A QLCS (squall-line) moved through North and Central Georgia in the overnight hours of the 29th and 30th. There was high uncertainty as to how far into the state severe conditions could reach given the presence of weakening Cold-Air Damming (CAD) as far west as the ATL metro.
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 QLCS (squall-line) moved through North and Central Georgia in the overnight hours of the 29th and 30th. There was high uncertainty as to how far into the state severe conditions could reach given the presence of weakening Cold-Air Damming (CAD) as far west as the ATL metro. Several storms produced sustained damaging winds. Storm surveys and radar analysis determined there were 6 tornadoes overnight, including 3 EF-1 and 3 EF-0. The longest tornado damage track was from an EF-1 in Meriwether County that produced damage along a 24-mile path. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted with a number of trees also falling on and damaging homes, vehicles, and other structures.
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 Dec 29, 1:17 AM EST, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 117 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024 ...New 06Z Aviation Discussion... .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Sunday) Issued at 235 PM EST Sat Dec 28 2024 At a glance: - Stubborn CAD wedge will keep cool, drizzly, foggy conditions in place across north Georgia into tonight. - The risk for severe thunderstorms will increase from west to east beginning during the predawn hours Sunday and pushing east of the area Sunday afternoon. The primary concern will be damaging wind gusts as well as a few brief tornadoes. The primary focus through the short term will be the increasing severe thunderstorm risk Sunday morning. This afternoon, however, brings no severe concerns amid a stubborn CAD wedge remaining entrenched across north Georgia. Low clouds, drizzle, and patchy fog will remain the rule through the remainder of the day today across much of the area. Temperatures have remained nearly steady within this wedge regime and only very slightly warmed through the day, and upper 40s to low 50s are still in place for areas roughly near and north of the I-20 corridor. Warmer conditions remain relegated to far southern counties outside of the current CAD influence. The CAD wedge will likely not hold firm, however. As mentioned in the previous morning forecast discussion, a stout 40-50+ kt LLJ will spread eastward in advance of an approaching strong cold front through the early morning hours Sunday. Efficient mixing associated with this strong LLJ is expected to be sufficient to erode most of the lingering shallow wedge remains during the early morning hours. As such, temperatures will actually be creeping up through the overnight hours through early Sunday morning across most of north Georgia, though some small vestige of the wedge could remain entrenched in portions of NE GA. Overall, though, a more supportive environment for severe thunderstorms is expected to spread eastward. An ongoing QLCS is expected to approach and enter northwest and west Georgia during the predawn hours Sunday (likely 3-6 AM) and quickly sweep eastward through Sunday morning. SBCAPE is forecast to remain relatively limited through the morning hours in advance of this linear system, likely on the order of 100-500 J/kg. However, amid plenty of shear (150-250+ m2/s2 of 0-1km helicity), a high shear/low CAPE environment would certainly support a damaging wind threat as well as a brief tornado threat. Additionally, guidance does indicate a window from midday into the early afternoon hours where more substantial destabilization could occur in far east/southeast counties (SBCAPE as high as 1000-1200 J/kg). This could support a slightly greater threat in these areas, though forcing will begin to weaken as the shortwave rapidly lifts away from the area. With all this said, a "Slight" (Level 2/5) Risk remains in place across the entirety of the area from early Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon. The severe risk will quickly end by mid-afternoon as the surface front pushes eastward. Total QPF remains largely in the 1-1.5" rain with locally higher totals over 2", which should limit any widespread hydrological concerns. RW && .LONG TERM... (Monday morning through next Friday) Issued at 235 PM EST Sat Dec 28 2024 The long term period picks up on Monday. The mid-/upper-level wave that will bring the severe weather potential tonight into Sunday will have shifted well north and east of the forecast area on Monday. The flow aloft will briefly be characterized by shortwave ridging on Monday, before a shortwave trough shoots east-southeastward across the Ohio/Tennessee River Valley Monday