A line of thunderstorms moved across Georgia during the morning and early afternoon hours of the 9th. Most of the severe thunderstorms was collocated with the greatest instability across South-Central and East-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 line of thunderstorms moved across Georgia during the morning and early afternoon hours of the 9th. Most of the severe thunderstorms was collocated with the greatest instability across South-Central and East-Central Georgia. However, increased shear along the base of CAD was enough to organize an embedded cell which traversed the Atlanta Metro Area. This cell developed a brief circulation, necessitating a tornado warning.
In total, rainfall amounts of 2 to 3.5 inches were common, with isolated amounts of 4.5 to 8 inches. These amounts produced flooding and flash flooding over the area, and contributed to the improvement of drought conditions over north 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 Jan 9, 4:47 AM EST, 13 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 447 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 ...Morning Area Forecast Discussion... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Wednesday) Issued at 445 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 The main focus today will be on active weather associated with a deep closed 500 mb low currently moving into the Ozarks. As this low continues to move east-northeast, it is becoming negatively tilted as a shortwave rotates around its southern extent, allowing it to rapidly intensify. An occluded front is extending from the associated surface low into the Lower Mississippi River Valley. At the end of this occluded front is a triple point, from which a warm front extends to the southeast into western Alabama and central Georgia, and a cold front extends south to near the MS/AL state line. Meanwhile, A strong surface high is positioned to the northeast of the forecast area, just off the New England coast, with a CAD wedge in place along the lee side of the Appalachians and north Georgia. As the low pressure system continues to lift to the northeast, the warm front continues to advance northward through the forecast area. Strong warm air advection driven by a powerful 80+ kt low-level jet is overspreading the forecast area, which will bringing copious moisture into the area, particularly in central Georgia, where dewpoints will surge into the upper 50s to low 60s in central Georgia by mid-morning. Widespread isentropic showers are also ongoing in north Georgia to the north of the warm front. Temperatures in the highest elevations in far northeast Georgia (and within the wedge) may remain cool enough for a light rain/freezing rain mix to be observed at elevations above 2500 ft over the next couple of hours. However, with strong warm air advection and latent heating processes already ongoing, additional ice accumulations will be minimal and the chance for freezing rain should come to an end entirely by sunrise. The cold front will advance closer to the forecast area early this morning, at which point things could get quite interesting with a line of heavy showers and potentially strong thunderstorms moving from west to east across the forecast area this morning and afternoon. With the warm sector continuing to expand northward, there should be enough instability in central Georgia and portions of north Georgia to support surface based storms this morning into the afternoon. Severe weather, heavy rain, and strong gradient winds will all be possible in association with this system, which will be discussed below: 1 - Severe Weather: A strong line of thunderstorms ahead of the cold front will enter west Georgia this morning, advancing eastward through the forecast area this morning and afternoon. The severe weather potential will similarly spread from west to east with the line of storms. As warm air advection continues to spread into Georgia, the boundary of the wedge should retreat northward over the next few hours. Warm fronts do not always fare well against the wedge, but in this case, with such a strong low-level jet at 850 mb overspreading the region, there is a greater likelihood than normal in mixing out the wedge. This is important because it will dictate how far north the warm sector is able to ultimately advance, and the severe weather potential will be impacted by how much instability will be present in the warm sector ahead of the advancing cold front. As the jet sets up and warm front advances further north, portions of east Georgia will have more time for the airmass to destabilize. This is well-reflected in the SPC outlook, which indicates the highest risk for severe weather today will be located roughly along and south of a line from Columbus to Macon to Warrenton where destabilization and the ability to maintain surface- based storms appears to be most likely. All that said, it will not take much instability to see severe weather threats in this low CAPE/high shear environment. The kinematics of this system will be be quite robust with ample low-level and deep layer shear, EBWD from 30-40+kt, and 0-1 km SRH from 200-400 m2/s2). Severe thunderstorms that develop will be capable of producing strong, damaging wind gusts, especially given the likelihood of mixing down strong winds aloft. Given the very strong shear and SRH values, a few QLCS tornadoes will also be possible within the line, especially where storms are able to interact with the wedge front and obtain rotating meso-vortices. 