Numerous thunderstorms and storm clusters moved across northeast Georgia throughout the afternoon. Many of these storms produced severe weather, mainly in the form of damaging wind gusts, some of which were fairly long-lived.
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 GSP wrote it up.
Numerous thunderstorms and storm clusters moved across northeast Georgia throughout the afternoon. Many of these storms produced severe weather, mainly in the form of damaging wind gusts, some of which were fairly long-lived.
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 Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 7, 1:53 PM EST, 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
253 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front crosses our area tonight into early Tuesday. Showers
and thunderstorms will move east and south of our area this evening
as the front will become stationary over central South Carolina.
High pressure builds into the western Carolinas, leading to drier
weather Tuesday into Wednesday. Showers and thunderstorms return on
Thursday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/...
As of 230 PM: A potent shortwave is now centered over the middle
Ohio Valley, with sfc low now in SW Ontario, trailing a cold front
SW'wd to the Ozarks. Robust moisture plume preceding the front
is associated with 5000+ J/kg SBCAPE in much of AL/GA and up to
4000 invof the Southern Appalachians, per mesoanalysis. Short-term
progs depict values continuing to increase thru peak heating in
our CWA; dewpoints have surged into the upper 70s in some parts of
the Upstate. The storms which developed in E TN at midday have now
grown into linear clusters which will move into the NC mountains by
330-400 PM at the latest. This activity appears to be the primary
round affecting western NC.
Shear parameters are generally better toward the north, nearer
the base of the shortwave. While the best forcing will pass by to
our north, strong mid to upper level flow will be present thru the
evening across our CWA. Effective shear will range from 30 to 50 kt
which will aid in the upscale growth; the better helicity parameters
appear to remain north and west of the area, but a gradient thereof
will extend into the CWA. DCAPE has risen above 1200 J/kg across
most of our CWA which will aid in cold pool development. There
is definitely better low-level hodograph curvature toward the
north as one might expect given the above. Shear vectors being
westerly, some potential for circulations along the line(s)
does exist throughout. The tornado threat is best in the north,
and tornado watches have been issued for much of our NC mountains
and I-40 corridor. The strong but unidirectional shear and large
DCAPE make staight-line winds the greatest concern elsewhere,
and a Severe Tstm Watch was just issued to include the rest of
our CWA. Note that there are some additional linear segments in
north AL and vicinity which should track toward GA and the Upstate
later this evening, and in fact some areas could see two rounds
of strong to severe storms.
While CAMs have shown their usual disparities, they all depict
linear MCSs (bow echoes) and swaths of strong wind. The faster
guidance has so far proven more reliable in terms of timing, but
even the slower models show the leading edge of the depicted lines
exiting the CWA by 8-9 PM, so convection should quiet down NLT
that time As the line takes on a more shear-parallel orientation,
can't rule out some localized hydro issues from training along it,
particularly in the urban areas along the I-85 corridor. However,
overall the forward motion of storms should be enough to preclude
a flood threat.
A few showers could linger along the TN/NC border overnight as flow
remains NW to WNW. Some degree of low-level drying is expected via
cold pools or with the arrival of the front itself, but a signal
for dense fog is seen early Tue morning in some of the WNC river
valleys that get heavy rain this evening. Continuing WNW flow is
shown to promote mixing of dewpoints into the lower 60s across
much of the Piedmont tomorrow aftn. Most guidance depicts the
downsloping and/or higher CCLs as keeping any convection highly
isolated at best. We presently advertise near-normal temps with
sub-slight-chance PoPs for most areas Tuesday.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 141 PM EDT Monday: Wednesday's forecast continues to
look quiet, with much of the forecast area ensconced in dry WNW
flow behind a sagging surface boundary to our south, and high
pressure to our north. Soundings indicate deep mixing to almost
700mb Wednesday afternoon, beneath a stout capping inversion that
should hold anything other than scattered cumulus at bay through
the day. The cooler Canadian air mass ought to moderate our
temperatures...and indeed temperatures for all but the southernmost
tier of counties in the Upstate will struggle to get out of the
mid-80s, a good 5 degrees below normal for most locations.
Wednesday evening or overnight, a compact shortwave will pivot out
of the Ozarks and into the Southeast CONUS...permitting a return to
deep southwesterly flow and increasing moisture. A surface front
will develop beneath this feature...to track across the Carolinas
on Thursday. Upon its arrival, it may encounter another juiced-up
environment, with ensembles in favor of excellent instability (1500-
2000 J/kg per the ECE, as much as 2500 J/kg per some of the more
aggressive GEFS members) and elevated deep shear a good possibility.
