A series of short waves moving across the region in ahead of a deep upper-level trough over the Mississippi Valley brought several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms to north and central Georgia. Several reports of damaging thunderstorm winds, flash flooding and even two isolated tornadoes were reported.
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 series of short waves moving across the region in ahead of a deep upper-level trough over the Mississippi Valley brought several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms to north and central Georgia. Several reports of damaging thunderstorm winds, flash flooding and even two isolated tornadoes were reported.
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 Aug 1, 10:41 AM EST, 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 1141 AM EDT Wed Aug 1 2018 .UPDATE... Overall forecast remains on track through the short-term period and no major changes have been made at this time. Showers are ongoing across northern and western Georgia and the coverage of thunderstorms is expected to increase during the afternoon. With modest diurnal destabilization and deep-level shear due to the upper level southwest flow, there is a chance for some isolated thunderstorms to be severe this afternoon and evening. No changes to the current Flash Flood Watch. King && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 736 AM EDT Wed Aug 1 2018/ PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 349 AM EDT Wed Aug 1 2018/ SHORT TERM /Today through Thursday/... Current radar loop shows light showers continuing across the state this morning and expecting a few more days rain. Models are in good agreement and continue to show the region under very moist southwesterly upper flow. This flow is just out in front of an upper trough which is staying fairly stationary over the MS river valley and the western great lake states. This most flow will continue to push shortwaves northeastward through the short term keeping precip chances high through the end of the week. PWs are ranging from 1.89 to 2.2 inches across north and central GA through Thursday night. With all this in mind we will continue with the current flash flood watch and extending it through Friday morning. With all this deep layer moisture streaming across the area, instability indices also increase with a diurnal trend so cannot rule out an isolated severe storm through the period. With all this rain moving in, daytime high temps will be slightly below average for this time of year. High today and Thursday will struggle to get out of the 70s across N GA and barely make it into the Mid 80s across central portions of the state. 01 LONG TERM /Thursday Night through Tuesday/... A return to a more diurnal pattern is coming, just not until early next week. Deep tropical moisture will continue to be funneled northward on Friday into early Saturday. The chances for precip will remain high for Friday, but begin to taper off towards chance on Saturday. The pattern will begin to shift on Sunday as high pressure aloft and at the surface begins to build in from the east. A return to a more diurnal pattern in precip will return...in addition to more normal high temperatures for this time of year. NListemaa HYDROLOGY... The flow aloft remains parallel to the surface flow at least through Friday/early Saturday. This means that with the SW/S flow aloft and at the surface, the training of storms is expected. The axis of concern still remains about the same...with the highest rainfall amounts still expected along and just north of the Interstate 85 corridor. Tuesday served to prime the CWFA with rainfall amounts generally between half an inch to an inch CWFA- wide. There were some locally higher amounts of 2" to 3" along and north of the I-85 corridor with some isolated 4" to 6" amounts. The soils should be pretty well saturated, especially within the Flood Watch area. The deep moisture will continue to funnel northward Thursday night and will be extending the FFA through 12Z Friday. The QPF should begin to taper off a bit for most areas on Friday, but may have to consider extending the FFA for the NE GA mtns into Friday night/early Saturday. However, confidence is not high enough to do that at this time. AVIATION... 12Z Update... No major changes made from 06z TAF issuance. Showers and thunderstorms will continue as very moist pattern is in place. Ceilings hovering in the IFR range this morning but will lift into the MVFR range over the next few hours. These ceilings will will stay in the MVFR range then fall back into the IFR range after 06z Thu. Showers are already beginning to develop and should see thunder by 16-18z. Winds will stay mainly out of the SE through the period with wind speeds 10kt or less. Will see some gust in the 20-30kt range in and around any strong thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. //ATL Confidence...12Z Update... Medium to high confidence on all elements. 01 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 80 69 80 68 / 90 60 90 60 Atlanta 79 69 79 69 / 100 80 90 60 Blairsville 74 65 74 64 / 100 90 90 80 Cartersville 78 69 79 68 / 100 90 90 50 Columbus 80 71 81 71 / 90 70 80 50 Gainesville 77 68 77 68 / 100 80 90 70 Macon 83 71 82 70 / 80 60 90 50 Rome 79 69 80 68 / 100 80 80 50 Peachtree City 79 70 79 69 / 90 80 90 50 Vidalia 87 73 87 72 / 80 60 80 40 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch through Friday morning for the following zones: Banks...Barrow...Bartow...Butts...Carroll...Catoosa... Chattahoochee...Chattooga...Cherokee...Clarke...Clayton...Cobb... Coweta...Dade...Dawson...DeKalb...Douglas...Fannin...Fayette... Floyd...Forsyth...Gilmer...Gordon...Greene...Gwinnett...Hall... Haralson...Harris...Heard...Henry...Jackson...Jasper...Lamar... Lumpkin...Madison...Meriwether...Monroe...Morgan...Murray... Muscogee...Newton...North Fulton...Oconee...Oglethorpe... Paulding...Pickens...Pike...Polk...Putnam...Rockdale...South Fulton...Spalding...Talbot...Taliaferro...Towns...Troup... Union...Upson...Walker...Walton...White...Whitfield...Wilkes. && SHORT TERM...King LONG TERM....20 AVIATION...King
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 525 AM EDT Wed Aug 1 2018 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-021000- 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- 525 AM EDT Wed Aug 1 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through tonight. Flooding will be the primary weather hazard today, but a few strong storms or an isolated severe thunderstorm cannot be ruled out. The potential for localized flooding is high, especially in urban centers, low lying areas and poor drainage areas where moderate to heavy rain persists for extended periods of time. Any strong thunderstorm that develops will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts. As soils become more saturated, even a sub-severe thunderstorm can down trees. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday... The Flash Flood Watch remains in effect through 8 AM Friday. Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected each day with the heaviest rainfall expected through Thursday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1010 AM EDT WED AUG 01 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0915 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 ESE GARFIELD 32.64N 82.07W
07/29/2018 EMANUEL GA FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
*** 2 INJ *** FIRE CHIEF REPORTED FAILURE OF A SMALL
DAM, WASHING OUT A 20 FOOT SECTION OF GRAY MULE FARM
ROAD NEAR JOHNSON GAY ROAD IN GARFIELD. TWO PEOPLE WERE
INJURED, ONE SERIOUSLY, WHEN A TRUCK ENCOUNTERED THE
WASHED OUT SECTION OF THE ROAD.
