Showers and thunderstorms affected much of the area ahead of a strong storm system and associated cold front. Some of the storms became severe with damaging winds and a few tornadoes, mainly on January 2nd.
Every event with a place to put it; 13 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.
Showers and thunderstorms affected much of the area ahead of a strong storm system and associated cold front. Some of the storms became severe with damaging winds and a few tornadoes, mainly on January 2nd. In the colder air behind the front, rain mixed with and eventually changed over to snow across parts of north Georgia (generally north of I-20/I-85) late on the 2nd and into January 3rd, with a dusting to up to 4 inches of snowfall (mainly across the higher elevations of far north GA). On the back side of this storm system, strong post-frontal winds of 30-50 mph occurred during the early morning hours of January 3rd. Numerous reports of downed trees and powerlines occurred with several injuries.
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 Jan 2, 6:44 AM EST, 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 644 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022 .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 406 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022/ SHORT TERM /Today through Monday/... Deep Gulf moisture remains across the area with southwest flow continuing ahead of the cold front beginning to enter northwest Georgia early this morning. Temperatures ahead of the front remain in the lower to mid 70s, with dewpoint temperatures in the low er to mid 60s. Ahead of the surface front a line of convection is slowly sagging to the south and southeast with the line of convection entering northern portions of the Atlanta metropolitan areas currently. Expect the convection to move through southern metropolitan Atlanta areas and Athens through 10 am and move into central Georgia by late morning and early afternoon, exiting east central Georgia towards midnight. Central Georgia remains under a marginal threat for severe weather this afternoon where the atmosphere will remain strongly sheared and unstable. The main threats will be strong to damaging winds, but cannot rule out an isolated tornado. With the already wet soils from recent heavy rains, locally heavy rainfall could produce flash flooding as well. By this evening wraparound moisture will spread additional showers across portions of north and central Georgia. Models are coming into good agreement as far as cutting the upper low across north Georgia around midnight. Models are now trekking the upper low further south across north Georgia. Between CAA already infiltrating the area and the upper low, expect a transition to light rain/snow showers and to a period of all snow across portions of north Georgia between 2-8am tomorrow morning. Portions of the north Atlanta metropolitan area could see a dusting of snow - generally less than 0.25 inch with the higher elevations could see up to 2 inches. As the upper low pulls away from the area Monday, skies will clear with good sunshine expected across much of the area by mid to late morning, so any snow should melt quickly. Temperatures today will hold steady or warm slightly behind the fronts, with colder than normal temperatures expected tonight and tomorrow. Atwell LONG TERM /Monday Night through Saturday/... The beginning of the long term forecast brings us a reprieve from the busy weather we started the year with. As the low pressure system moves off the coast of New England, high pressure begins to build back in at the surface. Max daily temperatures return to more seasonal ranges with highs in the 40s and 50s for the extended period. Low temperatures from the upper 20s to 30s on Tuesday follow a general warming trend through Thursday when the next disturbance sweeps through the forecast area. While the surface flow ahead of the trough is primarily easterly, the airmass does not recover much in terms of moisture (PWATS still trending ~0.8-1.0") and total rainfall amounts remain between 0.25-0.5" primarily north of the I- 20 corridor. Temperatures plummet (widespread 20s primarily along and north of the I-85 corridor) behind the cold front Thursday night into Friday morning. As such, this system will need to be monitored for any winter precipitation potential. At this time there is some uncertainty over timing of the frontal feature and moisture amounts to be able to dig into those details confidently. We return to quiet and dry conditions at the end of the long term forecast period. KAL AVIATION... 