There remains the issue of timing/overlap: a few of the operational
models don't quite bring the peak in rainfall/forcing in at the
right time to make use of afternoon instability (peep the 06z GFS
for example)...and there's still a good bit of ensemble spread in
the location of the upper shortwave, whose track will determine
how much shear we get. Nonetheless, the most favorable forecast
soundings would put us at a risk of severe weather, while even
the most unfavorable soundings would still give us scattered
thunderstorms. So, Thursday looks active at the very least.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 159 PM EDT Monday: A pattern shift may be on the way as we get
closer to next weekend. Troughing will persist over the northeast,
but heights will rise subtly beginning Friday as the trough retreats
northward, allowing a subtropical ridge to build over much of the
southern U.S. The 12z suite of operational guidance hints at
another shortwave making tracks across the Carolinas on
Saturday...which may induce some rainfall...or might just vanish
from the forecast before Saturday (isn't weather forecasting great?)
and leave us with diurnal rain chances more typical of mid-summer in
the Carolinas. By the end of the period, though, it appears that any
additional shortwaves will be shunted north of the Carolinas by the
building subtropical ridge, permitting a return to hot, humid,
seasonable conditions as the Bermuda High nudges westward and
Atlantic moisture creeps into the Carolinas.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Main impact this aftn/evening will be from
TSRA forming ahead of a cold front, which prompted TEMPO at all
sites. Storms over E TN are beginning to grow upscale from discrete
cells into a line, and the expectation remains that eventually
bow echoes will threaten all terminals with strong to severe wind
gusts and brief IFR vsby in +RA. A hail or tornado threat does
exist although those are more localized threats. TEMPOs timed per
CAM consensus; the wind threat should subside at all terminals by
00z at the latest, but a few stray lightning strikes trailing the
main line certainly could occur for an hr or two after the wind
threat. Overnight, some upslope driven precip may linger near the TN
border, and some MVFR cigs are possible at KAVL. Drying associated
with cold pools or with synoptic scale front will limit but not
completely inhibit nocturnal fog formation, especially where heavy
rain occurs. For now, confidence is greatest for fog in the WNC
river valleys, hinted at KAVL/KHKY. Low impact weather Tuesday
with low VFR cumulus, and SHRA chances currently too low to mention.
Outlook: Waves moving east along the front will bring daily
chances of scattered diurnal convection Wed through the end of the
week. Daybreak restrictions will be possible each day, especially
across the mountain river valleys.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for GAZ029.
NC...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for NCZ071-072-082.
SC...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for SCZ009-011-014-
019.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...Wimberley
SHORT TERM...MPR
LONG TERM...MPR
AVIATION...WimberleyHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 247 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 GAZ010-017-018-026-028-NCZ064-065-068>070-507>510-SCZ008-010-012-013- 101>109-081900- Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Transylvania-Henderson- Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford- Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Cherokee-Anderson-Laurens-Union SC- Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Central Greenville- Southern Greenville-Northern Spartanburg-Southern Spartanburg- 247 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 604 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Widespread severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front approaching from the west. Damaging winds are expected to be the main threat with these storms, but large hail and a couple of isolated tornadoes will be possible as well. Any thunderstorm will be capable of producing torrential downpours, gusty winds, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. GAZ029-NCZ071-072-082-SCZ009-011-014-019-081900- Elbert-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-York-Abbeville-Chester- Greenwood- 247 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 604 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Heat Advisory. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Widespread severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front approaching from the west. Damaging winds are expected to be the main threat with these storms, but large hail and a couple of isolated tornadoes will be possible as well. Any thunderstorm will be capable of producing torrential downpours, gusty winds, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062-063-081900- Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Graham- Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson- 247 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 ...TORNADO WATCH 600 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Widespread severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front approaching from the west. Damaging winds are expected to be the main threat with these storms, but large hail and a couple of isolated tornadoes will be possible as well. Any thunderstorm will be capable of producing torrential downpours, gusty winds, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. NCZ035>037-056-057-501>506-081900- Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Caldwell Mountains- Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains- Eastern McDowell- 247 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023 ...TORNADO WATCH 603 IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont North Carolina and western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Widespread severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front approaching from the west. Damaging winds are expected to be the main threat with these storms, but large hail and a couple of isolated tornadoes will be possible as well. Any thunderstorm will be capable of producing torrential downpours, gusty winds, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. MPR
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
225 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
SCZ102-103-105-106-071900-
Central Greenville SC-Pickens Mountains SC-Greater Pickens SC-
Greenville Mountains SC-
225 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Greenville and Pickens Counties through 300 PM EDT...
