Widespread severe thunderstorms broke out across central and north Georgia during the evening hours of March 19th, through the early morning hours of the 20th as a warm front lifted north across the region ahead of a strong storm system developing across the lower Mississippi Valley.
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.
Widespread severe thunderstorms broke out across central and north Georgia during the evening hours of March 19th, through the early morning hours of the 20th as a warm front lifted north across the region ahead of a strong storm system developing across the lower Mississippi Valley.
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 19, 3:49 PM EST, 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 449 PM EDT Mon Mar 19 2018 .SHORT TERM /Tonight through Tuesday Night/... An upper level low will deepen as it lifts into the TN valley tonight. the surface front will push through the forecast area through the day tomorrow. Pre-frontal convection - isolated thunderstorms will move into portions of west GA over the next hour, and increase in coverage through the evening hours. The atmosphere has destabilized with breaks in clouds over west and central GA. Ingredients for supercells will be in place across all of CWA with MLCAPE of 1500-2500 J/kg across the area through this evening. Vertical wind shear quite strong with 0-6km shear ranging from 50kts over middle GA to 75kts in the far north and 0-1km shear 20kts over middle GA to 30kts in the far north. SPC has issued a Tornado Watch west of our forecast area, but with the sounding profiles from the HI-RES guidance supporting supercell structures with strong rotating updrafts between 22z and 03z, expect watches to be issued later this evening. A second line of storms associated with the front will move across the state from NW to SE after midnight into tomorrow, with cells weakening as they get into central GA around daybreak, but while severe is not expected we could still see thunder through the early morning hours. Do mot expect as much clearing as models are advertising, based upon the proximity of the wrap around moisture and have held onto clouds through the day tomorrow with some break across north Georgia by afternoon. Guidance temperatures are close and have stayed close to a blend through the period. Temperatures will stay nearly steady across northwest Georgia with a warm up over east central Georgia ahead of the cold air advection. Atwell .LONG TERM /Wednesday through Monday/... Wrap around moisture will move across north Georgia Tuesday night into Wednesday as the upper upper low shifts into the Carolinas. Cooler temperatures behind the cold front will bring light showers over north Georgia, along with a rain/snow mix and snow showers by morning over the higher elevations. Any accumulations will be light at best. Otherwise extended forecast trends were mostly unchanged. See previous forecast discussion below. Atwell LONG TERM /Tuesday Night through Sunday/... Much colder temperatures will be advecting into the area on breezy northwest winds by Tuesday night behind a cold front. As an upper low passes to the north Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, the chance for light showers will linger across primarily north Georgia. With temperatures dropping near or below freezing by Wednesday morning in far north Georgia, the likelihood for a transition to a rain/snow mix or light snow showers will increase. Light snow accumulations will be possible across the higher elevations by Wednesday morning. At this time, generally expecting only up to a around a half inch in these higher elevations. Any light snow accumulations would melt by midday Wednesday as temperatures warm well above freezing. Wednesday will remain a chilly day by late March standards with high temperatures largely in the 50s (and 40s in far north Georgia). Sustained northwest winds around 20 mph with higher gusts will add to the chill. Thursday and Friday will bring moderating temperatures and will remain primarily dry with only a slight chance of a few showers sneaking into far north Georgia by late Friday. Rain chances appear to begin to increase more appreciably by Saturday as upper pattern transitions into a more zonal flow and a low pressure system moves into the Ohio Valley, though discrepancies remain with timing and evolution. RW AVIATION... 18Z Update... IFR or near IFR cigs will hold on over all TAF sites with a slow improvement to MVFR between 20-22Z, just ahead of convection. Will see IFR set up after 00Z with a second round of thunderstorms overnight between 04-11Z across all TAF sites, but mainly ATL area. Any TSRA will be scattered. SE-S winds will become SW as line of storms moves thru 03-07Z then become west and increase to 10-15kts with gusts to 22-25kts after 15Z Tue. Expect variable winds with gusts with any thunderstorms. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... Medium to low confidence in CIGs. Medium confidence in timing of convection. Medium to high confidence in all other elements. Atwell && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 58 70 39 54 / 80 20 20 5 Atlanta 57 65 37 52 / 70 30 30 5 Blairsville 49 61 33 42 / 90 50 50 30 Cartersville 53 63 36 52 / 90 40 30 5 Columbus 61 68 40 59 / 60 20 20 0 Gainesville 54 65 36 50 / 90 30 30 10 Macon 62 73 40 60 / 60 30 10 0 Rome 53 61 35 52 / 90 40 40 5 Peachtree City 57 66 38 55 / 80 30 30 0 Vidalia 65 76 44 61 / 50 50 10 5 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Atwell LONG TERM....Atwell AVIATION...Atwell