06Z Update... MVFR at TAF sites will prevail with patchy IFR possible just ahead of the convection moving through the ATL are and AHN TAF sites between 11-18Z and the CSG/MCN TAF sites 16-24Z. Light Showers will be possible again after 00z all TAF sites. Cigs/Visibility will remain mostly MVFR through 22-24Z with IFR through the overnight hours. Winds will be SW near 10-15kts with gusts to 25-30 kts with W winds at 5-10kts as the front moves through and NW winds with speeds of 10kts and gusting to 20-30kts after 02Z. //ATL Confidence...06Z Update... Medium confidence on CIGs, medium to high confidence all other elements. Atwell && .AVIATION... 12Z Update... TAF sites are a mixed of MVFR/VFR as convection moving through the ATL area and AHN TAF sites currently. Convection should continue off and on through 22Z with best timing for CSG/MCN sites between 18-24Z. Light Showers will be possible again after 00z all TAF sites. Cigs/Visibility will remain mostly MVFR/VFR through 22-24Z with CIGs deteriorating to IFR after 02Z. Winds will be SW near 10-15kts with gusts to 25kts through 20-22Z, then W winds at 5-10kts should prevail as the front moves through and NW winds with speeds of 10kts and gusting to 20-30kts after 02Z. //ATL Confidence...12Z Update... Medium to high confidence all elements. Atwell && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 67 38 52 30 / 90 90 30 0 Atlanta 66 34 44 31 / 90 80 10 0 Blairsville 62 28 41 25 / 60 90 20 0 Cartersville 64 32 43 27 / 70 90 10 0 Columbus 70 36 50 32 / 100 70 0 0 Gainesville 65 36 48 31 / 80 90 20 0 Macon 72 39 52 32 / 100 80 5 0 Rome 65 33 45 27 / 60 90 10 0 Peachtree City 66 34 46 28 / 90 80 5 0 Vidalia 78 44 54 34 / 90 80 5 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM EST Monday for the following zones: Catoosa...Chattooga...Dade...Dawson... Fannin...Floyd...Gilmer...Gordon...Lumpkin...Murray...Pickens... Towns...Union...Walker...White...Whitfield. && SHORT TERM...Atwell LONG TERM....KAL AVIATION...Atwell
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 509 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-031015- 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- 509 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... A line of showers and thunderstorms will move across portions of north and central Georgia today. Some of the storms could become strong to severe. The primary threats will be damaging wind gusts, periods of heavy rain, and isolated brief tornadoes. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from midnight tonight to 9AM Monday for portions of far North Georgia. Rain showers transitioning to snow are possible beginning tonight. Slow down and use caution when driving as roads may be hazardous. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday... Snow showers are possible through early Monday morning, especially in areas of high terrain in the north Georgia mountains. Up to two inches of snow are possible and winds could gust as high as 35 mph at elevations above 2000 feet. Snow accumulations of up to one inch are possible elsewhere. Please use caution when driving as roads may become slick. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested for today across portions of north and central Georgia.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
514 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ033-034-042>045-052>055-021045-
Fayette GA-North Fulton GA-Douglas GA-Clayton GA-Coweta GA-
Carroll GA-DeKalb GA-Gwinnett GA-Heard GA-South Fulton GA-
514 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southern DeKalb,
northern Fayette, southeastern Carroll, southeastern Douglas, south
central Gwinnett, north central Heard, northwestern Coweta, Fulton
and northern Clayton Counties through 545 AM EST...
At 514 AM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from Atlantic Station to Lowell, and moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, frequent cloud to ground lightning and
heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
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.
Locations impacted include...
Atlanta, Decatur, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Peachtree City, East
Point, Union City, Forest Park, Riverdale, College Park, Fairburn,
Clarkston, Tyrone, Morrow, Hapeville, Stone Mountain, Palmetto,
Avondale Estates, Lake City and Lithonia.
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 3340 8518 3383 8444 3380 8399 3365 8420
3365 8422 3363 8423 3365 8425 3365 8428
3361 8426 3342 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 1014Z 262DEG 43KT 3380 8443 3345 8503
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
551 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ066-021115-
Troup GA-
551 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Troup County through
615 AM EST...
At 551 AM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Wares Crossroads to near Ridge Grove, and moving
east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...40 mph wind and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
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.
Locations impacted include...