&&
EVENT NUMBER FFC1800755
BELANGERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1122 AM EDT WED AUG 01 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0738 PM LIGHTNING 2 W WASHINGTON 33.74N 82.77W
06/15/2018 WILKES GA EMERGENCY MNGR
*** 1 INJ *** A WOMAN WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AT A
RESIDENCE ON LINCOLN CIRCLE IN WASHINGTON. EMERGENCY
MANAGER REPORTED THAT SHE WAS NEAR AN OPEN WINDOW AT THE
TIME OF THE STRIKE. SHE WAS TRASPORTED TO A LOCAL
HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.
&&
EVENT NUMBER FFC1800756
BELANGERThe Atlanta radar (KFFC), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:42 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and powerlines down blocking Hwy 61 near the Paulding and Bartow county line. Time estimated.
The Paulding County Emergency Manager reported trees and powerlines blown down from southwest of Yorkville on Jackson Farms Drive to just north of Yorkville around the intersection of Crossroads Church Road and Highway 101.
The Newton County 911 center reported a tree blown down onto power lines along Alcovy Trestle Road.
A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 100 MPH and a maximum path width of 100 yards touched down northeast of Social Circle in the 1400 block of Social Circle Fairplay Road. The tornado snapped, uprooted or broke large limbs out of 20 to 30 large trees as it travelled east along the road for nearly a third of a mile. Six homes were damaged, two severely, mainly from falling trees and branches. No injuries were reported. [08/01/18: Tornado #1, County #1/1, EF-1, Walton, 2018:010].
The Clarke County Emergency Manager reported a tree blown down onto power lines on Live Oak Place.
The Public reported power lines blown down along Still Water Lane east of Jefferson.
Emergency Manager reported flash flooding in Cave Spring. Multiple roads were closed in downtown Cave Spring, with detours required for US 411 and US 100. The flooding prompted a nursing home and camp ground to be evacuated and schools to dismiss some students early. Cedar Creek was also flowing out of its banks.
Information from the Jones County Emergency Manager and local media show that a brief, EF0, tornado with maximum wind speeds of 80 MPH and a maximum path width of 100 yards occurred in the northwest portion of the county on the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. The tornado began about a quarter mile south of Round Oak-Juliette Road, traveled northeast parallel to and just south of the road before crossing the road just west of the intersection with Will Russell Road, downing several trees along the path. The tornado continued northeast downing a few more trees and causing minor damage to the metal roof of a home before lifting. [08/02/18: Tornado #2, County #1/1, EF-0, Jones, 2018:011].
The Coweta County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the eastern half of the county, generally along and east of I-85.
Emergency Manager reported moving water over the roadway at Beau Brook Lane and Highway 34 in Sharpsburg. Radar estimates indicate that 3 to 4 inches of rain occurred in the area over a short period of time.
The intersection at the entrance to Northgate High School was flooded, with cars unable to exit. Radar estimates indicate that rainfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches occurred over a short period of time.
Emergency Manager reported water over the roadway at the intersection of Anthony Drive and Elaine Drive. Water was also flowing over the roadway at White Oak Creek near Whitlock Fields. Radar estimates indicate that rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches occurred in the area in a short period of time.
Emergency Manager reported Elders Mill Road was closed due to a damaged storm water pipe resulting from high rainfall amounts and increased flow through the area. Radar estimates indicate that 3 to 4 inches of rain occurred over the location in a short period of time.
Emergency Manager reported flash flooding in Riverdale, including portions of Upper Riverdale Road. Water was also flowing over Garden Walk Boulevard, resulting in a portion of the road being washed out. A culvert at Windsor Drive was washed out from high flow from Jester Creek. Radar estimates indicate that rainfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts, occurred over the area in a short period of time.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2018Warnings in Georgia, August 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: 782578, 777817, 777818, 777815, 777819, 777820, 782333, 787618, 777942, 782343, 782346, 782349, 782352, 782368.