night into Tuesday. There will be minimal moisture for this feature to work with, so have maintained slight chance to chance PoPs generally along and north of I-20 on Tuesday. Rainfall totals from the glancing blow of this feature should come out to around meager 0.10" or less. Breezy conditions are expected on Tuesday (New Year's Eve) as the surface low associated with the shortwave trough skirts past. Sustained winds are forecast to be 10-15 mph with gusts of 20-25 mph. Conditions are shaping up to be a bit breezy on Wednesday (New Year's Day) as well. In the wake of the aforementioned quick-hitting Clipper-like system, west/northwest flow will set up in the mid-/upper-levels and dry, cool continental high pressure will build in through the remainder of the long term period. The initial cold front passage associated said feature will occur Tuesday evening through Wednesday, with 700-850 mb CAA persisting through Friday given this synoptic setup. The result will be high temperatures generally in the 40s and 50s with low temperatures generally in the 20s and 30s (right at or slightly below average) for the latter half of the work week. Martin && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1258 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024 Obs still show the wedge in place for all but the southern two TAF sites with CIGS at or below 200-300ft. These CIGS should hang on for the next hour or two before the line of thunderstorms approaches from the west. Should also see continued VSBYs at a mile of less during this time frame. Should see the line of thunderstorms begin to affect the metro as early as 08-09z and last through 13-14z. Should see low clouds begin to improve into the afternoon tomorrow and scatter out by the evening. //ATL Confidence...06Z Update... Medium to high confidence on timing of thunderstorms. Medium confidence on timing of CIGS improvement. Hernandez && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 46 63 46 65 / 10 0 10 30 Atlanta 46 64 50 64 / 10 0 10 20 Blairsville 41 61 42 56 / 20 0 30 60 Cartersville 45 64 49 63 / 10 0 20 30 Columbus 46 68 50 69 / 10 0 0 10 Gainesville 46 62 46 62 / 10 0 20 40 Macon 45 67 47 70 / 10 0 0 10 Rome 45 63 47 61 / 10 0 30 30 Peachtree City 44 66 48 66 / 10 0 10 10 Vidalia 49 71 50 75 / 10 0 0 10 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...NListemaa LONG TERM....Martin AVIATION...Hernandez
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 1005 PM EST Sat Dec 28 2024 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-300315- 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- 1005 PM EST Sat Dec 28 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia. .DAY ONE...Tonight... A line of strong to severe thunderstorms is expected to move into northern and western Georgia overnight. Damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes are concerns. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday... The line of strong to severe thunderstorms will continue across south and central Georgia through Sunday afternoon. Damaging winds and isolated tornadoes will be the main hazard although heavy rain could cause isolated flash flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not requested but spotters are encouraged to submit reports of severe weather through the web by going to weather.gov/atlanta. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
206 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
GAZ001-002-011-290730-
Chattooga GA-Walker GA-Dade GA-
206 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southwestern Walker,
Dade and northwestern Chattooga Counties through 230 AM EST...
At 206 AM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from Bass to Dutton to Rodentown, and moving east at 35
mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.
Locations impacted include...
Trenton, Menlo, Stephensville, Rising Fawn, Cloudland, New England,
Morganville, Cloudland Canyon State Park, and Cole City.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Motorists should
slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
&&
LAT...LON 3498 8545 3469 8544 3435 8547 3477 8557
3498 8560
TIME...MOT...LOC 0706Z 257DEG 31KT 3494 8589 3461 8591 3421 8600
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
232 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
GAZ001>003-011-019-290815-
Chattooga GA-Catoosa GA-Walker GA-Dade GA-Floyd GA-
232 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of western Catoosa,
southwestern Floyd, Walker, Dade and Chattooga Counties through 315
AM EST...
At 232 AM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Cole City to near Henagar to near Cherokee Rock
Village, and moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.
Locations impacted include...