LaGrange, West Point, Hogansville, Mountville, Cannonville, Louise,
State Line Park, Abbottsford, Piedmont Heights, Harrisonville,
Hillcrest, Big Springs, Wares Crossroads, Baughs Crossroads, Smiths
Crossroad, Long Cane and Jones Crossroads.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Motorists should
slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
&&
LAT...LON 3317 8507 3318 8505 3319 8504 3323 8491
3322 8486 3287 8486 3287 8519 3313 8524
TIME...MOT...LOC 1051Z 256DEG 33KT 3314 8512 3289 8551
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
611 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ066-067-078-021145-
Harris GA-Troup GA-Meriwether GA-
611 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern
Meriwether, Troup and northwestern Harris Counties through 645 AM
EST...
At 610 AM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Abbottsford to near Denson, and moving east at 55
mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
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.
Locations impacted include...
LaGrange, West Point, Hogansville, Lone Oak, Mountville, Cannonville,
Louise, State Line Park, Abbottsford, Piedmont Heights, Hillcrest,
Big Springs, Wares Crossroads, Jones Crossroads, Baughs Crossroads,
Smiths Crossroad, Whitesville-Pine Lake, Long Cane and Saint Marks.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Motorists should
slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
&&
LAT...LON 3320 8486 3319 8486 3320 8485 3322 8479
3281 8493 3279 8515 3281 8517 3283 8517
3285 8515 3286 8519 3309 8523
TIME...MOT...LOC 1110Z 250DEG 47KT 3307 8515 3289 8529
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
633 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ053-054-056-057-067-068-070-021200-
Fayette GA-Lamar GA-Coweta GA-Spalding GA-Meriwether GA-Pike GA-
Henry GA-
633 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Spalding,
southeastern Fayette, northeastern Meriwether, northern Pike,
southwestern Henry, southeastern Coweta and northwestern Lamar
Counties through 700 AM EST...
At 633 AM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from Turin to Rocky Mount, and moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...40 mph wind and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
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.
Locations impacted include...
Griffin, Zebulon, Peachtree City, Hampton, Senoia, Milner, Brooks,
Williamson, Turin, Orchard Hill, Haralson, Woolsey, Sunny Side, East
Griffin, Starrs Mill, Walker Mill, Hollonville, Rover, Luella and
Highland Mills.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Motorists should
slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
&&
LAT...LON 3332 8468 3336 8439 3335 8435 3336 8435
3338 8418 3326 8412 3309 8416 3313 8469
TIME...MOT...LOC 1133Z 262DEG 38KT 3331 8463 3317 8464
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
636 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ066-067-078-021200-
Harris GA-Troup GA-Meriwether GA-
636 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southwestern
Meriwether, southeastern Troup and northern Harris Counties through
700 AM EST...
At 635 AM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from West Point to near Beans Mill, and moving east at 55
mph.
HAZARD...40 mph wind and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
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.
Locations impacted include...
Hamilton, West Point, Pine Mountain, F.d. Roosevelt State Park,
Durand, Jones Crossroads and Whitesville-Pine Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Motorists should
slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
&&
LAT...LON 3288 8518 3294 8469 3271 8481 3270 8512
3272 8512 3274 8511 3274 8513 3276 8514
3277 8514 3278 8512 3281 8517 3283 8517
3285 8515 3286 8519
TIME...MOT...LOC 1135Z 260DEG 48KT 3287 8516 3272 8524
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
638 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ067-068-021215-
Meriwether GA-Pike GA-
638 AM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of central Meriwether
and southwestern Pike Counties through 715 AM EST...
At 638 AM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from Mountville to near Baughs Crossroads, and moving east
at 40 mph.
HAZARD...40 mph wind and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
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.
Locations impacted include...
