A stalled front sagging southward was able to provide enough lift to begin convection along a narrow band in Central GA. Thunderstorms had a brief period to become strong to marginally severe where MUCAPE was sufficient and shear was modest at best.
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 stalled front sagging southward was able to provide enough lift to begin convection along a narrow band in Central GA. Thunderstorms had a brief period to become strong to marginally severe where MUCAPE was sufficient and shear was modest at best. A couple thunderstorms did result in damaging winds across the area.
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 Apr 20, 1:25 PM EST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 225 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024 ...Afternoon Area Forecast Discussion... .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Sunday) Issued at 211 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024 Weak surface boundary is situated across south central Georgia this afternoon. The old boundary will remain nearly stationary through Sunday afternoon before shifting southward into northern Florida by the evening. High pressure begins to build in from the west overnight Sunday. The nearly stationary front will be the main focus for any precipitation development overnight and into the first half of Sunday. In addition, several strong shortwaves will move east in the flow, providing an excellent source of lift along with the convergence along the front. The best CAPE may be shunted to southern portions of the state, but there should be enough surface instability available for isold to scattered thunderstorms through Sunday afternoon, especially along and just south of the front. To the north of the boundary, widespread showers are most likely with some embedded thunder. Strong storms are possible, especially this afternoon across the southern third of the CWA. An isolated severe thunderstorm cannot be ruled out. The potential for severe weather should wane with the loss of heating, but isolated strong storms could be possible overnight/early Sunday - especially south of Macon to Columbus. Hail and gusty winds will be possible with any strong storms. With PWATs around 1.5" south of I-20, locally heavy rainfall will also be possible. There is some differences between the models on the overall evolution of the pops with this system. The HRRR performed fairly well in the short term period yesterday, so have trended this way for the afternoon. The ARW precip pattern looks more reasonable for overnight and the first half of Sunday and have trended close to it during this period. Drying/clearing is expected for late tomorrow afternoon into the overnight hours. Temps tomorrow will likely average around 10 to 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. Thick cloud cover and widespread rain will limit heating across much of the forecast area. A cooler and drier airmass will settle across north and central GA Sunday night. Mins should range from the mid 30s in the far NE mtns to around 50 in the SE. Will have to monitor the far NE portions of the state for frost potential. Winds may diminish, but there could be enough clouds around to prohibit good radiational cooling and keeping frost more patchy in nature.NListemaa && .LONG TERM... (Monday morning through next Friday) Issued at 211 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024 The bulk of the long term period will be fairly nondescript after the departure of Sunday's rainfall. Surface high pressure will slide overhead from Monday into Tuesday, bringing sunny, dry, and cooler conditions. Monday will be the coolest day of the period with highs remaining in the 60s areawide, some 10+ degrees below normal. Tuesday morning lows will dip at least into the 40s areawide, with some upper 30s possible across far north Georgia as clear skies and calm winds maximize radiational cooling. A warming trend then begins from Tuesday into midweek as low level flow becomes southerly as the surface high shifts eastward. Still, Tuesday and Tuesday night will remain on the cool side, likely a few degrees below normal. A weak frontal boundary looks to dip into the area from Wednesday into Thursday, though the forecast remains dry given very little moisture in place. In fact, rain chances look to hold off until at least next weekend. Temperatures by next weekend also rebound, likely returning a few degrees above normal. RW && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 125 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024 Scattered cu and mid level clouds likely for the remainder of the afternoon. Precip chances remain too low to mention for the afternoon hours. Precip chances will increase after 06Z. Widespread showers will be the primary weather mode, but embedded thunder cannot be ruled out. WInds will remain on the west side through the period. IFR cigs likely with the moderate rain. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... Med confidence pops/cigs. High confidence remaining elements. NListemaa && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 53 59 47 65 / 60 70 10 0 Atlanta 52 57 47 64 / 60 70 10 0 Blairsville 45 55 39 63 / 60 70 10 0 Cartersville 47 59 41 66 / 60 70 0 0 Columbus 56 61 48 69 / 60 50 10 0 Gainesville 52 59 46 64 / 60 70 10 0 Macon 59 62 50 67 / 50 40 10 10 Rome 49 62 43 66 / 50 70 0 0 Peachtree City 51 59 45 66 / 60 70 10 0 Vidalia 65 72 53 66 / 30 50 10 10 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...NListemaa LONG TERM....RW AVIATION...NListemaa
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 1017 AM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-211430- 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- 1017 AM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening in central Georgia. Gusty winds and frequent lightning are possible in the strongest storms. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday... Isolated thunderstorms on Sunday could produce occasional lightning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
336 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
GAZ104>106-202000-
Crisp GA-Dooly GA-Sumter GA-
336 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Dooly,
southeastern Sumter and western Crisp Counties through 400 PM EDT...
