A strong cold front pushed through the area during prime heating hours during the afternoon of May 6th. This frontal passage in combination with high levels of instability along the front produced widespread wind damage reports across portions of 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.
A strong cold front pushed through the area during prime heating hours during the afternoon of May 6th. This frontal passage in combination with high levels of instability along the front produced widespread wind damage reports across portions of 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 6, 1:27 PM EST, 7 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 227 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022 ...Two Tornado Watches and Wind Advisory now in place... .UPDATE... Update to include county segments for second Tornado Watch over north Georgia and a Wind Advisory for all of north and central Georgia. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 108 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022/ ..Tornado Watch in Effect for Central Georgia through 7PM... UPDATE... SPC has coordinated a Tornado Watch for central Georgia through 7PM. While CAMs are still indicating the possibility of discrete storm development over the state, the most favorable environment for severe storm/tornado activity has shifted south over middle/south Georgia. However, far north Georgia into Tennessee also remains favorable for damaging winds and hail (with a non- zero, though low, tornado threat), and continues to be monitored for Severe Watch potential later today. A good portion of the state remains in a Slight to Enhanced Risk of severe storms through the early evening. LGB/LNM PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 833 AM EDT Fri May 6 2022/ UPDATE... Have updated this morning's discussion to reference Friday's severe potential as "today." LNM PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 731 AM EDT Fri May 6 2022/ Updated for 12Z Aviation Discussion... PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 442 AM EDT Fri May 6 2022/ Morning Area Forecast Discussion... SHORT TERM /Today through Saturday/... The short term forecast will be dominated by the concerns over the threat for severe weather across the entire forecast area Friday. SPC Day 1 Outlook now has a majority of the forecast area in an enhanced risk with the potential for all severe weather hazards on the table. An upper level trough moves through the Ohio River Valley from the Mississippi Valley today. As the surface low tracks eastward, the attendant cold front will trail behind and bring the potential for impactful severe weather. CAMs suggest the possibility of a few isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms early this morning ahead of a more organized line of convection that will develop and impact western portions of Georgia primarily after 9am. 00Z HREF guidance shows MUCAPE of 1000 J/kg blanketing north and central Georgia with a plume of MUCAPE between 1500-2000 J/kg filtering in across west central Georgia by noon. Sufficient instability coupled with SRH between 100-200+ m^2/s^2 and a 40-50kt 850mb jet will generate concerns over damaging winds in thunderstorms today across the entire forecast area. Given the environment, there is also a concern of isolated tornadoes, particularly across west Georgia. SPC has expanded the 10% tornado risk from Columbus northward to encompass locations as far north as the TN border and now includes the entire Atlanta metro area. Additionally, the threat for hail up to 1" will be possible within thunderstorms across north and central Georgia. As the line becomes more organized throughout the morning, it will expand from Columbus to the metro Atlanta area and looks to move through during the late morning hours through the early afternoon. It then continues to push eastward to Macon through the late afternoon, and finally exits the forecast area this evening. As the cold front makes its way out of the forecast area, some wrap around precipitation may linger across the extreme northern tier of the forecast area Friday night through Saturday. Temperatures are a bit cooler behind the front, running 5-10+ degrees below normal on Saturday. KAL/Atwell LONG TERM /Saturday Night through Thursday/... The cold front will be southeast of the CWA by late Saturday leaving north to northwest flow in its wake. Drier and cooler air will continue to be advected into the area Sunday. As a result Sunday will feel "cooler" as high temperatures max out in the mid 70s to low 80s area wide. Sunday through next week strong ridging aloft and high pressure at the surface develops as an upper low cuts off and stalls just off the Eastern Seaboard. Locally subsidence under the ridge will aid in keeping PoPs minimized and temperatures slowly warming back into mid to upper 80s across much of the area. Very late next week PoPs return to the forecast as the aforementioned cut off upper low deepens and moves southward down the coast and then on shore across southcentral and southern GA. 28 && .AVIATION... 18Z Update... MVFR conditions have been accompanying thunderstorm activity over far north and portions of central Georgia this afternoon. Otherwise FEW-BKN VFR conditions at TAF sites. TS chances over TAF sites is low. Winds have picked up with SW-S winds at 10-20kt with gusts to 25-35kt. Expect gusts to drop overnight, with speeds still 6-12kt, then W winds and gusts return after 14-15z. Wrap around moisture will return MVFR cigs to north GA and ATL- area TAF sites after 08Z, with cloudiness continuing into Saturday afternoon. