A complex weather system pushed a strong cold front into North Georgia during the afternoon of March 3rd. This front produced scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts, hail, and an isolated tornado in Gordon county.
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 complex weather system pushed a strong cold front into North Georgia during the afternoon of March 3rd. This front produced scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts, hail, and an isolated tornado in Gordon county.
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 3, 12:29 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 1229 PM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 ...New 18Z Aviation Discussion... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Saturday) Issued at 408 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 Overview: Over the last 24 hours, trends have shown an increase in severe potential for both an environmental wind threat and the threat for severe thunderstorms this afternoon. Due to these increasing trends, a High Warning is now in place for portions of the far northwest and far north central Georgia to accompany the pre-existing Wind Advisory for the remainder of the forecast area; both hazard products are in place from 7am through 11pm, however High Wind criteria in the Warning area is expected in the 12-5pm time frame. Additionally, The Enhanced Risk (3 out of 5 risk level) within the Day 1 Convective Outlook has been expanded to include portions of NW Georgia due primarily to a damaging thunderstorm wind threat, with tornadoes, which have conditional potential to be strong and long- track, being the secondary storm hazard for this afternoon. Analysis: A sharp but deep shortwave trough will be lifting from the ArkLaTex region this morning to the Great Lakes by this evening. An extremely quick progression with divergent flow downstream of the shortwave and a 110+ mph jet streak at 500 hPa aiding the progression of the system. An accompanied surface low pressure is located in South Central Arkansas at the time of this writing with a marginally severe squall line through central Louisiana and a warm front through the Mid-Mississippi River Valley where prolonged rainfall has developed a cold pool-propagated sub-severe squall line with training cells all along the central Mississippi River. This surface low pressure is forecast to continue pushing into the Midwest by late this afternoon, with the HREF now resolving a non-occluded low pressure system in S Indiana around 20 UTC this afternoon with a central pressure of 980hPa. This is significant in two ways, first this low is deeper than previously forecasted and begins to occlude and weaken much later than originally forecasted as well; both of these factors increase the severe thunderstorm threat for our area this afternoon. A cold front is forecast to push into far NW Georgia at the time as well with a wave of showers and thunderstorms. Storm mode is yet to be determined with CAMs resolving anywhere from a QLCS to semi-discrete cells along the front, with pre-frontal showers and storms also a possibility throughout the afternoon. The prefrontal environment will be ripe with parameters for strong environmental winds and ingredients capable of producing severe thunderstorms. Winds aloft indicate that at the 1 km/850 hPa level, a low-level jet with 70+ kt wind speeds will be present, with a pressure gradient of approximately 14 hPa from the NW corner of the forecast area to the SE corner; both of these factors are also enhancements compared to analysis conducted yesterday morning. For these reasons, the High Wind Warning was introduced with afternoon, prefrontal wind gusts increasing by about 5 mph from previously forecast with forecast wind gusts up to 40-50 mph possible ahead of the cold front in far north and northwest GA due to the closer proximity to the well-formed parent low, the strong pressure gradient, and potential momentum transfer of winds aloft due to boundary layer mixing and downdrafts in prefrontal showers. As for the severe thunderstorm threat, several small changes in parameters and ingredients have elevated the severe potential this afternoon. As discussed earlier, the parent low is now forecast to be stronger, more mature, and is slowing down which places the timing of storms during peak heating hours. The stronger low will also advect higher dewpoints (mid 60s) and PWATs (1.5+ inches) into the forecast area ahead of the storms. Increased moisture will also help boost surface-based instability to around 1000 J/kg ahead of the storms, with models resolving stronger storm updrafts as a result. Shear, both in terms of speed and direction, is really impressive, with 0-1 km shear and SRH expected to be around 50+ kts and 300-500 m2/s2, respectfully, across North Georgia this afternoon, which will elevate the potential for rotating supercells this afternoon. With all that in mind, the severe outlook for in North Georgia remains conditional with several inhibiting factors, though several of these factors has slightly diminished over the last 24 hours. First, models are still struggling to resolve deep, convective storms along the frontal zone. While PWATs have increased slightly, dry air remains aloft at 500 hPa and above. This dry air will make it difficult for deep updrafts to sustain themselves and will make it harder for storms to realize their rotational potential. However, drier air aloft is a double-edged sword as it will also promote evaporational cooling within the storms which could form stronger downdrafts more capable of transferring the extremely strong, upper- level winds to the ground. Additionally, CAPE profiles remain long and skinny with suboptimal lapse rates in the mid-levels, and this could result in less aggressive