At 336 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Georgia Veterans
Memorial St Pk, or 10 miles west of Cordele, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 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, Leslie, De Soto, Desoto, Cobb, Lamar, Georgia Veterans
Memorial St Pk, Richwood, and Raines.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
&&
LAT...LON 3188 8393 3191 8392 3191 8399 3198 8414
3205 8405 3206 8371 3194 8378 3183 8382
TIME...MOT...LOC 1936Z 286DEG 9KT 3196 8394
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
355 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
GAZ105-106-108-202030-
Crisp GA-Dooly GA-Wilcox GA-
355 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of western Wilcox,
southeastern Dooly and northeastern Crisp Counties through 430 PM
EDT...
At 355 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Pleasant View, or 10
miles east of Cordele, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 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...
Pitts, Tremont, Pope City, Pleasant View, and Seville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
&&
LAT...LON 3198 8368 3207 8366 3208 8347 3199 8346
3190 8350
TIME...MOT...LOC 1955Z 280DEG 9KT 3201 8359
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
403 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
GAZ110-202030-
Telfair GA-
403 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Telfair
County through 430 PM EDT...
At 403 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over China Hill, or 13 miles
northeast of Fitzgerald, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 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...
Jacksonville, Temperance, 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.
&&
LAT...LON 3178 8303 3179 8304 3179 8305 3180 8308
3181 8309 3181 8310 3182 8311 3181 8311
3181 8314 3182 8313 3182 8315 3186 8318
3192 8317 3195 8288 3179 8294 3179 8298
3178 8299
TIME...MOT...LOC 2003Z 287DEG 9KT 3186 8312
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
427 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
GAZ106-202100-
Crisp GA-
427 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Crisp
County through 500 PM EDT...
At 424 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Warwick, or 12 miles
southwest of Cordele, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, nickel 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...
Arabi and Fort Early.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
&&
LAT...LON 3181 8382 3181 8383 3183 8384 3182 8385
3184 8386 3185 8394 3186 8394 3186 8393
3188 8393 3190 8365 3180 8368 3180 8380
TIME...MOT...LOC 2024Z 286DEG 9KT 3182 8390
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
434 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
GAZ066-078-202100-
Harris GA-Troup GA-
434 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Troup
and northwestern Harris Counties through 500 PM EDT...
At 434 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over River View, or over
Valley, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 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...
Whitesville-Pine Lake and Jones Crossroads.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
&&
LAT...LON 3293 8497 3283 8491 3270 8494 3273 8512
3274 8511 3274 8513 3276 8514 3277 8514
3278 8512 3281 8517 3283 8517 3285 8515
3285 8518 3286 8519
TIME...MOT...LOC 2034Z 265DEG 14KT 3281 8514
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
453 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
GAZ078-202130-
Harris GA-
453 PM EDT Sat Apr 20 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Harris
County through 530 PM EDT...
At 453 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Mulberry Grove, or 9
miles northeast of Smiths, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, nickel 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...
Hamilton, Goat Rock Lake, Ellerslie, Mountain Hill, Cataula, Fortson,
Mulberry Grove, and Lake Harding.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
&&
LAT...LON 3276 8484 3270 8477 3261 8480 3261 8508
3263 8509 3263 8508 3264 8510 3264 8511
3266 8509 3269 8512 3271 8512
TIME...MOT...LOC 2053Z 260DEG 19KT 3266 8500
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHThe Maxwell AFB radar (KMXX), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:08 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Tree down along Hwy 219 between Maddox Rd and Mountain Hill Rd.
EM reports tree down at State Route 18 and Mote Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, April 2024
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: 1175299, 1175298.