strong to severe convection later in the afternoon through the evening as the surface cold front pushes through. Ample shear and marginal instability combined with the strong low-level convergence and mid-level dynamics support at least a marginal threat for damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Lapse rates remain weak and hail threat still looks minimal. Upper low settles into the southeastern U.S. tonight through Friday with scattered to numerous showers redeveloping over the northern 2/3 of the forecast area by Friday morning, and continuing through the day. Better chances remain across the far north. Right now it appears that the atmosphere will remain too stable for thunder as the showers spread back into the state late tonight and Friday, but plenty of cold air in the mid-levels associated with the upper low will merit some small possibility that the shallow convection may produce some small hail or graupel and even a flash or two of lightning. Surface winds ramp up through the morning as well with Wind Advisory level winds still expected across much of north Georgia through the day. Winds should settle some as we head into the evening and overnight through Friday, but will remain moderate and gusty at times. After a rain-cooled but otherwise mild day today, temperatures drop well below seasonal normals tonight and Friday. 20 .LONG TERM /Friday Night through Wednesday/... A deep closed upper low sits over the TN Valley region at the beginning of the period. The low gradually fills and pushes eastward over the Appalachians through Saturday night. Wrap around showers will affect much of north and central GA Friday night and mainly north GA Saturday and Saturday night. Northwesterly flow will dominate the state for the remainder of the period as a deep trough settles off the Atlantic Coast and the upper ridge builds west of the MS river. A short wave drops into the Appalachians Tuesday into Wednesday...but have left us dry for now due to uncertainty of amount of moisture. Cool temperatures will continue into the weekend...but begin to recover by the first of the week. Models in general agreement through the period. 41 && AVIATION... 06Z Update... Large area of moderate precipitation spreading north and east into the forecast area at this time. Mainly rain with embedded showers. best chance for showers, and even some isolated thunder, will be across the southern TAF sites (KCSG/KMCN) this morning. Ceilings should lower as this precipitation spreads over the area with most places MVFR by 12-14Z. Will see a bit of a break in the precipitation between 16Z and 20Z, although scattered showers will linger over the area. A line of stronger showers and some thunderstorms will sweep east across the region between 20Z and 04Z. Southeast winds 6-10kt will increase into the 10-15kt range w/ gusts over 20kt between 10Z and 14Z, continuing through the day. Winds will decrease some and become southwest between 00Z and 06Z. //ATL Confidence...06Z Update... Medium on all elements, mainly due to medium confidence on the timing of the waves of precipitation with this compound weather system. 20 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 72 51 60 46 / 60 60 30 20 Atlanta 70 50 60 48 / 70 60 40 30 Blairsville 67 48 55 42 / 70 60 60 60 Cartersville 68 50 58 46 / 70 60 50 30 Columbus 73 52 65 49 / 80 40 30 10 Gainesville 70 50 60 47 / 60 60 50 30 Macon 73 51 65 47 / 80 60 20 10 Rome 68 49 58 46 / 80 50 60 40 Peachtree City 70 51 62 45 / 80 60 40 20 Vidalia 79 57 69 51 / 80 60 10 5 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening for the following zones: Banks...Barrow...Bartow...Carroll... Catoosa...Chattooga...Cherokee...Cobb...Dade...Dawson...DeKalb... Douglas...Fannin...Floyd...Forsyth...Gilmer...Gordon... Gwinnett...Hall...Haralson...Jackson...Lumpkin...Murray...North Fulton...Paulding...Pickens...Polk...South Fulton...Towns... Union...Walker...White...Whitfield. && SHORT TERM...20 LONG TERM....41 AVIATION...20
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 429 AM EDT Thu May 4 2017 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-050830- 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- 429 AM EDT Thu May 4 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Isolated strong to possibly severe storms are possible today into this evening across parts of north and central Georgia. Showers and thunderstorms will continue to increase across Georgia today. A few storms may become severe over central Georgia this morning...and area wide this afternoon and evening. The main threats will be strong gusty winds and frequent lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected through tonight.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The GDOT reported trees blown down across Murray County including at Fort Mountain State Park where all lanes of Highway 52 were blocked by downed trees and power lines were down.
The Floyd County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the county. Falling trees damaged houses on Terry Lane, Tyler Street NW, Lookout Circle, Margaret Street and Keller Street. Power was out across many areas for several hours.
The Gilmer County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees blown down across the county including some on houses and automobiles.
The Fannin County Emergency Manager and the GDOT reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the county. Three businesses and at least 2 homes received damage from falling trees. Some campers were damaged at Morgan Point and an elementary school received damage to the roof. Trees blocked the roadway on Highway 5 at Davis Road and on the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway.
The GDOT reported trees and traffic lights blown down and blocking the road on Highway 53 and trees blocking the road on Highway 61. Other roadways across the county had trees down with some lanes blocked.
The Cherokee County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the county. A tree fell on a garage on Pinebrook Drive in Waleska; falling trees brought down power lines at Providence Drive and Univeter Road; and fallen trees blocked the roadway at Sixes Road and Woodbridge Chase.
The GDOT reported all lanes blocked by fallen trees on Highway 14 at East Camp Street.
The GDOT reported a tree blown down onto I-85 near mile post 6 blocking the rightmost lane.
The Gwinnett County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the county. Trees fell on houses on Buford Drive near Maddox Street and on Grayson New Hope Road. Downed trees and power lines blocked roadways on Williams Road, South Lee Street, Mount Tabor Circle, Prospect Church Road, Centerville Rosebud Road, Millers Pond Way and Lakeshore Drive.
A report was received on social media of a tree blown down on Huntridge Drive.
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, May 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: 701302, 701305, 701308, 701312, 701313, 701315, 701316, 701322, 701318, 701319.