updrafts that take longer to harness the environmental shear. This delay may allow storms to be sheared off more quickly, before deep rotation can form within the storms. This is one reason why Updraft Helicities remain limited in our convective storm-resolving models, but if storms can hang on long enough to form a strong rotating updraft, in may persist for a prolonged period of time and being produce tornadoes which have the potential of being strong. Additionally, models are still resolving some prefrontal showers, but look less likely to develop upstream of the airflow into the line of potentually severe thunderstorms. Careful attention will be needed for these threats throughout the day, and we encourage all to have plans ready if they find themselves in Convective Watches and Warnings throughout the day. While there is some bust potential in our area (more likely for the tornado threat than the severe wind threat), potential also remains for dangerous situations if storms become tornadic. Please stay weather aware throughout the afternoon. After the cold front passes, temperatures will drop down overnight into the 40s and mid 50s, with temperatures rebounding into the mid 60s and mid 70s on Saturday under clear skies and light NW winds. Thiem && .LONG TERM... (Saturday night through Thursday) Issued at 408 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 The longterm period starts off Saturday night with one last night of cooler temps before a warming trend into mid week. Relatively dry air will stick around over Georgia as sfc high pressure dominates much of the eastern CONUS. As the high pressure moves eastward moisture will begin flowing into the region yet again into mid next week, increasing temps ahead of the frontal system later in the week. By late this week a low pressure system looks to move eastward into the Ohio valley, dragging a frontal system through GA. At this time, have included increased PoPs through the end of the week. After this front passes through, we will likely see a shot of colder air bringing temps down into the 30s for lows and 50-60s for highs. As this system gets closer, will go into a deeper dive, but it is still close to 7-8 days out so will hold off for now. Hernandez && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1141 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 TSRA line progged to come through a little later than previously forecast - have moved back the TEMPO by an hour. Sustained winds/gusts will begin to increase and frequent gusts 35 to 40mph are likely through much of the afternoon. Wind gusts within shra could be even higher...possibly between 45-50mph. A wind shift to the SW is likely just ahead of the line. Gusts should die down overnight...with sustained speeds remaining up around 10mph. Cigs should break fairly quickly behind the line. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... High confidence all elements. NListemaa && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 48 69 44 70 / 80 0 0 0 Atlanta 47 67 45 71 / 50 0 0 0 Blairsville 39 62 37 66 / 30 0 0 0 Cartersville 43 65 40 71 / 30 0 0 0 Columbus 50 73 47 76 / 80 0 0 0 Gainesville 45 67 43 68 / 50 0 0 0 Macon 52 73 47 75 / 80 0 0 0 Rome 43 66 40 71 / 20 0 0 0 Peachtree City 47 69 43 72 / 60 0 0 0 Vidalia 57 77 50 77 / 60 0 0 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning until 11 PM EST this evening for GAZ001>007. Wind Advisory until 11 PM EST this evening for GAZ008-009- 011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-089>098- 102>113. && SHORT TERM...NListemaa LONG TERM....Hernandez AVIATION...NListemaa
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 1150 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-041700- 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- 1150 AM EST Fri Mar 3 2023 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... An enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) for severe thunderstorms is in effect for far NW Georgia and a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) is in effect for the remainder of north and central Georgia. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected along a cold front across North and Central Georgia this afternoon. The primary threats are damaging wind gusts and an isolated strong tornado or two. A high wind warning has been issued for far northwest and far north central Georgia from 7 AM to 11 PM today where wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible. A Wind advisory remains in effect for the remainder of the area with wind gusts as high as 40 mph. Strong winds will likely bring down trees and powerlines even outside of the main line of storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday... No hazardous weather is expected at this time. Spotter activation is requested after 2 PM EST across North Georgia. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
159 PM EST FRI MAR 3 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0155 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 ESE INDIAN SPRINGS 34.95N 85.14W
03/03/2023 CATOOSA GA EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER RELAYED REPORT OF A DOWNED
TREE ON ROACH HOLLOW ROAD.
&&
LGBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
201 PM EST FRI MAR 3 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0158 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 SSE BOYNTON 34.90N 85.17W
03/03/2023 CATOOSA GA EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED DOWNED TREE AT
BAGGETT ROAD AND POPLAR SPRINGS ROAD.
&&
LGBThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:21 UTC.
47 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple trees blocking both lanes near the intersection of GA-337 and Neal Gap Road.
Tree down with powerlines at Atlanta Ave and GA-157.