Greenville, Woodbury, Molena, Gay, Stovall, Harris City, Odessadale
and Imlac.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Motorists should
slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
&&
LAT...LON 3310 8483 3313 8469 3311 8446 3297 8452
3297 8453 3296 8452 3292 8486 3299 8487
TIME...MOT...LOC 1138Z 265DEG 34KT 3305 8486 3289 8497
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHThe Atlanta radar (KFFC), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:54 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 9 strong wind, 3 winter weather, 2 tornado, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees down and along Jones Mill Road.
Trees and powerlines down along with some tops of trees twisted or snapped. Tin roof blown off storehouse.
Tree reported down at on Hwy 41 near the intersection with Cofer Rd East.
Damage reported to bleachers and backstop at the Wilcox county recreation department on County Farm Rd.
Several trees reported down in the area between East County Farm Rd, American Legion Rd, and Hwy 215.
Several trees and powerlines reported down around the community of Dexter.
Multiple trees and powerlines reported down along Old Macon Rd.
Tree reported down along Hwy 46 and S Hwy 441.
A very brief tornado touched down along GA Hwy 215 South and|Falcon Circle, about 8 miles south of Abbeville during the late|afternoon hours of Sunday, January 2nd. The tornado, which showed|a very weak debris signature from KJGX snapped and uprooted|several large pines on within the Falcon Circle area,|particularly near the south entrance/exit off 215. In addition to|tree damage, a medium-sized shed was destroyed along with some|tin from the roof of one of the homes being pulled off. No other|damage was seen beyond Falcon Circle which gets into a very rural|area with no road access to the northeast. [1/2/22: Tornado #1, County #1/1, EF-0, Wilcox, 2022:001].
Tree reported down near the intersection of Hwy 46 and S Hwy 441.
Numerous trees and powerlines reported down in and around the city of Dublin.
Tree reported down along McLendon Rd and Greg Couey Rd.
Tree reported down along the 2000 block of Buckeye Rd.
A very brief QLCS tornado hit the south side of Vidalia around|7PM on Sunday, January 2nd. The tornado did the most damage to|one of the Vidalia fire station's off of Aimwell Road. The garage|doors were blown inward and outward along with a portion of the|roof and siding pulled off. Debris was thrown about 200 yards|downstream from this point where additional trees were seen|snapped or uprooted. Some minor roof damage along with a few more|trees down were noted along South Gate Blvd and Katherine Drive.|No other damage was seen beyond this point. [1/2/22: Tornado #2, County #1/1, EF-0, Toombs, 2022:002].
Public measured around 1 inch of snow near Jasper.
Measured 2.5 inches of snow at Track Rock.
Public measured around 1.5 inches of snow near Mineral Bluff.
Public measured around 1.5 inches of snow near Hiawassee.
Over 40 reports of downed trees and powerlines across the county due to strong gradient winds on the backside of a cold front.
Tree fell on a vehicle near the intersection of Emerald Drive and Camp Avenue due to strong post-frontal winds. One person injured.
Multiple trees down across the Lake Arrowhead community. Power poles and lines damaged and at least one house sustained damage from a fallen tree. No injuries.
Over 40 reports of downed trees and powerlines were reported across the county due to strong post-frontal winds. Several reports of structural and vehicle damage due to the downed trees. No reported injuries.
Multiple trees down on the 4000 block of Hwy 337 in Menlo.
Numerous trees down across the county due to strong post-frontal winds and saturated soils from recent rainfall.
Numerous trees down across the county due to strong post-frontal winds and saturated soils from recent rainfall.
Multiple reports of trees and powerlines down across the county due to strong post-frontal winds and saturated soils from recent rainfall.
Strong post-frontal winds combined with saturated grounds brought down a large tree on a home, killing one person.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind, De Kalb | 2022-01-03 | Permanent Home | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2022Warnings in Georgia, January 2022
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: 1006022, 1006023, 1006024, 1006025, 1006026, 1006027, 1006028, 1006029, 1006016, 1006030, 1006031, 1006032, 1006033, 1006019, 1010053, 1010050, 1010051, 1010052, 1010059, 1010060, 1010058, 1010061, 1010055, 1010056, 1010057, 1010062, 1010054.