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... Medium on all elements. 31 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 79 58 70 51 / 80 5 5 0 Atlanta 79 58 68 53 / 60 5 5 0 Blairsville 73 51 60 47 / 80 50 40 20 Cartersville 79 55 67 50 / 70 20 5 0 Columbus 81 60 76 54 / 70 0 0 0 Gainesville 77 57 67 51 / 80 10 10 5 Macon 84 58 76 52 / 70 10 5 0 Rome 80 57 69 51 / 70 20 10 0 Peachtree City 80 56 70 51 / 50 0 0 0 Vidalia 89 63 78 56 / 80 30 5 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Tornado Watch until 7 PM EDT this evening for the following zones: Baldwin...Bibb...Bleckley...Chattahoochee...Crawford... Crisp...Dodge...Dooly...Emanuel...Glascock...Hancock...Harris... Houston...Jefferson...Johnson...Jones...Laurens...Macon... Marion...Monroe...Montgomery...Muscogee...Peach...Pulaski... Schley...Stewart...Sumter...Talbot...Taylor...Telfair...Toombs... Treutlen...Twiggs...Upson...Warren...Washington...Webster... Wheeler...Wilcox...Wilkinson. Wind Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for the following zones: 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. Tornado Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for the following zones: Banks...Catoosa...Dawson...Fannin...Gilmer...Hall... Lumpkin...Murray...Pickens...Towns...Union...White...Whitfield. && SHORT TERM...31 LONG TERM....28 AVIATION...31
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 806 AM EDT Fri May 6 2022 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-071215- 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- 806 AM EDT Fri May 6 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... A few rounds of scattered strong to severe thunderstorms moving from west to east will cross the area between mid-morning and late afternoon. Some storms will be capable of damaging winds, large hail and even a brief tornado. Locally heavy rain could also result in sudden water rises in creeks and small streams, as well as elevate the flood risk over urban areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested for 9 AM through 7 PM today across north and central Georgia. Spotters are also 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
855 AM EDT Fri May 6 2022
GAZ078-089-090-061330-
Chattahoochee GA-Harris GA-Muscogee GA-
855 AM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of Muscogee,
Chattahoochee and Harris Counties through 930 AM EDT...
At 853 AM EDT, National Weather Service indicated and media reported
strong gusty winds developing behind a storm system along a line
extending from near Baughs Crossroads to near Providence Canyon
State Park.
HAZARD...Strong gusty winds.
SOURCE...Media reported.
IMPACT...Strong winds have developed behind a storm system. Expect
an increased potential for downed trees and powerlines,
along with blowing around of unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Columbus, Hamilton, Cusseta, Pine Mountain, Waverly Hall, North Fort
Benning, Bibb City, Upatoi, Fort Benning/lawson Army Air Fld, Goat
Rock Lake, Ellerslie, Laurel Hills, F.d. Roosevelt State Park, Green
Island Hills, Vista Terrace, Cataula, Columbus Metropolitan Airport,
Jamestown/south Fort Benning, Renfroe and Rose Hill.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
&&
LAT...LON 3287 8486 3287 8475 3284 8470 3272 8468
3269 8470 3252 8468 3253 8464 3223 8466
3223 8492 3226 8489 3233 8501 3244 8497
3245 8500 3264 8511 3266 8509 3269 8512
3274 8511 3276 8514 3278 8512 3280 8515
TIME...MOT...LOC 1253Z 251DEG 32KT 3291 8495 3210 8495
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
152 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
GAZ104>106-061815-
Crisp GA-Dooly GA-Sumter GA-
152 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Dooly,
Sumter and northwestern Crisp Counties through 215 PM EDT...
At 152 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Smithville, or 11 miles
northwest of Leesburg, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Americus, Leslie, De Soto, Desoto, Cobb, Sumter, Lamar, Georgia
Veterans Memorial St Pk, Croxton Crossroads, New Era, Flint River
Wma, Huntington, Pennington, Drayton, Maddox and Methvins.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for central and
west central Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3194 8441 3219 8406 3217 8403 3218 8403
3218 8402 3207 8391 3194 8383 3190 8393
3191 8392 3192 8434 3187 8434
TIME...MOT...LOC 1752Z 229DEG 32KT 3188 8428
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
203 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
GAZ106-108-061845-
Crisp GA-Wilcox GA-
203 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Wilcox and
Crisp Counties through 245 PM EDT...
At 203 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Doles, or 8 miles west
of Ashburn, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Cordele, Rochelle, Arabi, Pitts, East Crisp, Antioch Church, Pope
City, Seville, Hatley, Pleasant View, Raines, Double Run, Tremont,
Wenona and Owensboro.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for central
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3181 8383 3183 8384 3182 8385 3184 8386
3187 8393 3188 8393 3203 8366 3203 8361
3206 8361 3211 8354 3185 8328 3185 8361
3180 8361 3180 8379
TIME...MOT...LOC 1803Z 238DEG 31KT 3174 8380
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
206 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
GAZ013>015-021-061830-
Dawson GA-Cherokee GA-Pickens GA-Lumpkin GA-
206 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern
Cherokee, southern Lumpkin, southwestern Dawson and southeastern
Pickens Counties through 230 PM EDT...