Tree blocking the road at Rocky Hollow Road and Mahan Road.
Report of a tree down on vehicle off of Temperance Hall.
Report of tree down on Swanson Rd.
Multiple trees down around Mitchell Circle within the Gore community.
Report of tree on an outbuilding on Edmondson St.
Tree down across the roadway along Silver Hill Rd near Gore, GA.
Report of treen down in roadway off the Alabama Hwy near Woodstation.
Report of a couple of trees down along Martha Berry Highway near intersections of John Jones Rd and Gore Subligna Rd.
Report of tree down on Houston Valley Rd.
Power lines were downed on the 4000 block of North Jimmy Dr.
Multiple trees and powerlines down in the Tunnel Hill area, near intersection North Varnell Rd and Chattanooga Rd.
Tree on roadway near the intersection of Martin Ward and Catoosa Parkways.
A tree was downed on Cleveland Hwy at Nob North Dr.
Report of a barn collapse along Avery Rd.
Report of tree down on structure on Shorter College Campus.
Multiple trees down within the Stonebridge Community.
A tree was down into the road in the 3000 block of Mount Pleasant Rd.
A tree was downed onto a power line at the intersection of Deep Wood Drive and Tibbs Bridge Road.
Report of several trees down on Berry College Campus.
Report of a power pole snapped and across Redmond Rd.
Report of tree down across City View Rd.
Trees and powerlines down near intersection of Manning Mill Rd and Joe Frank Harris Pkwy NW.
Minor structural damage reported near intersection of Parkerwood Rd NW and Joe Frank Harris Pkwy.
The EF-1 tornado first touched down along Hammond Road where several trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado continued ENE causing damage to several homes along Langston Road SE including siding and roof damage as well as destroying an outbuilding. The tornado continued ENE to the north of Hammond Road snapping and uprooting trees crossing Cash Road and through a largely wooded area until it reached|McEntyre Loop. Several trees and powerlines were snapped and a barn was nearly destroyed. The tornado continued ENE crossing Creek Ridge Dr uprooting a few trees in the area. As the tornado crossed Mt. Olive Road several trees were uprooted on a hillside to the east of the road. These were the last damage indicators found thus the tornado is presumed lifted shortly thereafter and in the area of Young-Wright Lake.
A tree was downed onto powerlines on Highway 282 just west of Woodring Branch Road.
Report of power pole down near the intersection of Hwy 53 and Edwards Rd.
Report of power lines down on Waleska Lane.
A tree was downed onto a power line on Henderson Mountain Rd at Windwood Way.
Trees and powerlines down near intersection of McCormick Rd and Mission Rd.
Report of a tree down on powerlines on Morgan Valley Rd.
Report of damaged home off of Burnt Mountain Rd.
Report of trees and powerlines down near intersection of Buena Vista Cir SE and Roving Rd SE.
Trees and powerlines down near intersection of Old Alabama Rd SE and Paga Mine Rd SE.
A tree was downed across highway 41 going southbound one mile north of Dabbs Bridge Rd.
A tree was downed in the 400 block of Williams Ct.
A tree was downed onto the 1300 block of Cartersville Hwy.
A tree was downed onto the road on Davis Mill Rd N at Winndale Rd.
A tree was downed onto power lines on Highway 136.
Report of a tree down on vehicle at Cambridge Ct.
Two trees reported down near Alexander High School, near intersection of Bright Star Rd and Bill Arp Rd and near intersection of Choctaw and Chickasaw Rd.
Quarter size hail reported in Dahlonega.
A tree was downed on Phillips Mill Rd near Hwy 166.
Report of 10 to 12 trees were downed onto the road at the intersection of Cascade Palmetto Rd and GA-92.
Report of a tree down on Cherokee Trail at Heidi Lane.
Report of a tree down near intersection of Chestatee Rd and Cool Springs Rd.
Tree down near intersection of Kirk Rd and Shoal Creek Rd.
Tree down blocking road near intersection of Hester Town Rd and Adcock Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2023Warnings in Georgia, March 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: 1091315, 1091327, 1091320, 1091603, 1091455, 1091460, 1091324, 1091456, 1091459, 1091605, 1091462, 1091458, 1091465, 1091461, 1091595, 1091599, 1091600, 1091596, 1091598, 1091601, 1091463, 1091602, 1091597, 1091608, 1091607, 1091604, 1091609, 1091606, 1091610, 1091611, 1091613, 1091612, 1091614, 1091615, 1091616, 1091617, 1091618, 1091619, 1091620, 1091621, and more.