Warm moist air moved across the region with persistent, south to southwesterly surface flow, combined with moderate instability and shear, to produce several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms across central Georgia.
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.
Warm moist air moved across the region with persistent, south to southwesterly surface flow, combined with moderate instability and shear, to produce several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms across central 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 May 22, 2:48 PM EST, 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 348 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022 .SHORT TERM /Tonight through Monday Night/... Georgia remains under the influence of deep south to southwest flow bringing good moisture across the area. Upper lever high pressure remains locked over south Florida/Bahamas with several weak short waves moving through the upper level flow across GA. GFS/ECMWF in OK agreement with some differences noted in the surface solution and how fast the surface cold front will progress through the area. GFS develops an inverted trough by morning and a surface low which treks northeast along the stalled front. In any case tomorrow will see off and on showers and thunderstorms moving across the area. Convection this afternoon and evening will be mainly driven by weakening convection lifting north and northeast across the area from the Gulf. Thunderstorm development will be most likely along and east of I-75 with more summer time pop up variety expected across the rest of the forecast area. As the surface front approaches northwest Georgia late this evening isolated to scattered thunderstorm swill be possible across north Georgia...spreading south and east as the front slowly sags across the area tomorrow. The surface front washes out tomorrow night as low lifts to the northeast with convective chances diminishing. Temperatures will trend cooler through the short term and a blend of guidance temperatures looks reasonable. Atwell .LONG TERM /Tuesday through Sunday/... The moral of the story in the long term is wet and unsettled weather. Tuesday and Wednesday southwest upper level flow will remain in place with the State of Georgia sandwiched between a trough to the west and a ridge just to the east over the far western Atlantic. At the surface a stalled front will be settled over north GA with high pressure anchored over the western Atlantic maintaining south to southwesterly flow. This set up will open the door for anomalously high tropospheric moisture to move over GA, with PWATs of nearly 2 inches to reside over the region. Perturbations in the upper level flow will trigger afternoon diurnally driven rain showers and thunderstorms both days as the upper level trough to our west and associated cold front move east out of the Southern Plains. Thursday, the aforementioned upper level trough will close off as it and its attendant cold front ejects from the Plains towards the East Coast. Upper level divergent flow, surface cyclogenesis, daytime heating and copious amounts of moisture will combine to trigger heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. Severe parameters suggest that some storms could become severe. However, as mentioned previously the more pressing issue will be the flooding risk across north GA where storm totals continue to rise over 1.5 inches. Given how dry it has been across the Peach State recently and with a large mount of the state in abnormally dry drought status this welcomed rainfall might not cause as big an issue, but it does require some monitoring. Precipitation will wind down early Friday as we fall under northwesterly flow aloft with a high pressure at the surface. This pattern will favor drier weather with a return to 90 degree high temps by Sunday. 28 && .AVIATION... /Issued 201 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022/ 18Z Update... VFR conditions will deteriorate to MVFR after 06Z and then IFR after 09Z. Best chances for convection this afternoon and evening will depend upon an area spreading north and east from southeast Alabama. the best window for convection will be after 19Z in CSG, after 20Z in MCN and 21Z in ATL area and AHN. Winds will be SW initially at 5-10kts then shifting to the SE after 08Z with speeds 6kts or less. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... Medium confidence on convective type and timing. Medium to high confidence all other elements. Atwell && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 66 82 64 78 / 50 80 60 60 Atlanta 67 79 65 77 / 50 80 60 60 Blairsville 61 75 61 72 / 70 90 70 60 Cartersville 65 78 63 77 / 60 90 50 60 Columbus 67 81 66 82 / 50 70 50 50 Gainesville 67 78 65 74 / 60 90 60 60 Macon 65 85 65 83 / 50 80 50 50 Rome 67 79 65 80 / 70 80 50 60 Peachtree City 65 80 64 79 / 50 80 50 50 Vidalia 69 88 67 84 / 50 70 50 50 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...Atwell LONG TERM....28 AVIATION...Atwell
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 1158 AM EDT Sun May 22 2022 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-231600- 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- 1158 AM EDT Sun May 22 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Isolated thunderstorms are possible through late tonight. Some storms may be strong to severe and capable of producing gusty winds, locally heavy rainfall, and frequent lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday... There is a chance of thunderstorms each day from Monday through Friday. Some of the storms each day may be strong and capable of producing gusty winds, frequent lightning, and locally heavy rainfall. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
322 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
GAZ093>096-105>108-221945-
Macon GA-Peach GA-Crisp GA-Dooly GA-Houston GA-Wilcox GA-Bleckley GA-
Pulaski GA-
322 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of eastern Macon,
Pulaski, Wilcox, Dooly, southwestern Bleckley, southeastern Peach,
southern Houston and eastern Crisp Counties through 345 PM EDT...
