A strong cold front associated with a deep upper-level low swept across the region. Moderate instability and strong mid-level winds combined to produce scattered severe thunderstorms across portions of central and east Georgia.
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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 associated with a deep upper-level low swept across the region. Moderate instability and strong mid-level winds combined to produce scattered severe thunderstorms across portions of central and east 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 Apr 23, 1:37 PM EST, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 237 PM EDT Mon Apr 23 2018 .SHORT TERM /Tonight through Tuesday Night/... Low pressure remains centered across SE MO/SW TN/W KY this afternoon with a secondary area of low pressure across eastern AL. A warm front extends eastward from the secondary area of low pressure across south central GA. The widespread...steadier rainfall...has moved off to the east of the CWFA this afternoon. However, scattered to numerous showers and isolated thunderstorms have developed across the outlook area. The ongoing convection should continue during the heating of the day, but coverage is expected to begin diminishing after sunset. Storms have blossomed, especially where the clouds have thinned/cleared out. The atmos remains very moist and CAPES south of the warm front are between 1000-1500 J/Kg. The mid level lapse rates are marginal, but 500mb analysis shows a shear axis situated right over the Interstate 85 corridor. PWATS have decreased a little, but still remain an inch or more across the CWFA, so locally heavy rainfall will remain possible. A few storms could be strong and there is some potential for an isolated severe thunderstorm. The primary mode for any severe weather would be damaging wind gusts and large hail. Can't rule out an isolated brief tornado. Scattered convection is also anticipated on Tuesday. Will be extending the current Flood Watch through midnight. NListemaa .LONG TERM /Wednesday through Monday/... Extended forecast continues to be on track. Have made adjustments to pops and wx grids early in the period given the slight change in timing with the late week system. Otherwise, have massaged max/min temperatures to account for the latest model trends. Otherwise, previous forecast discussion follows. 31 /Issued 519 AM EDT Mon Apr 23 2018/ Aside from some lingering slight pops across the north for Tuesday night into Wednesday with the departing low from the short term, the main focus will be on two shortwaves set to traverse the region later in the week. Guidance is coming into much better agreement with the features and have a higher amplitude wave that nearly cuts off as it digs farther south into the Mississippi Valley for Thursday. The translated sfc low does try to show a bit more organization than previous runs and progged CAPE values are enough to include slight chance thunder mention (most likely elevated given the position of the low). The second shortwave looks to quickly dig into the region for Friday night/early Saturday with an almost identical evolution as the Thursday wave. Kept pops lower with this given how far out in the fcst, though future updates may very well raise chances if subsequent runs maintain consensus. Temps generally slightly below climo norms through fcst period. Most days with upper 40s to low 50s for mins and upper 60s to low 70s for maxs. Baker && .AVIATION... 18Z Update... Scattered to numerous showers will continue to impact ATL through the early evening hours. Do think activity will diminish a bit after sunset with a period of dry conditions for the remainder of the overnight. Do think sct shra will develop once again tomorrow. Isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, but think chances are too small to mention at this time. Will handle in further amds/tempos. A wind shift to the SW should occur between 03z and 05z tonight. A brief period of IFR cigs possible right around 12z. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... Med confidence all elements. NListemaa && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 56 72 53 74 / 70 30 20 5 Atlanta 56 69 55 70 / 70 40 20 10 Blairsville 52 66 50 65 / 90 60 30 20 Cartersville 53 69 53 70 / 70 40 20 10 Columbus 55 73 56 75 / 20 30 10 5 Gainesville 55 69 54 70 / 80 40 30 10 Macon 55 74 54 76 / 50 30 10 5 Rome 53 70 53 70 / 70 40 20 20 Peachtree City 53 71 53 72 / 60 30 20 5 Vidalia 59 77 58 78 / 60 20 10 5 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch until midnight EDT tonight for the following zones: Banks...Catoosa...Dade...Dawson...Fannin...Forsyth...Gilmer... Hall...Jackson...Lumpkin...Madison...Murray...Pickens...Towns... Union...Walker...White...Whitfield. && SHORT TERM...NListemaa LONG TERM....31 AVIATION...NListemaa
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 245 PM EDT Mon Apr 23 2018 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-241845- 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- 245 PM EDT Mon Apr 23 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Flooding potential will linger into this evening across portions of north Georgia. The Flood Watch in this area has been extended through Midnight. Isolated strong to severe storms are possible in parts of the east today. The main threats are hail and damaging winds. A brief tornado or two are possible as well. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday... Several other disturbances look to push across the area later in the week - the first on Thursday and the second possible for late Friday into Saturday. For now have included a slight chance of thunderstorms with the Thursday system. There is still uncertainty on timing and strength of these systems so please monitor future updates. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated but spotters are encouraged to report any damage or significant weather.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
221 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
GAZ084-085-097-231845-
Wilkinson GA-Johnson GA-Laurens GA-
221 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN WILKINSON...WESTERN
JOHNSON AND NORTHWESTERN LAURENS COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM EDT...