Lafayette, Summerville, Trenton, Fort Oglethorpe, Rossville,
Chickamauga, Trion, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga Valley, La Fayette,
Lyerly, Menlo, Center Post, Blue Spring, Fairview, Linwood,
Cloudland, Chattanooga Valley, Hooker, and Cloudland Canyon State
Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Motorists should
slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 AM EST for northwestern
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3499 8516 3464 8522 3408 8542 3498 8560
TIME...MOT...LOC 0732Z 269DEG 26KT 3498 8561 3464 8567 3421 8582
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
305 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
GAZ042-052-053-290830-
Coweta GA-Carroll GA-Heard GA-
305 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2024
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Carroll,
Heard and northwestern Coweta Counties through 330 AM EST...
At 304 AM EST, National Weather Service doppler radar indicated a
strong thunderstorm over Big Springs, or 8 miles east of Wedowee,
moving northeast at 60 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind and increased chance of a brief tornado.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...While winds should result in minor damage to tree limbs and
blowing around of light, unsecured objects, this storm has
also exhibited localized rotation. A brief tornado could
quickly form.
Locations impacted include...
Carrollton, Franklin, Whitesburg, Ephesus, Centralhatchee, Roopville,
Plant Yates, Byers Crossroads, Arnco-Sargent, Tyus, Powers
Crossroads, Roosterville, Seaton Lake, Handy, Waresville, Clem,
Frolona, Lowell, Texas, and Plant Wansley.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 AM EST for northwestern
and west central Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3364 8503 3353 8486 3334 8485 3321 8525
3345 8530
TIME...MOT...LOC 0804Z 239DEG 51KT 3329 8534
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHThe Atlanta radar (KFFC), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:13 UTC.
56 thunderstorm wind, 7 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Public reports multiple trees down in the city of Bowden .
EM reports Tree down across roadway at the intersection of Glenloch Rd and GA Hwy 27.
Multiple trees down on the north side of Carrollton.
Multiple trees down within the city of Lagrange.
Multiple trees down near the Pine Mountain RV Resort.
Tree down along Greenville Road near Trippe St.
Tree down across roadway on 200 block of Old Five Notch Rd.
A tree was downed onto I-20 W at mile marker 27. Several vehicles hit the tree.
An EF1 tornado began northeast of Pine Mountain near the Durand community and traveled north northeast along Chipley Highway downing a few thousand trees. A large oak tree fell on an unoccupied home near the 800 block of Chipley Highway completely destroying it. A manufactured home on Mandy B Rd just northeast of this area had its metal roofing blown off. The tornado continued northeast east of Greenville and west and north of Gay downing a few more thousand trees before lifting just south of the Coweta county line near Sullivan Mill Rd.
Em reports a tree was downed on Post Rd at Hwy 166.
Tree down at the intersection of Holland and Hightower.
A tree and utility lines were downed on Cedar Mountain Rd at Mann Rd.
Several trees were downed along Magic Hill Loop.
Tree down on house on Avalon Dr No injuries reported.
Tree down on house on 20 block of Parks View Dr.
Powerline down on Jackson St in Woodtrail apartment complex.
A tree was downed on Sands Road .
Tree down across roadway at intersection of ga hwy 34 and Greison Trl.
Powerline down at Whataburger on Bullsboro Dr.
A tree was downed across the roadway in the 1500 block of Riverside Pkwy.
A brief EF1 tornado touched down near Britt Rd and Fairburn Rd in far eastern Douglas County traveling northeast just a quarter of a mile. A large tree fell and destroyed a home on Fairburn Rd injuring one of the occupants. Several other homes in this area also had minor to moderate damage from fallen trees.
A tree was downed on River Road .
A tree was downed across the southbound lanes of Thornton Rd at Riverside Pkwy.
An EF0 tornado formed half a mile east of the previous tornado that lifted in extreme northeast Meriwether County near Dolly Harris Rd and traveled north northeast about 3.2 miles, downing hundreds of trees before lifting near GA16 and Starlight Dr. No structures were known to be damaged.
Tree down across roadway at intersection of ga highway 85 and Dolly Nixon Rd.