Hazardous Weather Outlook...Updated National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 130 PM EDT Mon Mar 19 2018 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-201000- 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- 130 PM EDT Mon Mar 19 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight... The risk for severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, will increase across much of north and central Georgia through this evening. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will develop this afternoon, especially south of I-20. Some of these storms could be strong to severe with large hail and brief gusty winds the primary threat, along with heavy rain. Later this afternoon through this evening, a more organized line of severe thunderstorms will move from Alabama into northwest and west- central Georgia. It is along and ahead of this line where all modes of severe weather exist, including tornadoes, large hail potentially greater than 2 inches, and damaging winds in excess of 70 MPH. Heavy rainfall and frequent lightning will also occur. Expect the potential for severe weather to be its highest between 5 PM and 2 AM Tuesday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday... There will be a chance of thunderstorms over mainly central Georgia on Tuesday. The severe threat is reduced Tuesday but a few storms could be strong to severe with large hail and damaging winds the primary threats. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely this afternoon through tonight. Spotters are encouraged to submit reports of severe weather through the web by going to weather.gov/atlanta.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1214 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
GAZ005-007-191645-
Gilmer GA-Murray GA-
1214 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN GILMER AND
SOUTHEASTERN MURRAY COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 PM EDT...
At 1214 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Tails Creek, or 8
miles southeast of Chatsworth...moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...up to penny sized hail and frequent lightning.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to exposed surfaces. Lightning is one
of nature's leading killers. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Ellijay, East Ellijay, Cartecay, Tails Creek and Roy.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency.
LAT...LON 3463 8473 3473 8473 3477 8433 3458 8434
TIME...MOT...LOC 1614Z 272DEG 38KT 3468 8466
HAIL...0.75INSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1244 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
GAZ006>008-014-015-191715-
Gilmer GA-Dawson GA-Union GA-Lumpkin GA-Fannin GA-
1244 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN GILMER...
NORTHWESTERN DAWSON...SOUTHWESTERN UNION...NORTHWESTERN LUMPKIN AND
SOUTHEASTERN FANNIN COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM EDT...
At 1243 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near Roy, or 11 miles east
of Ellijay...moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...pea sized hail and occasional lightning.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to exposed surfaces. Lightning is one
of nature's leading killers. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Dahlonega, Suches, Amicalola Falls State Park, Camp Merrill, Springer
Mountain Shelter, Len Foote Hike Inn, Black Gap Shelter, Stover Creek
Shelter, Hawk Mountain Shelter, Nimblewill, Roy, Gaddistown and Gooch
Mountain Shelter.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency.
LAT...LON 3459 8436 3469 8435 3473 8398 3451 8399
TIME...MOT...LOC 1643Z 271DEG 37KT 3464 8429
HAIL...0.25INSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
111 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
GAZ015-016-023-191745-
Hall GA-White GA-Lumpkin GA-
111 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN HALL...SOUTHERN
WHITE AND EASTERN LUMPKIN COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM EDT...
At 110 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near Porter Springs, or
near Dahlonega...moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...pea sized hail and occasional lightning.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to exposed surfaces. Lightning is one
of nature's leading killers. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Dahlonega, Cleveland, Clermont, Garland, Leaf, Mossy Creek, Porter
Springs and Qualatchee Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency.
LAT...LON 3465 8366 3462 8364 3458 8364 3456 8362
3454 8362 3451 8367 3446 8363 3442 8364
3455 8402 3466 8400
TIME...MOT...LOC 1710Z 278DEG 38KT 3459 8396
HAIL...0.25INSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
500 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
GAZ092-093-104>106-192130-
Macon GA-Schley GA-Crisp GA-Dooly GA-Sumter GA-
500 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MACON...SOUTHEASTERN
SCHLEY...CRISP...SOUTHWESTERN DOOLY AND SUMTER COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM
EDT...
At 459 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near Olivers Mill, or 9
miles northeast of Dawson...moving northeast at 40 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
Americus, Cordele, Vienna, Arabi, Byromville, Leslie, Andersonville,
Lilly, De Soto, Desoto, Cobb, Sumter, Lamar, Richwood, Croxton
Crossroads, New Era, La Crosse, Huntington, Pennington and Drayton.
