A series of short waves moving through an unseasonably strong northwesterly upper-level flow pattern brought several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms across north and central Georgia. The first round swept through in the early morning hours producing large swathes of wind damage and a few reports of small to moderate size hail.
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 through an unseasonably strong northwesterly upper-level flow pattern brought several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms across north and central Georgia. The first round swept through in the early morning hours producing large swathes of wind damage and a few reports of small to moderate size hail. Heavy rainfall also produced isolated flash flooding in portions of north 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 Jul 21, 12:53 AM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 153 AM EDT Sat Jul 21 2018 .PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 823 PM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018/ UPDATE... Tornado Watch is now in effect for far northwest Georgia. Starting to see strong development for the storms moving from Kentucky into Tennessee. Even with the loss of daytime heating, these storms are moving into a more favorable environment for storm development, and short term models continue to indicate robust convection moving into northwest Georgia around/after 10 PM. At this time, the shear environment over Georgia is not as pronounced, but a few tornadoes are possible, particularly as these storms will generally be supercellular in nature. Modeled DCAPE over the region is high, and expect damaging winds to be the primary concern, along with potentially large hail. Although storms are expected to weaken as they move farther into the state, it may be necessary to expand the watch southward. 31 PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 749 PM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018/ PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 320 PM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018/ SHORT TERM /Tonight through Saturday Night/... At the surface, there is high pressure building in from the NE with a departing low riding a residual boundary along the Carolina coast. This has led to some subsidence across the area limiting precipitation activity across much of the region today. We are seeing slightly better coverage of showers and isolated thunderstorms across our far southern tier with better deep layer moisture and instability. Expect this activity to wane this evening. The main challenge with this forecast will be in regards to a potential storm system moving into north GA this evening/overnight. A somewhat rare pattern is setting up as an upper level low drops south toward the mid-atlantic over the next couple of days. This will result in mid/upper level NW flow with shortwave activity rounding the trough. Given this, there may be a series of complexes coming out of the north through the weekend. The first potential complex may quickly move through this evening. Given that the atmosphere is not exceptionally unstable, the potency of this system looks fairly weak by the time it arrives toward the metro around 02-04Z. I think the far NW tier of the CWA may see a bit more strength with this system as it moves south at or around sunset. Elevated instability and shear might be enough to overcome some stable air at the surface. It should be noted that some guidance is hardly showing any activity at all, while others show showers/thunderstorms through late tonight. So the model solutions are all over the place. Either way though, current feeling is that this complex should diminish as it moves south and the overall impacts should be fairly limited in coverage. Whatever impacts there are will be in the form of damaging wind gusts, small hail, heavy rain and frequent lighting. Once this complex moves through, at least whatever is left of it as it crosses the region, we should have a brief reprieve in precipitation activity...likely through tomorrow morning. Thunderstorm development tomorrow afternoon does look a bit more widespread with better instability, deep layer moisture and upper level support. It should be noted however that the overall activity may be tempered a bit if we have better cloud coverage/precipitation activity lingering into the morning hours. So we will will have to keep an eye on the trends. There is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms with the main impacts being damaging wind gusts, hail, heavy rain and frequent lightning. The aforementioned shower/thunderstorm activity may even linger into the evening/overnight with shortwave activity crossing the region. A lot of questions remain with this forecast package, but the them is the same...it will be an unsettled pattern through the short term. 26 LONG TERM /Sunday through Friday/... For much of the extended period, the forecast area will be under the influence of upper level troughing associated with an upper level cutoff low currently located over the Great Lakes region. As the period begins on Sunday the cutoff low will be moving southeastward into the Ohio Valley and will then drop southward towards the southeastern CONUS, with the center of the low positioning over Georgia by Monday evening. Model guidance is beginning to come into agreement that a dry slot could limit precipitation chances somewhat in central Georgia on Sunday. After that, deep moist convergence will take hold over the area on Monday and Tuesday. Early next week, the low will slowly deteriorate as it meanders around the area before opening up and getting absorbed into the northern westerlies. There is still disagreement on the positioning of the low. However, a belt of warm and moist southwesterly flow and isentropic lift on the eastern side of the low is nonetheless expected to set up over the area during the early parts of the week. Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected during the afternoon and evening each day from Monday until there is a change in the overall pattern. As such, maintained likely PoPs for each afternoon and evening through Thursday. Model guidance becomes more divergent by the end of the period, with the GFS solution indicating dry air building into the area Friday and the ECMWF solution maintaining moist conditions and widespread precipitation. Due to these inconsistencies, I have ended the likely PoPs after Thursday. High temperatures are forecast to be a few degrees below normal throughout the extended period, with afternoon highs ranging from the mid 80s in north Georgia to the low 90s further south. Low temperatures are forecast to be near normal with morning lows in the upper 60s to low 70s. King && .AVIATION... 06Z UPDATE... Much of this forecast will depend upon evolution of a series of storm systems to affect the area over the next 36 hours. The first of these is moving through NE GA currently with a second moving in from Kentucky. Have inserted a TEMPO for ATL area sites but recent indications are first system may miss to the east. Timing is very difficulty with these systems but have inserted a separate Prob30 for late afternoon for possible re-development of storms. Wind calm currently over ATL but should shift to west with time this morning and remain there for the remainder of this TAF cycle. //ATL CONFIDENCE...06Z UPDATE... Medium on TSRA chances and timing. High on remaining elements. Deese && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 88 70 88 69 / 60 50 40 40 Atlanta 90 72 88 71 / 70 50 40 40 Blairsville 81 63 80 63 / 50 50 60 40 Cartersville 89 69 87 68 / 60 50 40 30 Columbus 93 74 92 73 / 60 50 30 30 Gainesville 88 70 86 68 / 60 50 40 30 Macon 90 73 91 71 / 60 50 50 40 Rome 90 70 88 68 / 60 50 50 40 Peachtree City 90 70 89 70 / 70 50 40 40 Vidalia 91 75 91 73 / 50 50 50 50 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Tornado Watch until 4 AM EDT early this morning for the following zones: Catoosa...Dade...Murray...Walker...Whitfield. && SHORT TERM...Deese LONG TERM....BDL AVIATION...Deese
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 1250 PM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-211000- Dade-Walker-Catoosa-Whitfield-Murray-Fannin-Gilmer-Union-Towns- Chattooga-Gordon-Pickens-Dawson-Lumpkin-White-Floyd-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- 1250 PM EDT Fri Jul 20 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight... Isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon but a greater risk for storms is expected later this evening, mainly across northwest Georgia. Some of the storms could be strong to severe, with damaging winds the primary threat, mainly along and west of a Columbus to Atlanta to Gainesville line. Additional storm hazards will be small hail, locally heavy rain and frequent cloud to ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday... Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will affect much of north and central Georgia Saturday into Saturday night. Again, some storms could be severe with damaging winds, frequent lightning and heavy rain. Large hail could also be possible, especially during the afternoon and early evening hours. The threat for thunderstorms will exist Sunday through Thursday, but the severe potential appears low at this time. Regardless, locally heavy rain, frequent lightning and brief gusty winds will all be possible with any showers and storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not requested at this time, but spotters are encouraged to submit storm/damage reports through the web by going to www.weather.gov/atlanta.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
207 AM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
GAZ006-008-210645-
Union GA-Fannin GA-
207 AM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN UNION AND
NORTHEASTERN FANNIN COUNTIES UNTIL 245 AM EDT...
At 207 AM EDT...a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Marble to near Nottely Dam to near Culberson...
and moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind...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 these storms include
Nottely Dam, Ivy Log and Culberson.
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 8395 3494 8392 3488 8413 3499 8432
3499 8394
TIME...MOT...LOC 0607Z 299DEG 18KT 3520 8396 3502 8409 3498 8422
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
215 AM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
GAZ005-006-210645-
Murray GA-Fannin GA-
215 AM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN MURRAY AND
NORTHWESTERN FANNIN COUNTIES UNTIL 245 AM EDT...
At 215 AM EDT...a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Archville to near Parksville to near Gap
Springs...and moving southeast at 30 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 these storms include
Tennga, Jones Mill, Cisco, Higdon, Colwell, Cohutta Wilderness,
Epworth and Copperhill.
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 3499 8428 3490 8437 3488 8468 3499 8478
TIME...MOT...LOC 0615Z 308DEG 24KT 3519 8445 3506 8464 3504 8481
HAIL...0.75IN
WIND...50MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
239 AM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
GAZ008-009-015-016-210715-
Union GA-Towns GA-White GA-Lumpkin GA-
239 AM EDT SAT JUL 21 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR UNION...TOWNS...NORTHWESTERN
WHITE AND NORTHEASTERN LUMPKIN COUNTIES UNTIL 315 AM EDT...
At 238 AM EDT...a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from Gumlog to Blairsville to Jones Creek...and moving
southeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind...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 these storms include
Hiawassee, Blairsville, Young Harris, Whitley Gap Shelter, Blue
Mountain Shelter, Brasstown Bald, Gumlog, Mountain Scene, Woods Hole
Shelter, Low Gap Shelter, Owltown, Vogel State Park, Track Rock,
Macedonia, Blood Mountain Shelter and Alexanders Mill.