This is a continuation of the tornado in northeast Meriwether County. An EF0 tornado form half a mile east of the previous tornado that lifted in extreme northeast Meriwether County near Dolly Harris Rd and traveled north northeast about 3.2 miles downing hundreds of trees before lifting near GA16 and Starlight Dr. No structures were known to be damaged.
Tree down across roadway at intersection of Mcintosh Trl and Christopher Rd.
Multiple trees down at Ga 16 and Georgian Pines Dr.
A tree was downed at Shady Lane and Reidsboro Road.
Powerline down across roadway at intersection of ga highway16 and Tri County Rd.
A tree fell across the road on Forest Avenue NE at N Forest Avenue NE.
A tree was downed on Barnesville Street in Zebulon.
Em reports tree down at James Rd and Jacobs Rd.
An EF0 tornado with max winds of 80 mph developed in the comma head region of the QLCS and traveled east northeast 1.6 miles near the northern parts of Lake Horton southwest of Woolsey. Only a few trees were downed with numerous large branches knocked down. No structures were known to be damaged.
A brief EF1 tornado damaged approximately a dozen homes from numerous large trees that fell on them. Most of the damage occurred on Corral Dr. One home was nearly destroyed by a large pine tree and caused 2 injuries.
A tree was blown down in the 11800 block of Wildwood Springs Drive.
A tree fell into the roadway in the 700 block of Brookfield Pkwy.
A tree fell across the roadway in the 900 block of Water Grove Court.
A tree fell into the roadway in the 800 block of Oakhaven Drive.
A tree fell across the 1000 block of Jones Road.
An EF0 tornado damaged approximately 10 homes and one apartment unit where the roof was partially ripped off of a three story building. About 50 to 100 large trees and several power poles were snapped or uprooted falling on several homes two of which had significant damage. No injuries have been reported.
A tree was blown down into the roadway in the 300 block of Grimes Bridge Rd.
Multiple trees down on the near Spalding Dr and Mt Vernon Rd.
A tree fell across the roadway in the 9000 block of Scott Road.
A tree was downed on Kimberly Beth Pl at Emerald Pkwy.
A power line was downed at the intersection of Annistown Rd and San Antonio Dr.
A tree was downed at the intersection of Stone Mountain Hwy at Georgia Lane.
A tree was downed on Mckendree Church Rd at River Centre Place.
Two trees down across roadways along southern shores of Lake Lanier in Buford.
A tree was downed on Rosebud Rd at Virgil Moon Rd.
Powerline down across roadway on 4800 block of Holiday Villa Dr.
Tree down across roadway on 4200 block of Benefield Rd.
Powerline down across roadway at intersection of Wade Orr Rd and Mount Salem Cir.
A tree was downed on Roberts Road at Christo Court.
Em reports A tree was downed across Eagle Bend Road.
Half a dozen trees down across roadways in Gainesville.
Tree down across roadway at intersection of Candler Rd and Mcever Lake Rd.
Three trees down across roadways within Clermont city limits.
Powerline down across roadway on 5200 block of Cleveland Hwy.
Powerline down across roadway at intersection of Cleveland Hwy and Green Cir.
A tree and power lines were downed at Westmoreland Rd and Samson Way.
Em reports tree down across roadway at intersection of Belton Bridge Rd.
Tree downed at Duncan Bridge Rd near Webster Lake 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 historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2024Warnings in Georgia, December 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: 1222566, 1222567, 1222568, 1228088, 1228089, 1228090, 1222569, 1222574, 1228325, 1222581, 1228091, 1222584, 1228087, 1222594, 1228071, 1228073, 1228080, 1228074, 1228075, 1222598, 1228327, 1228082, 1222646, 1228329, 1228078, 1228331, 1228077, 1228076, 1228083, 1228085, 1222571, 1228084, 1222657, 1228333, 1228334, 1222647, 1222648, 1222649, 1222650, 1222652, and more.