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 3183 8384 3182 8385 3184 8386 3185 8394
3190 8393 3191 8392 3192 8434 3187 8434
3195 8442 3227 8421 3221 8386 3181 8361
3180 8380
TIME...MOT...LOC 2059Z 241DEG 35KT 3183 8429
HAIL...0.88IN
WIND...50MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
500 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
GAZ089>091-192130-
Chattahoochee GA-Marion GA-Muscogee GA-
500 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN CHATTAHOOCHEE...
NORTHWESTERN MARION AND SOUTHEASTERN MUSCOGEE COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM
EDT...
At 459 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near North Fort Benning, or
near Cusseta...moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind...pea sized hail...heavy rain 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
North Fort Benning, Brantley and Eelbeck/West Fort Benning.
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 3237 8489 3245 8488 3249 8462 3243 8452
3231 8454
TIME...MOT...LOC 2059Z 267DEG 31KT 3240 8481
HAIL...0.25IN
WIND...40MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
503 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
GAZ042-052-192130-
Carroll GA-Heard GA-
503 PM EDT MON MAR 19 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CARROLL AND NORTHWESTERN HEARD
COUNTIES UNTIL 530 PM EDT...
At 503 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Bowdon, or 11 miles
west of Carrollton...moving east at 35 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
Carrollton, Bowdon, Mount Zion, Whitesburg, Ephesus, Roopville, Byers
Crossroads, Tyus, Roosterville, Seaton Lake, Clem, Abilene, John
Tanner State Park, Lowell, Plant Wansley, Treasure Lake and Blackjack
Mountain.
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 3369 8490 3358 8491 3357 8485 3351 8484
3352 8485 3349 8486 3348 8490 3344 8494
3346 8498 3344 8498 3343 8501 3341 8501
3337 8528 3362 8533
TIME...MOT...LOC 2103Z 261DEG 30KT 3352 8526
HAIL...0.75IN
WIND...50MPHThe Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:17 UTC.
18 hail, 17 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
The Sumter County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail in Leslie.
Broadcast media reported golf ball sized hail along Tiger Road.
The public reported golf ball size hail around Pinehurst.
The Pulaski County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail around the intersection of Highway 230 and Mock Springs Road.
An employee at the Twin Oaks RV park reported golf ball size hail.
A trained spotter reported quarter size hail along Sweetgum Road.
The Laurens County Emergency Manager reported multiple trees blown down along Lord Dexter Road between Lord Road and Chicken Road. Dime size hail was also reported in this area.
The Dade County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail along Saddle Club and Brow Roads.
The Dade County Emergency Manager reported trees blown down from west of Saddle Club Road to around the intersection of Wells Road and Brow Road.
A National Weather Service survey team found that the tornado that struck Jacksonville, AL moved into Georgia as an EF1 with a maximum wind speed of 95 mph and a maximum path width of 400 yards. The tornado entered Georgia northwest of Tallapoosa along Broad Street, snapping and uprooting trees along the road as it moved east for about a mile before ending on Edgar Little Circle between Broad Street and Womack Road. A large Oak tree fell on a home about 1/4 of a mile east of the state line resulting in extensive damage. No injuries were reported. [03/19/18: Tornado #1, County #1/1, EF-1, Haralson, 2018:005].
A National Weather Service survey team found an area of intense thunderstorm wind damage in Haralson County. Thousands of trees were blown down in a swath approximately 8 miles long and almost 2 miles wide. The damage originated along Broad Street at the Alabama/Georgia state line and swept east into northern sections of the town of Tallapoosa. A secondary surge of wind extended this path eastward along Highway 120 from the northern sections of Tallapoosa to Macedonia Church Road near Haralson County Middle School. Many trees fell onto and damaged homes and other structures. No injuries were reported.
The Haralson County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail around the intersection of Highways 113 and 120.
A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 90 mph and a maximum path width of 500 yards occurred on the west side of the city of Buchanan. The tornado touched down north of the New Vision Church of God cemetery and travelled south southeast snapping and uprooting small trees. The tornado intensified and grew in size as it crossed Highway 120 west of the Highway 27 Business Route, reaching its peak in intensity and width south of the highway along Tallapoosa Street. Several large trees were uprooted with one falling on and destroying a home on Tallapoosa Street, seriously injuring two people inside the home. The tornado continued a short distance to the south southeast before dissipating quickly between Jeffers Street and Macedonia Church Road west of Highway 27 Business Route. [03/19/18: Tornado #2, County #1/1, EF-1, Haralson, 2018:006].