At 220 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Dudley, or 10 miles
west of Dublin...moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Winds up to 40 mph and pea sized hail.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Dudley, Montrose, Chappells Mill and Tuckers Crossroad.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
LAT...LON 3251 8309 3257 8316 3279 8297 3278 8296
3276 8296 3277 8293 3267 8278
TIME...MOT...LOC 1820Z 236DEG 12KT 3258 8308
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
238 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
GAZ058-059-231915-
Butts GA-Jasper GA-
238 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN BUTTS AND WESTERN JASPER
COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT...
At 237 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Indian Springs State
Park, or near Jackson...moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds up to 40 mph and pea sized hail.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Jackson, Flovilla, Indian Springs State Park, Turtle Cove and Stark.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
LAT...LON 3339 8389 3339 8388 3337 8386 3338 8384
3334 8374 3320 8388 3320 8399 3321 8401
TIME...MOT...LOC 1837Z 216DEG 17KT 3323 8394
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
247 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
GAZ047-048-231915-
Walton GA-Newton GA-
247 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN WALTON AND NORTHEASTERN
NEWTON COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM EDT...
At 247 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Starrsville, or near
Covington...moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Winds up to 40 mph and pea sized hail.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Covington, Social Circle, Jersey, Starrsville and Brick Store.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
LAT...LON 3365 8364 3360 8368 3349 8384 3352 8390
3374 8380
TIME...MOT...LOC 1847Z 217DEG 12KT 3354 8384
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
314 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
GAZ047-048-231945-
Walton GA-Newton GA-
314 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN WALTON AND
NORTHEASTERN NEWTON COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...
At 313 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Brick Store, or near
Covington...moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Winds up to 40 mph and pea sized hail.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light...unsecured objects.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Monroe, Covington, Social Circle, Herndonville, Ebenezer, Brick Store
and Pannell.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
LAT...LON 3374 8357 3372 8358 3363 8368 3358 8375
3361 8384 3379 8374
TIME...MOT...LOC 1913Z 215DEG 13KT 3363 8378
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
344 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
GAZ045-046-057-232015-
De Kalb GA-Rockdale GA-Henry GA-
344 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN DE KALB...
SOUTHWESTERN ROCKDALE AND NORTHWESTERN HENRY COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM
EDT...
At 343 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Flippen, or near
McDonough...moving northeast at 20 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
Conyers, Stockbridge, Hidden Valley Park, Panola Mountain State Park,
Flippen, Richardson Park, Arabia Mountain and Eagles Landing.
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 3346 8418 3350 8427 3372 8418 3365 8401
TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 216DEG 16KT 3350 8418
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
350 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
GAZ097-232015-
Laurens GA-
350 PM EDT MON APR 23 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN LAURENS COUNTY UNTIL 415
PM EDT...
At 349 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Dexter, or 11 miles
southwest of Dublin...moving northeast at 25 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
Dublin, East Dublin, Dexter, Dudley, Harlow and Brewton.
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 3242 8314 3249 8317 3250 8316 3271 8292
3271 8289 3251 8271 3237 8309
TIME...MOT...LOC 1949Z 233DEG 22KT 3246 8308
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHThe Atlanta radar (KFFC), 43 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:53 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
The Henry County Emergency Manager reported a large tree blown down near the intersection of Bent Arrow Drive and Lookout Way.
The Morgan County Emergency Manager reported a few trees blown down from the Madison area to Buckhead, including along Bethany Road and along Saffold Road.
The Greene County Emergency Manager reported a few trees blown down across the northwestern portion of the county, including along Reid Duvall Road near Highway 278, near the intersection of Swords Road and Staci Drive, and along C M Copeland Road.
The Emanuel County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail in Swainsboro.
The Telfair County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down from McCrae to Scotland, including on Oak Street near the McCrae County Courthouse and around the intersection of Highway 149 and Old Scotland Road.
The Wheeler County Emergency Manager reported several trees blown down around the intersection of Scotland Road and Springhill Road.
The Emanuel County 911 center reported a tree blown down on Canoochee Garfield Road.
The Montgomery County Emergency Manager reported several trees blown down between Mt. Vernon and Higgston.
The Toombs County Emergency Manager reported a few trees blown down around the intersection of Highway 292 and Fowler Street and damage to the roof of Vidalia High School nearby.
Greene County Emergency Managers reported water over C M Copeland Road and Reid Duvall Road near Greshamville.
Greene County Emergency Manager reported water covering Quail Trail Road near Arrowhead Road, along the east bank of upper portion of Lake Oconee.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, April 2018
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: 744081, 744085, 744087, 744079, 744088, 744089, 744096, 744097, 744102, 744117, 744118.