Hail and Damaging Wind in Georgia, March 15, 2024

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Georgia, March 15, 2024
Start: 2024-03-15T14:42
End: 2024-03-15T16:45
Location: Georgia

March 15, 2024 · NWS FFC · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FFC wrote it up.

A line of thunderstorms moved through the area starting in Northwest GA in the morning. Cloud cover ahead of the line and weak solar heating lead to the storms weakening as they moved through North-Central and Central GA. Solar heating through the early afternoon hours was enough for thunderstorms to redevelop across Central GA. Ample lapse rates allowed for strong updrafts, hail formation, and damaging winds.

What forecasters said that day

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 15, 1:20 PM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 15, 1:20 PM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
220 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

...Afternoon Area Forecast Discussion...

.SHORT TERM...
(This afternoon through Saturday)
Issued at 210 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

Frontal boundary currently stretches from the Mid Atlantic States
back through central TN and northern MS. A pre-frontal trough is
across central portions of GA. The pre-frontal trough is associated
with a broken line of showers and thunderstorms that continues to
move south. There is some light rain back behind the the initial
line, but precipitation will continue to taper off from north to
south across the CWA this evening. The high res models had a decent
handle on the evolution of the line this morning, but may be
struggling a bit with the current situation. Do think a stronger
line of storms will move through the southern quarter of the CWA
this afternoon, where more breaks in the clouds have occurred.
Strong thunderstorms are likely, but an isolated severe
thunderstorm cannot be ruled out. The primary hazards would be
gusty winds, frequent lightning and small hail. Locally heavy
rainfall is also possible.

The actual frontal boundary will move south across the CWA tonight,
and likely stall somewhere across the FL panhandle by early
Saturday. Dry conditions are anticipated through Saturday night.

NListemaa

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Sunday morning through next Thursday)
Issued at 210 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

-Two periods of rain are forecast throughout the long term (at both
the beginning and end of the period).

-Colder and drier conditions will kick off the work week next week.

-Fire weather conditions will need to be monitored early next week.

Rain chances will be starting to ramp up at the start of the long
term period (Sunday) as south-southwesterly flow aloft ushers
another mid-level disturbance across the Southeast. At this time,
the highest rain chances largely remain confined to areas south of I-
20. A deep upper trough will dive southward from the Great Lakes
Region late on Sunday thus ending rain chances across the area going
into Monday. With the base of the trough situated just to the north
of the forecast area on Monday, temperatures Monday night will
quickly fall under clear skies. Overnight lows Monday will be at or
just below freezing areawide. Conditions will remain dry with a
gradually warming trend through at least mid-week as a result of
northwest flow aloft and surface high pressure. With a much drier
continental airmass moving back into the region, fire weather
conditions will need to be monitored on Monday as RH values may
approach critical thresholds.

07

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 126 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

The main line of shra/tsra has moved through the metro area. Light
rain will be possible for the next couple of hours, but should
taper off shortly before 00Z. Models move in some MVFR cigs
overnight with some patchy fog. Do think there could be some sct
IFR, but not confident enough to go bkn for now. Gradual clearing
tomorrow with sct cu. Winds remain on the west side.

//ATL Confidence...18Z Update...
Med confidence all elements.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Athens          58  76  51  68 /  30   0   0  40
Atlanta         58  72  53  66 /  30   0  10  50
Blairsville     53  69  45  63 /  30   0  10  20
Cartersville    56  71  48  66 /  30   0  10  30
Columbus        62  79  57  71 /  60   0  10  70
Gainesville     57  74  51  67 /  30   0  10  30
Macon           61  79  57  71 /  60   0   0  60
Rome            54  73  47  65 /  30   0  10  30
Peachtree City  59  74  52  67 /  30   0  10  60
Vidalia         64  81  60  78 /  70   0   0  50

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

SHORT TERM...NListemaa
LONG TERM....07
AVIATION...NListemaa

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 15, 11:30 AM EST, 3 hours 12 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...Updated
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1230 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-161000-
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-
1230 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight...

Showers and thunderstorms will continue across mainly central
Georgia this afternoon. A few storms could become strong, with gusty
winds to 40 mph, locally heavy rainfall, and cloud to ground
lightning. Storms should diminish or clear the area after sunset
this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday...

Another round of showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected
across north and central GA on Sunday. Severe weather is not
anticipated with this system at this time.

.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.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 15, 9:10 AM EST, 5 hours 32 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1010 AM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

GAZ031-032-151445-
Cobb GA-Paulding GA-
1010 AM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Paulding and
Cobb Counties through 1045 AM EDT...

At 1010 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over New Hope, or over
Dallas, moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, frequent cloud to ground lightning 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...
Marietta, Dallas, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Powder Springs, Austell, Hiram,
Fair Oaks, Lithia Springs, White Water Park, Lost Mountain Park, Jim
R Miller Park, Cross Roads, Due West, Sandy Plains, Dobbins Air
Reserve Base, New Hope, and Mableton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.

&&

LAT...LON 3402 8486 3403 8445 3393 8442 3391 8445
      3390 8444 3380 8462 3385 8489
TIME...MOT...LOC 1410Z 268DEG 39KT 3393 8480

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special weather statement, Mar 15, 9:44 AM EST, 4 hours 58 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1044 AM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

GAZ022-032>034-045-151515-
North Fulton GA-Cobb GA-DeKalb GA-Forsyth GA-Gwinnett GA-
1044 AM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern DeKalb,
southwestern Forsyth, northeastern Cobb, northwestern Gwinnett and
northeastern Fulton Counties through 1115 AM EDT...