2 - Heavy Rain/Flooding: Precipitable water values are continuing to increase this morning, and are expected to range from 1.5-1.7 inches roughly along and south of I-20. These values, for context, are near daily records for this time of the year. As such, the main line of storms will have plenty of moisture to work with and be capable of producing bursts of heavy rain as it moves through the forecast area. A Flood Watch remains in effect in the areas north of the Fall Line. Additional rainfall amounts of 2-3 inches are forecast with the remaining isentropic showers and with the line of storms. Furthermore, orographic enhancement on windward slopes could lead to locally higher amounts in the mountains of far northeast Georgia, where up to 4 additional inches will be possible. With efficient rainfall rates, localized flash flooding will be possible, especially in urban and low-lying areas. Moreover, numerous creeks and streams across the area are forecast to reach minor flood stage, with some potentially approaching moderate stage. 3 - High Winds: A very tight pressure gradient is present due to the aforementioned surface high to the northeast and approaching low pressure system. This will keep surface winds strong and boundary layer well mixed. Sustained winds of 20-30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph will be likely through much of the day. The strong low level jet at 850 mb early this morning will promote additional mixing of wind gusts down to the surface, especially in higher elevations, where wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible this morning. Considering heavy rainfall and thus wet soils in association with this system, strong winds could bring down trees, which would lead to localized power outages. As a result, a High Wind Warning is in effect for Murray, Gilmer, Fannin, Union, Towns, White, Lumpkin, and Dawson counties. Elsewhere in the forecast area, a Wind Advisory remains in effect. Winds will begin to drop below advisory criteria by 7 PM this evening in north and west Georgia, and by 1 AM on Wednesday in central and east Georgia. On the backside of the system tonight into early Tuesday morning, there will be enough moisture in combination with near freezing temperatures to see some scattered light snow showers across far north Georgia and the western facing mountain slopes. Light snowfall accumulations of about one-half inch will be possible, but no impacts are expected. These snow showers are expected to diminish by sunrise on Wednesday. Lingering mid-level moisture on the back side of the system will keep skies mostly cloudy across the majority of north Georgia and portions of central Georgia on Wednesday morning and early afternoon. However, weather conditions will remain benign during the daytime on Wednesday with no precipitation expected at this time. Afternoon high temperatures will run about 3-5 degrees below climatological normals, in the mid to upper 40s in north Georgia and in the low to mid 50s in central Georgia. King && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday night through Monday) Issued at 445 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 Key Messages: - Another storm system will bring showers and thunderstorms to the area late Thursday night and Friday. Some thunderstorms may be strong. Colder and drier air will continue to filter into the area Wednesday night on the heels of the departing cold front and upper trough. Most locations will drop to near or just below freezing Wednesday night, with mid 20s across portions of the NE mountains. Warmer temperatures are forecast for Thursday, with most locations reaching into the mid to upper 50s and even some lower 60s across the S. Another storm system will approach the area Thursday night, bringing a chance of showers and thunderstorms. This system will lift NE on Friday as a negatively tilted trough, reaching the Great Lakes by Friday night. A 996 mb surface low is progged to be near Little Rock by Friday morning. A large area of isentropic lift is forecast to precede the low, with increasing MUCAPE and wind shear across most of the forecast area. There will be another threat of severe weather with this system during the day Friday, and the threat area looks to be farther to the N than with today's system. GFS MUCAPE values are forecast to reach near 1000 J/kg as effective shear increases to over 40 knots in the Atlanta metro area. This will coincide maximum daytime heating in the early afternoon, with surface temperatures reaching over 60 degrees and dew points reaching the lower to mid 50s. The wedge/CAD is forecast to hang into NE GA during this time period, but present indications are that it will be NE of the Atlanta metro area. Storm total rainfall amounts with this system are forecast to range from around a quarter inch S of Columbus to close to an inch across N GA. Residents should continue to monitor the latest forecast regarding this storm system. A bit of snow will linger over the N mountains Friday night, but dry weather is forecast to return on Saturday. Temperatures will be rather cold over the weekend, with the potential of even colder weather early next week. A weak southern stream storm system may move along the Gulf Coast on Monday, bringing light rain amounts and the chance for frozen precipitation across N GA. NBM low temperatures Tuesday morning appeared to be too cold. Even though this was at the tail end of the forecast period, opted to blend 2 parts operational NBM with 1 part NBM 90th percentile to bump low temperatures up closer to MEX MOS guidance. /SEC SEC && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1252 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024 