At 322 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Montezuma to near Tremont to near Hatley, and
moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds 40 to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Perry, Fort Valley, Hawkinsville, Vienna, Abbeville, Unadilla,
Rochelle, Byromville, Pineview, Pinehurst, Pitts, Lilly, Dooling,
Hayneville, Browndale, Meadowdale, Elko, Mock Springs, Grove Park and
Seville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
&&
LAT...LON 3200 8370 3227 8401 3257 8387 3237 8343
3185 8325 3185 8361 3181 8361 3181 8366
TIME...MOT...LOC 1922Z 232DEG 26KT 3232 8395 3204 8364 3186 8361
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
327 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
GAZ071-080>082-093>095-222000-
Macon GA-Peach GA-Monroe GA-Taylor GA-Bibb GA-Houston GA-Crawford GA-
327 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northeastern Macon,
western Bibb, southwestern Monroe, Peach, northeastern Houston,
Crawford and northeastern Taylor Counties through 400 PM EDT...
At 327 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Culloden to near Knoxville to near Powerville,
and moving northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds 40 to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Macon, Fort Valley, Roberta, Warner Robins, Centerville, Byron,
Marshallville, Culloden, Robins Air Force Base, Nakomis, Lake
Tobesofkee, Houston Lake, Russellville, Powerville, Skipperton,
Horns, Miami Valley, Kathleen, Jack Brown Estates and Rutland.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
&&
LAT...LON 3260 8409 3272 8423 3271 8419 3272 8419
3273 8425 3273 8419 3280 8412 3293 8412
3293 8405 3304 8404 3293 8382 3273 8360
3267 8361 3264 8355 3253 8354 3249 8349
3241 8348 3240 8349 3257 8387 3233 8398
TIME...MOT...LOC 1927Z 213DEG 40KT 3282 8413 3276 8399 3258 8384
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
347 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
GAZ052>059-066>071-082-222015-
Butts GA-Fayette GA-Monroe GA-Coweta GA-Troup GA-Heard GA-Jasper GA-
Meriwether GA-Pike GA-Henry GA-Lamar GA-Bibb GA-Clayton GA-Upson GA-
Spalding GA-
347 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Spalding, Fayette,
northern Meriwether, north central Bibb, Pike, Monroe, northeastern
Upson, Heard, southern Butts, southwestern Henry, northern Troup,
Coweta, south central Clayton, southwestern Jasper and Lamar Counties
through 415 PM EDT...
At 347 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Standing Rock to near Alvaton to near Lake
Tobesofkee, and moving north at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Winds up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Macon, Newnan, LaGrange, Griffin, Fayetteville, Barnesville, Forsyth,