At 224 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles west of Pickens, or near Keowee Toxaway State Park, moving east
at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Pickens, Easley, Lake Keowee, Jocassee Gorges, Lake Jocassee, Keowee
Toxaway State Park, Table Rock State Park, Six Mile, Berea and
Pumpkintown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3488 8291 3491 8290 3492 8291 3494 8290
3495 8290 3495 8291 3496 8292 3497 8292
3498 8294 3499 8294 3511 8254 3484 8247
3481 8290
TIME...MOT...LOC 1824Z 258DEG 24KT 3492 8286
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CACSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
232 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
NCZ052-053-064-065-071915-
Buncombe NC-Transylvania NC-Haywood NC-Henderson NC-
232 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of north central
Transylvania, northwestern Henderson, southeastern Haywood and
southwestern Buncombe Counties through 315 PM EDT...
At 232 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles southeast of Waynesville, or 4 miles northeast of B.R.
Parkway-Balsam Gap To Black Balsam Area, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Downtown Asheville, Waynesville, East Asheville, Arden, West
Asheville, North Asheville, Woodfin, Fletcher, Canton and Biltmore
Forest.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for western North
Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3569 8251 3544 8239 3530 8293 3531 8294
3531 8295 3532 8296 3533 8296 3537 8299
3538 8302 3546 8306
TIME...MOT...LOC 1832Z 247DEG 39KT 3541 8294
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MOORESpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
240 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
NCZ052-059-062>064-071930-
Transylvania NC-Haywood NC-Southern Jackson NC-Northern Jackson NC-
Macon NC-
240 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Macon, west
central Transylvania, central Jackson and south central Haywood
Counties through 330 PM EDT...
At 239 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Franklin, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Franklin, Cullowhee, Lake Glenville, B.R. Parkway-Black Balsam To
Mount Pisgah, B.R. Parkway-Balsam Gap To Black Balsam Area, Black
Balsam Area, Graveyard Fields, Lake Toxaway, Ellijay and Savannah.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for western North
Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3510 8343 3526 8346 3541 8299 3532 8285
3515 8284
TIME...MOT...LOC 1839Z 262DEG 29KT 3518 8336
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
MOORESpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
324 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
GAZ010-SCZ101-102-104-105-072000-
Rabun GA-Greater Oconee SC-Pickens Mountains SC-Greater Pickens SC-
Oconee Mountains SC-
324 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Rabun,
northwestern Pickens and northern Oconee Counties through 400 PM
EDT...
At 324 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles northwest of Walhalla, or near Oconee State Park, moving east
at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Six Mile, Salem, Lake Keowee, Jocassee Gorges, Lake Jocassee, Devils
Fork State Park, Keowee Toxaway State Park, Oconee State Park,
Mountain Rest and Bad Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for western North
Carolina.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
northeastern Georgia...and Upstate South Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3496 8327 3508 8280 3481 8276 3478 8323
TIME...MOT...LOC 1924Z 259DEG 28KT 3489 8317
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CACSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
331 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
GAZ010-017-018-026-SCZ101-104-072015-
Franklin GA-Rabun GA-Stephens GA-Habersham GA-Greater Oconee SC-
Oconee Mountains SC-
331 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northern Franklin,
Stephens, Habersham, southwestern Rabun and southern Oconee Counties
through 415 PM EDT...
At 331 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 13 miles southwest of Clayton to 8 miles
southwest of Clarkesville. Movement was east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Toccoa, Walhalla, Clarkesville, Clayton, Cornelia, Baldwin,
Westminster, Demorest, Mount Airy and Tiger.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for
northeastern Georgia...and Upstate South Carolina.
&&
LAT...LON 3454 8362 3460 8365 3462 8364 3465 8366
3469 8364 3471 8364 3473 8362 3478 8364
3492 8326 3478 8323 3480 8295 3440 8316
3440 8338 3443 8338 3446 8340 3449 8353
3449 8355 3443 8362 3450 8367
TIME...MOT...LOC 1931Z 256DEG 21KT 3473 8356 3453 8362
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CACPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
347 PM EDT Mon Aug 7 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Cherokee 35.48N 83.32W
08/07/2023 Swain NC Emergency Mngr
At least 5 different trees down across the
Qualla Boundary. A couple up near NPS land
and others in Cherokee down across roads. No
structures impacted at this time. Time
estimated based on radar.
&&
TDPThe Greer radar (KGSP), 126 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:52 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
County comms reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across Rabun County. A few trees blocked roadways.
County comms reported numerous trees and some power lines blown down across Hart County.
County comms reported a tree blown down and blocking the road in the area around Hollywood Highway and Rock Creek Ford Rd, and multiple trees blown down near the intersection of Ayersville Rd and Winchester Hill. One tree was on a house and another across a road in the latter location.
County comms reported a few trees and power lines blown down in the Toccoa area, and numerous trees down in Eastanolle and in Martin.
County comms reported numerous trees blown down across Elbert County. One tree was down on a house on Seymour Rd and the roof was blown off a barn in the northeast part of the county.
County comms reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across Franklin County. One tree was down on a house on Highway 17 near Lavonia.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, August 2023
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: 1136880, 1136884, 1136881, 1136882, 1136885, 1136883.