Widespread showers have spread across the majority of north and central Georgia as the TAF period begins. Ceilings have meanwhile lowered to IFR, where they are expected to remain through much of the morning today. Heaviest rain is expected between 10-15Z at CSG and the ATL metro sites and between 12-18Z at AHN and MCN. Thunderstorms will also be possible along with the line of heavy rain ahead of an advancing cold front, and a TEMPO for TSRA is being carried from 11-15Z at ATL. Winds will be E/SE at 15-22 kts with gusts as high as 25-35 kts from now until the frontal passage. Winds will shift to SW at 15-20 kts with gusts of 25-30 kts behind the cold front, after 15Z at ATL and 17-18Z at AHN/MCN. IFR ceilings will begin to gradually improve to MVFR by mid afternoon. //ATL Confidence...06Z Update... Medium to high confidence. King && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 61 33 48 31 / 100 10 0 0 Atlanta 60 33 47 34 / 100 10 0 0 Blairsville 52 28 41 26 / 100 40 0 0 Cartersville 57 32 47 29 / 100 10 0 0 Columbus 63 35 51 33 / 100 0 0 0 Gainesville 55 32 44 32 / 100 20 0 0 Macon 64 35 52 31 / 100 10 0 0 Rome 54 33 48 31 / 100 20 0 0 Peachtree City 61 32 49 31 / 100 10 0 0 Vidalia 70 37 53 36 / 100 20 0 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through this evening for GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025- 027-030>038-041>050-052>060-066>071-078-079. Wind Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for GAZ001>004-011>013- 019>023-030>034-041>045-052>055-066-067-078-079-089>091-102-103. High Wind Warning until 1 PM EST this afternoon for GAZ005>009- 014>016. Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Wednesday for GAZ024-025-027- 035>039-046>051-056>062-068>076-080>086-092>098-104>113. && SHORT TERM...King LONG TERM....SEC AVIATION...King
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 750 PM EST Mon Jan 8 2024 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-100100- 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- 750 PM EST Mon Jan 8 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...Tonight... Light freezing rain will be possible in the higher elevations of far north Georgia late tonight, mainly at elevations above 2500 feet. No significant accumulations are anticipated at this time. A high wind warning is in effect for portions of North Georgia, including Blairsville, until 7PM Tuesday. Winds of 20 to 30 mph may gust up to 50 mph. A wind advisory is in effect for all other portions of the county warning area. Winds of 15 to 25 mph may gust to 45 mph. A flood watch is also in effect, through Tuesday evening, for areas north of the fall line due to expected excessive rainfall of 2 to 4 inches. Locally higher amounts are possible. Isolate thunderstorms are possible throughout the night, especially across southern Georgia, a few storms may be strong to severe. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday... Showers and thunderstorms will sweep across the area during the day Tuesday. Some storms may be strong to severe, particularly south of a Columbus to Eatonton line. Severe thunderstorms that develop will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes. Widespread non-thunderstorm wind gusts over 40 mph are also possible, with higher gusts across the northern mountains. Rainfall amounts of over 3 inches are possible in a swath from Columbus to Gainesville, with higher amounts across the northeastern mountains. Another strong storm system is expected to bring thunderstorms to the region Friday into Saturday. .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 while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
410 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0305 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 N Conasauga Lake 34.92N 84.66W
01/09/2024 M52 MPH Murray GA Mesonet
RAWS station COHG1 4 N Conasauga Lake
Station Elevation: 1724 ft.
&&
SNPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
411 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0315 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SW Blairsville 34.85N 84.00W
01/09/2024 M48 MPH Union GA AWOS
AWOS station KDZJ Blairsville.
&&
SNPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
443 AM EST Tue Jan 9 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0949 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst Brasstown Bald 34.87N 83.81W
01/08/2024 M69 MPH Towns GA Mesonet
RAWS station BRBG1 Brasstown Bald Visitors
Center Station Elevation: 4690 ft.
&&
SNThe Atlanta radar (KFFC), 56 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:02 UTC.
42 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
One tree down at the intersection of Welcome Rd and Roosterville Rd.
A tree was downed in the 1900 block of Salem Road.
A tree was downed on highway 166 at Tyree rd.
A tree was downed in the 9000 block of Parkway South.
Tornado first touched down East of the city of Palmetto and just north of Johnson Road and east of Bowen Rd near a home where several trees were snapped and uprooted. the tornado continued east-northeast crossing Tatum Rd and encountered a large warehouse. Several semi-tractor trailers were flipped on their side or tossed over an embankment on the NE side of the warehouse. Trees were snapped and uprooted in a nearby patch of woods to the NE of the trailers. The tornado continued northeast encountering a Lowes warehouse where a small portion of the roof was peeled back. The tornado weakened as it continued northeast and lifted as it crossed Gullatt Rd where several small limbs were snapped off.