Zebulon, Franklin, Peachtree City, Hampton, Tyrone, Senoia,
Hogansville, Grantville, Luthersville, Milner, Whitesburg, Brooks and
Ephesus.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
&&
LAT...LON 3343 8502 3346 8498 3344 8494 3348 8490
3350 8451 3315 8373 3313 8382 3303 8372
3285 8368 3302 8401 3290 8411 3310 8454
3303 8522 3343 8529
TIME...MOT...LOC 1947Z 182DEG 29KT 3308 8522 3316 8454 3288 8385
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
357 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
GAZ071>073-082>084-096-097-107-109-222030-
Wilkinson GA-Monroe GA-Baldwin GA-Bibb GA-Jones GA-Laurens GA-
Bleckley GA-Dodge GA-Twiggs GA-Pulaski GA-
357 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southwestern Baldwin,
northwestern Laurens, Wilkinson, northwestern Dodge, Bibb, eastern
Pulaski, Twiggs, eastern Monroe, Bleckley and Jones Counties through
430 PM EDT...
At 357 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Lake Tobesofkee to Bullard to near Gresston, and
moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Winds 40 to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Macon, Milledgeville, Dublin, Cochran, Gray, Jeffersonville,
Irwinton, Gordon, Chester, Ivey, McIntyre, Dexter, Dudley, Cadwell,
Toomsboro, Rentz, Danville, Payne, Montrose and Allentown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
&&
LAT...LON 3210 8335 3241 8348 3249 8349 3253 8354
3264 8355 3268 8367 3287 8388 3314 8382
3313 8381 3315 8368 3305 8318 3250 8287
3210 8333
TIME...MOT...LOC 1957Z 214DEG 42KT 3288 8384 3264 8352 3222 8329
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
420 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
GAZ086-098-112-113-222045-
Toombs GA-Emanuel GA-Treutlen GA-Montgomery GA-
420 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Emanuel, northwestern Toombs, Treutlen and northeastern Montgomery
Counties through 445 PM EDT...
At 420 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Zaidee, or near
Soperton, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds 40 to 50 mph and frequent lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Lightning is one of nature's
leading killers. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning.
Locations impacted include...
Soperton, Oak Park, Nunez, Tarrytown, Covena, Norristown, Zaidee,
Gillis Springs, Kibbee and Normantown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency.
&&
LAT...LON 3222 8257 3236 8264 3255 8251 3250 8232
3234 8226
TIME...MOT...LOC 2020Z 223DEG 21KT 3236 8250
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
429 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
GAZ072>074-084-085-097-222100-
Wilkinson GA-Washington GA-Baldwin GA-Johnson GA-Jones GA-Laurens GA-
429 PM EDT Sun May 22 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Baldwin, Laurens,
Wilkinson, southwestern Washington, Jones and central Johnson
Counties through 500 PM EDT...
At 429 PM EDT, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from Round Oak to 6 miles east of Jeffersonville to near
Rentz, and moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Winds up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Milledgeville, Dublin, Gray, Wrightsville, Irwinton, East Dublin,
Gordon, Ivey, McIntyre, Dexter, Dudley, Cadwell, Harrison, Toomsboro,
Rentz, Oconee, Montrose, Allentown, Deepstep and Midway-Hardwick.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
&&
LAT...LON 3289 8340 3287 8347 3311 8370 3317 8357
3318 8346 3317 8333 3319 8329 3319 8326
3317 8318 3312 8311 3308 8312 3305 8310
3308 8305 3285 8273 3247 8266 3229 8304
TIME...MOT...LOC 2029Z 249DEG 35KT 3312 8364 3270 8323 3237 8303
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHThe Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 43 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:30 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree and powerlines down near intersection of Larry Sanders Rd and Middle Ground Church Rd.
Tree reported down on power lines on Steel Creek Rd.
Report of 30 to 40 pecan trees downed or with snapped limbs on US Hwy-280 and Mcgregor-Alston Rd.
A few trees down near the intersection of Harrison-Davisboro Rd and Brown Circle.
Tree reported down near intersection of Ferry Landing Rd and Clay Pit Rd.
Quarter-size hail reported near the town of Wenona.
Trees down near the intersection of Valhalla Rd S and Cannon Rd.
Trees reported down near the intersection of Ed Stephens Rd and Flintside Dr.
Tree down near intersection of Vienna Rd and Pool Gin House Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, May 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: 1034270, 1034272, 1034273, 1034275, 1034276, 1034277, 1034278, 1034279, 1034280.