A National Weather Service survey team found an area of intense thunderstorm wind damage in Haralson County. Hundreds of trees were blown down in a swath over one mile long and 650 yards wide. The damage originated west of Highway 27 and north of Old Jacksonville Road, sweeping southward to the northwest side of the city of Haralson. Some trees fell onto and damaged homes and other structures. No injuries were reported.
The Paulding County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail around the intersection of Highway 61 and Ridge Road.
The public reported golf ball size hail at the State of Georgia Welcome Center on I-20 near the Alabama state line.
The Carroll County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the northern end of the county, from around Bowden Junction to Abilene, Treasure Lake and Villa Rica. A porch was damaged by these strong winds at a home on Towne Creek Drive.
Numerous reports of trees and power lines blown down were received from the Douglas County Emergency Manager and the 911 center. Trees were reported down on North Helton Road, Harvest Hill, and on Oakland Drive where one tree fell onto a house. No injuries were reported. Power lines were blown down along Corn Crib Loop South.
The local broadcast media reported a large tree blown down onto I-285 between Paces Ferry Road and Cobb Parkway.
Numerous reports of trees and power lines blown down were received from the Fulton County Emergency Manager, 911 center and the local broadcast media. One large tree was blown down onto power lines and a vehicle on Mary George Avenue NW and an on-duty Atlanta Police Department officer was injured when another large tree was blown down onto his patrol car in the 2000 block of Northside Drive NW. About a dozen trees were blown down near the intersection of South Fulton Parkway and Cochran Mill Road and numerous trees and power lines were blown down around the Campbellton Road and Ridge Road.
An amateur radio operator reported golf ball size hail around the intersection of Campbellton Road and Fulton Industrial Boulevard.
A national Weather Service survey team found that an EF2 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 120 mph and a maximum path width of 315 yards touched down in the South Fulton community between Fairburn and Campbellton. Most of the damage was to two-story homes in the Chestnut Ridge subdivision. More than 50 homes sustained visible damage with at least half sustaining significant damage. The worst damage occurred along Jumpers Trace between Jodhpur Way Suffolk Lane. In this small area, numerous homes had large sections of their roofs removed along with large pieces of the exterior, upstairs, walls. Large trees along the northern and eastern edges of the neighborhood were snapped or uprooted. The tornado continued east for a short distance, ending after crossing Highway 92 just north of Jones Road, but not before it removed part of a roof on a house off of the highway and shingles from the roofs of several houses along Winstar Lane. No injuries were reported. [03/19/18: Tornado #3, County #1/1, EF-2, Fulton, 2018:007].
The public reported quarter size hail along Stonewall Tell Road.
The DeKalb County Emergency Manager reported a tree blown down around the intersection of Clairmont Road and Lavista Road.
An amateur radio operator reported golf ball size hail at the Senoia Road exit on I-85.
The public reported quarter size hail near the intersection of Highway 138 and Millers Mill Road.
The Henry County 911 center reported trees blown down from around the intersection of Steele Drive and North Hampton Drive to around the intersection of Sims Street and Lawrenceville Street.
An off-duty National Weather Service Employee reported a large tree blown down across Redwine Road near Robinson Road.
A report of quarter size hail around the intersection of Highways 81 and 212 was received over social media.
The Newton County Emergency Manager reported a large tree and power lines blown down on Geiger Street near the county Emergency Services Office.
The Butts County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees blown down across the northern end of the county from the city of Jackson up Stark Road to Keys Ferry Road.
The Putnam County 911 center reported trees blown down from northwest of Eatonton near the intersection of Godfrey Road and Glades Road to around Twisting Hill Road and Forest Hill Drive southeast of Eatonton on Lake Sinclair.
The Hancock County 911 center reported trees and a power line blown down on Springfield Road near Highway 15.
The public reported quarter size hail in the Griffin area.
A report of quarter size hail near the intersection of Deepstep Road and Harmony Church Road was received over social media.
The Jefferson County 911 center reported a few trees and power lines blown down from Wrens to Louisville.
The Washington County 911 center reported a tree blown down onto Highway 15 near the Department of Transportation building.
The Upson County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail around the intersection of Highway 19 and Atwater Road.
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, March 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: 743411, 743412, 743414, 743415, 743416, 743417, 743456, 743418, 743465, 740807, 743506, 743420, 740815, 743507, 743423, 743424, 743475, 743478, 743480, 743492, 743425, 740823, 743426, 743493, 743427, 743428, 743495, 743496, 743429, 743497, 743500, 743502, 743503, 743430, 743431, 743504, 743505, 743432.