At 1044 AM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Mount Bethel, or 7
miles south of Mountain Park, moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, frequent cloud to ground lightning 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...
Lawrenceville, Peachtree Corners, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns
Creek, Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Duluth, Suwanee, Lilburn, Chamblee,
Norcross, Doraville, Berkeley Lake, North Atlanta, Mount Bethel,
Brookwood, and Mechanicsville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.

&&

LAT...LON 3412 8417 3402 8398 3387 8406 3390 8446
      3406 8448
TIME...MOT...LOC 1444Z 262DEG 39KT 3398 8438

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special weather statement, Mar 15, 11:34 AM EST, 3 hours 8 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1234 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

GAZ078-079-089-090-151700-
Chattahoochee GA-Harris GA-Talbot GA-Muscogee GA-
1234 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of Muscogee,
northeastern Chattahoochee, southwestern Talbot and southeastern
Harris Counties through 100 PM EDT...

At 1234 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Ladonia, or near
Smiths, moving east at 55 mph.

HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, frequent cloud to ground lightning 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...
Columbus, Waverly Hall, North Fort Moore, Bibb City, Upatoi,
Ellerslie, Laurel Hills, Green Island Hills, Vista Terrace, Cataula,
Columbus Metropolitan Airport, Rose Hill, Eelbeck/West Fort Moore,
Benning Hills, Avondale, Benning Park, Fortson, Saint Marys Hills,
Edgewood, and Flat Rock.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.

&&

LAT...LON 3270 8476 3257 8465 3245 8466 3238 8499
      3239 8498 3239 8497 3241 8498 3242 8496
      3244 8497 3245 8499 3246 8500 3250 8500
      3252 8501 3259 8507
TIME...MOT...LOC 1634Z 254DEG 47KT 3245 8513

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Special weather statement, Mar 15, 1:48 PM EST, 54 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
248 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

GAZ089>091-102-151915-
Chattahoochee GA-Stewart GA-Marion GA-Muscogee GA-
248 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Marion,
Muscogee, Chattahoochee and northeastern Stewart Counties through 315
PM EDT...

At 247 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Fort Mitchell, or near
Phenix City, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, up to penny 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...
Columbus, Cusseta, Fort Moore, North Fort Moore, Bibb City, Laurel
Hills, Green Island Hills, Vista Terrace, Columbus Metropolitan
Airport, Renfroe, Rose Hill, Manta, Zellobee, Eelbeck/West Fort
Moore, Benning Hills, Avondale, Benning Park, Saint Marys Hills,
Edgewood, and Flat Rock.

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 3223 8492 3225 8492 3226 8489 3230 8494
      3233 8501 3238 8497 3239 8499 3239 8497
      3241 8498 3243 8496 3245 8500 3250 8500
      3255 8503 3256 8480 3252 8469 3249 8454
      3223 8462 3223 8465 3218 8463 3216 8464
TIME...MOT...LOC 1847Z 283DEG 31KT 3237 8504

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Special weather statement, Mar 15, 2:13 PM EST, 29 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
313 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

GAZ096-097-109-151945-
Bleckley GA-Laurens GA-Dodge GA-
313 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Laurens,
north central Dodge and east central Bleckley Counties through 345 PM
EDT...

At 312 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was over Rowland, or 10 miles
east of Cochran, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, up to penny 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...
Chester, Dexter, Cadwell, Rentz, Yonkers, Cedar Grove, Rebie, Lowery,
and Rowland.

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 3235 8323 3243 8323 3251 8317 3247 8275
      3222 8283
TIME...MOT...LOC 1912Z 280DEG 33KT 3242 8317

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Special weather statement, Mar 15, 2:20 PM EST, 22 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
320 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

GAZ090>092-102-103-151945-
Schley GA-Chattahoochee GA-Stewart GA-Marion GA-Webster GA-
320 PM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Marion,
southeastern Chattahoochee, northeastern Stewart, northwestern
Webster and southwestern Schley Counties through 345 PM EDT...

At 319 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was near Cusseta, moving east at
45 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...
Buena Vista, Cusseta, Seminole, Church Hill, Brooklyn,
Jamestown/South Fort Moore, Renfroe, Draneville, Manta, and Zellobee.

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 3220 8488 3231 8484 3231 8451 3221 8437
      3213 8454
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 277DEG 37KT 3226 8479

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

The radar

The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:43 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Marion

When: March 15, 2:42 PM EST to 2:43 PM EST
Where: Marion County, 2.23 mi NW of Draneville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.240, -84.510

Local business reports golf ball sized hail near Mill Pond Rd and GA41.

Hail, Schley

When: March 15, 2:58 PM EST to 2:59 PM EST
Where: Schley County, 0.9 mi NW of Ellaville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.240, -84.310

Up to quarter-sized hail observed near the intersection of Broad Street and Hwy 26.

Hail, Dooly

When: March 15, 3:39 PM EST to 3:40 PM EST
Where: Dooly County, 0.58 mi W of Byromville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 32.200, -83.910

Local business report half inch to quarter sized hail in downtown Byromville near Youngblood Ave and Main St.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dodge

When: March 15, 4:43 PM EST to 4:45 PM EST
Where: Dodge County, 1.17 mi E of Ararat
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.050, -83.100

Multiple trees and powerlines down, unsecured shed collapsed, mobile home on wheeled trailer flipped and destroyed.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2024 Every state in 2024 This day in weather history Warnings in Georgia, March 2024

Sources

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: 1168926, 1168925, 1168923, 1168924.