A tree was downed in the 4000 block of Coursey Lake Road.
A tree was downed onto power lines in the 6000 block of N Beulah Rd.
Tree downed along Oxford Road NE near The By Way NE.
Powerlines downed along Citadel Dr near Briarcliff Road.
A tree was downed on Wildcat Rd .
Tree downed across Clifton Springs Road .
Tree fell onto a vehicle along hwy 54 near Jenni Lane.
A tree was downed on Columbia Dr at Tralyn Ct.
A tree and power lines were downed on Columbia Drive at Rainbow Drive.
A tree was downed on E Hilda Circle.
Tree downed along Ellerslie hwy near Howard Rd.
Tree downed along Dennis Creek Road at Monroe St.
Tree down along Pine Forest Dr in Cedartown .
Tree down on powerline causing fire near intersection of Oakland Ln and N Sharon Church Rd.
Tree downed along HWY 26 near the intersection of Firetower road.
The Emergency Manager reported Broad Street at US 78 was closed due to water over the roadway. Radar estimates indicate between 4 and 5 inches of rain occurred over the area, resulting in the flash flooding.
Butler awos measured a peak gust of 58.7 mph with line of storms.
The Emergency Manager reported Fannie Thompson Road closed due to high flows on Wildcat Creek that inundated the roadway. Radar estimates indicate between 4 and 5 inches of rain occurred over the area, resulting in the flash flooding.
Tree downed blocking both lanes along Hardison Road near the intersection of hwy 42.
Multiple trees and power lines were downed in Perry including on Marsha Dr at Gordon St, on 3rd St near Caroll Alley and 3rd St near Parkway Dr, on Park Ave, and on Lake Joy Rd.
The Emergency Manager reported River Road closed due to floodwater from a nearby creek. Radar estimates indicate between 4 and 5 inches of rain occurred over the area, resulting in the flash flooding.
Multiple trees and power lines were downed across Warner Robins including on Merlin St, Mauk Circle, Corder Rd at Pineview Dr, and Stanton Circle at Johnson Rd.
Numerous trees down in Northwest Warner Robins between GA247 and North Houston Lake Boulevard and between Watson Boulevard and Dunbar Rd.
Measured 68 mph wind gust at Robins Air Force base per base emergency management.
Tree down near the intersection of Collins Rd and Little Rd nw of Milledgeville.
Tree downed on hwy 42 near Richardson Mill Road.
Tree down into powerlines along Elberton Road north of HWY 78.
Tree down across Butts Rd near the intersection at HWY 26 East.
Tree down along hwy 278 near the intersection at hwy 26 East.
Tree blocking portions of Pine Valley Rd.
Tree blocking portions of Coombs Ave SE.
Tree down at the intersection of SR 49 and County Line Road.
Tree down near the intersection of Deepstep Rd and HWY 24 east of Milledgeville.
Mesonet station wsng1 Washington .
A portion of the gas station overhang in the 800 block of ga-10 was removed by the wind.
Tree downed along hwy 278 just south of Mobley White Road.
Secondary roof blown off of a home along Kents Lane and into the powerlines nearby.
A few trees down along Farmers Rd SE of Scotland.
A few trees down along Springhill Rd SSE of Alamo.
Several trees down along GA hwy 86 on north side of the county.
Tree downed on a house along Foley St in Louisville.
The Emergency Manager reported flood water from a nearby creek flooded Friendship Circle, between Pendenville and Hood Roads. Radar estimates indicate between 4 and 5 inches of rain occurred over the area, resulting in the flash flooding.
The Emergency Manager reported Turner Road, between Concord and Milner Roads, was closed due to water covering the roadway. Radar estimates indicate between 4 and 5 inches of rain occurred over the area, resulting in the flash flooding.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind, Clayton | 2024-01-09 | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
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, January 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: 1158372, 1158613, 1158368, 1158370, 1160432, 1158369, 1158371, 1158361, 1158362, 1158364, 1158363, 1158257, 1158365, 1158367, 1158366, 1158609, 1158610, 1158249, 1158614, 1158605, 1165399, 1158611, 1165401, 1158607, 1158376, 1165388, 1158375, 1158374, 1158373, 1158250, 1158258, 1158606, 1158254, 1158255, 1158251, 1158252, 1158604, 1158253, 1158617, 1158618, and more.