At 206 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Reavis Mountain, or 9
miles southeast of Jasper, moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Ball Ground, Nelson, Hollis Lathem Reservoir,
Auraria, Marblehill, Reavis Mountain, Nimblewill, McKee and Juno.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for north central
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3447 8389 3446 8389 3446 8391 3447 8391
3447 8393 3446 8393 3446 8392 3445 8392
3443 8396 3430 8438 3437 8443 3457 8419
3458 8398
TIME...MOT...LOC 1806Z 238DEG 42KT 3436 8433
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
214 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
GAZ093-104>106-061900-
Macon GA-Crisp GA-Dooly GA-Sumter GA-
214 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Macon,
Dooly, southeastern Sumter and northwestern Crisp Counties through
300 PM EDT...
At 214 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Lamar, or 9 miles
southeast of Americus, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Americus, Cordele, Vienna, Byromville, Leslie, Lilly, De Soto,
Dooling, Desoto, Cobb, Lamar, Georgia Veterans Memorial St Pk,
Richwood, New Era, Flint River Wma, Huntington, Pennington, Drayton,
Maddox and Methvins.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for central and
west central Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3191 8392 3191 8401 3200 8435 3229 8398
3210 8361 3205 8361 3189 8393
TIME...MOT...LOC 1814Z 236DEG 32KT 3200 8408
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
222 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
GAZ110-061900-
Telfair GA-
222 PM EDT Fri May 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Telfair County
through 300 PM EDT...
At 222 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near China Hill, or 14 miles
southwest of McRae, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, up to penny sized hail and frequent
cloud to ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
McRae, Helena, Milan, Scotland, Towns, China Hill and Workmore.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for central
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3193 8316 3212 8292 3211 8290 3209 8290
3207 8286 3206 8286 3206 8284 3205 8281
3202 8278 3201 8273 3197 8270 3180 8306
TIME...MOT...LOC 1822Z 236DEG 32KT 3192 8306
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHThe Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:32 UTC.
34 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree reported down near the intersection of Bowen Rd and Calhoun Rd.
Tree down near the intersection of GA-112 and Christian Hill Rd.
Roof peeled off structure near intersection of Langford Rd and Everett Rd.
Couple of trees reported down on Poplar St near intersection with 3rd Ave.
Multiple trees down near the intersection of County Line Rd and Poke Rd.
Multiple trees reported down near intersection of GA-26 and Loggins rd.
Tree down across road on GA-247 near Waste Treatment Plant.
Multiple large trees down around property off of Antioch road, north of Cochran.
Report of multiple trees down on Macedonia Church Rd.
Tree and powerlines down near intersection of Klondike Rd and Barrett Rd.
Tree and powerlines down near intersection of Bear Branch Rd and Ivory Dr.
Half-dollar sized hail reported in the town of Kibbee, GA.
Multiple trees down west of Trenton: McBryar Rd, Worley Chapel Rd, GA-301, and Owenby Filler Rd.
Tree reported down along the 900 block of Byrds Chapel Rd.
Several trees reported downed in Trenton: Wren Ave, Poplar St, Bond Ave, and Jeffery Town Rd.
Several trees were downed on and near lookout mountain: Scenic Hwy, Wooten drive, Phillips Lane, Creek Rd, and Sarah Chapel Rd.
Tree down near the intersection of Hwy 199 and Mercer Creek Rd.
Tree reported down on Nobles Rd near the intersection of Cool Springs Rd.
Report of a tree down on powerlines on Prospect Church Rd.
Tree down along the 900 block of Pope Creed Rd.
Report of roof removed from a manufactured home on the 100 block of Columbia St.
Tree reported down on Hwy 29 near the intersection of Brick Mill Rd.
Report of a large tree downed across Arnold Road in Rock Spring.
Golf ball sized hail at the intersection of Watermelon Rd and Hwy 157.
Roof removed from a manufactured home on Ralph Young Rd.
Tree reported down behind home on Backdraft Ln near intersection of Biscayne Blvd.
Tree reported down on a home on the 200 block of N Central St in Swainsboro.
Multiple trees and powerlines down in the town of Davisboro.
Tree reported down across Hwy-41 near Three Notch Rd.
A large tree and powerlines downed across Graysville Road.
Tree down at the intersection of Huckleberry Rd and Oak Grove Church Rd.
A few trees and powerlines reported down near the intersection of Hwy-56 North and Hwy-192 North.
Tree reported down on Caylor Rd and Dunn Rd West.
Multiple trees reported down along Hwy 221 N between Airport Rd and Ellis Cemetery Rd.
Several trees down on Hwy 221 North near the Jefferson/McDuffie County line.
Multiple trees down along Upper and Lower River Rd in Hartford.
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: 1033999, 1034000, 1034001, 1034002, 1034004, 1034006, 1034007, 1034013, 1034014, 1034015, 1034016, 1034017, 1034018, 1034021, 1034023, 1034024, 1034026, 1034028, 1034029, 1034031, 1034032, 1034035, 1034036, 1034037, 1034039, 1034040, 1034042, 1034043, 1034044, 1034045, 1034261, 1034262, 1034265, 1034266, 1034267, 1034268.