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 3491 8366 3470 8379 3468 8401 3487 8411
3490 8401 3499 8395 3499 8387
TIME...MOT...LOC 0638Z 316DEG 25KT 3497 8391 3487 8397 3486 8409
WIND...40MPHThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 160 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:47 UTC.
19 thunderstorm wind, 5 hail, 2 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
The Fannin County Emergency Manager reported a few trees blown down from around North Toccoa River Road and Curtis Switch Road north of Blue Ridge to Highway 515 near the Gilmer County line southwest of Blue Ridge.
The Union County Emergency Manager reported more than two dozen trees blown down across the county, mainly south and east of Blairsville to the Union/White county line.
A National Weather Service survey team found that very strong thunderstorm winds caused significant damage across southwestern Gilmer County along a path around 5 miles long and 3 miles wide. The damage began near the intersection of Highway 76 and Crossroads Church Road and extended east southeast to around the intersection of Old Highway 5 and Howard Simmons Road. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down or snapped with several falling on homes and other structures. Significant damage was observed in the Coosawattee River Resort area. No injuries were reported.
The Dawson County Emergency Manager reported multiple trees blown down across the east side of the county from Amicalola Falls State Park to an area near New Bethel Church Road and Highway 136.
The Lumpkin County 911 center reported numerous trees blown down across the southwest and south end of the county, from the Castleberry Bridge Road and Auraria Road area southwest of Dahlonega to the River Trace Drive and 7 Mile Hill Road area south of Dahlonega. A tree fell onto a house along River Trace Drive, no injuries were reported.
The Murray County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees blown down across the west side of Chatsworth from the Wildwood Estates neighborhood to the Springdale Estates neighborhood. A few homes received damage from falling trees. On Mary Avenue a tree fell onto a home trapping a family of 4 inside. Three family members were transported to the hospital with injuries, including a laceration to the head.
Dawson County EMA reported numerous trees down, some on structures, along North Seed Tick Road east of Dawsonville. At least nine homes received damage from falling trees, three with major damage. One falling tree drove a fence post through a water main on N. Seed Tick Road. No injuries were reported.
Gilmer County Emergency Management reported water and mud inside the American Legion Post off Legion Road. Radar estimates indicate up to 3 inches of rain occurred in less than two hours.
An amateur radio operator reported quarter size hail in the Hunters Ridge subdivision.
An amateur radio operator reported quarter size hail on Cornerstone Drive near Jasper.
A portion of a roof was damaged in the 1000 block of Ammons Road. Time estimated from radar.
The local broadcast media reported trees and power lines blown down across the roadway on Highway 129 around South Enota Drive.
The local broadcast media reported power poles and trees snapped in the 5000 block of Calhoun Road NE.
The public reported quarter size hail in the 1500 block of Old Canton Road.
Multiple trees reported down on power lines near the intersection of Hightower Road and Yellow Creek Road. Time estimated from radar.
The Cherokee County Emergency Manager reported a house struck by lightning on Bridge Mill Avenue.
Lumpkin County Emergency Management reported River Trace Drive was washed out due to flash flooding. Radar estimates indicate rainfall amounts of around 3 inches, with locally higher amounts, occurred in this area in less than 3 hours.
Visual confirmation of a gas canopy being blown over along Highway 20 and Bethelview Road, in Cumming. Time estimated from radar.
The public reported quarter size hail in the Sawnee View Farms neighborhood near Bethelview Road and Sawnee View Drive.
Multiple trees and power lines blown down from just west of Cumming, along Chamblee Gap Road, Greystone Place and Hickory Court. Several trees on cars in this area. The path of damage extended south-southeast to near Union Road and Brandywine Circle, where trees were on houses in this area. In the Sawnee View Farms neighborhood over two dozen trees were blown down.
The public reported quarter size hail at the Buford Dam Park.
The Fulton County 911 center and the public reported numerous trees blown down across far northeastern Fulton County in the Johns Creek area.
The Gwinnett County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the northwest side of the county from Buford to Lilburn. Trees were blown down onto at least three homes and one vehicle. No injuries were reported.
The DeKalb County Emergency Manager reported a tree blown down onto a power line around the intersection of Glenwood Road and Columbia Drive.
The Walton County 911 center reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the county.
The Morgan County 911 center reported trees blown down from Bostwick Road and Sandy Creek Road north of Madison to around mile maker 108 on I-20 east of Madison.
The Coweta County Emergency Manager reported trees blown down in Newnan around Mansour Circle. One tree fell onto a house, no injuries were reported.
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, July 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: 776788, 776789, 776826, 776790, 776791, 776792, 777568, 777513, 776780, 776781, 777812, 776796, 776797, 776782, 777813, 776785, 777515, 777814, 776783, 776809, 776784, 776811, 776812, 776813, 776815, 776818, 776822.