A loosely organized line of thunderstorms and supercells moved into northwest Georgia during the late evening hours of the 20th. Strong outflow interactions required numerous tornado warnings with multiple reports of winds over 60mph.
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 loosely organized line of thunderstorms and supercells moved into northwest Georgia during the late evening hours of the 20th. Strong outflow interactions required numerous tornado warnings with multiple reports of winds over 60mph. Storms weakened slightly as they moved through the metro Atlanta, however a couple strong cells redeveloped in the early morning hours of the 21st southeast of the metro. These cells produced large hail, damaging winds, and even a brief tornado.
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 May 20, 6:39 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 739 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025 ...New 00Z Aviation Discussion... .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Wednesday) Issued at 156 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025 Key Messages: - Severe thunderstorms are expected in northwest Georgia between 7 PM this evening and 2 AM Wednesday. - Damaging winds of 50 to 70 mph are the main threat, but an isolated tornado or burst of large hail are also possible. - Storm intensity should decrease as storms move into central Georgia after 2 AM, though and isolated severe threat will remain. Severe Weather Potential Along & North of Interstate 85: A cold front and an upper level shortwave will provide the necessary lift for thunderstorms in northern Georgia this evening and tonight. Instability for the storms to work with should decrease as they advance eastward out of Alabama, but the 1000-2000 J/kg of MUCAPE indicated by the 12Z HREF should be more than sufficient to maintain convective intensity north of Interstate 85. Shear does't look like and issue, with mean 0-6 km shear values in the CAM guidance hovering between 40 and 50 kts. Forecast soundings continue to prog sufficient low level hodograph curvature to support a risk for tornadoes, with that risk increasing as you move northward from Interstate 85. The primary challenge in the forecast is determining the storm mode for northwest Georgia. Most of the guidance suggests a broken line of thunderstorms, but there is some potential for isolated supercells either ahead of or within this line. If supercells occur then the tornado threat may become a more significant concern. For now damaging wind gusts in the 50 to 70 mph range remain the primary expected hazard for northwest Georgia. Isolated large hail will also be possible, especially closer to the AL/GA border. The expected storm timing remains relatively unchanged. We expect storms to be on the doorstep of Dade County by around 7 PM, with the severe risk peaking between 7 PM and 2 AM. Please note that SPC has maintained and slightly expanded the Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for severe weather with the latest update. It now includes a portion of the Atlanta Metro. Severe Weather Potential South of Interstate 85: The shortwave helping to drive mid and upper level support for thunderstorm activity will move towards the northeast early Wednesday morning. As this occurs thunderstorm activity should become increasing driven by cold front/cold pool interactions. This combination may encourage storms to alight in a more east-west direction. Leading to a less favorable alignment with the vertical shear profile and decreasing the overall potential for damaging winds. While instability will be favorable for continued storms after 2 AM, it will decrease as convection moves into central Georgia. This is evident in the CAMs, which continue to favor the most widespread overnight thunderstorm activity along the AL/GA border where instability is the highest. Given these considerations the primary thunderstorm hazard as storms move south of Interstate 85 is expected to be damaging winds gusts in the 40 t0 60 mph range. Quiet Weather Returns Wednesday: Isolated thunderstorms may longer in central Georgia Wednesday morning. By the afternoon the cold front should push into south Georgia resulting in a more stable atmosphere. This will lead to dry weather and partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. A slight reduction in temperatures is expected behind the front, but most areas will still see temperatures in the 80s Wednesday afternoon. Albright && .LONG TERM... (Thursday morning through next Monday) Issued at 156 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025 At a glance: - Quiet start to the long term. - The chances for thunderstorms will return by the end of the weekend. The long term picks up with a break from showers and thunderstorms as high pressure establishes itself over the SE. Some upper level ridging will keep the flow generally west/northwest which will bring us a break from the humidity as well. Temps will be a few degrees below normal and pleasantly in the upper 70s to mid 80s as you head further south down the CWA. Dewpoints though will be limited to the 50s and even a few day in the 40s which I expect will feel lovely. As the weekend approaches, the upper level flow shifts back to the SW and we start to build in moisture as the next impulse pulses through. As of now, both of the major models want to take that system through TN limiting storm potential to northern GA, but it's a week out and I suspect there will some variation in both location and timing as the week unfolds. The primary concern with that system is the potential for it to stall as a stationary front across the SE which in turn would provide a lift source for however long it decides to stick with us. This could present both a localized flooding threat and the potential for severe weather along the northern most extent of the warm sector. Lots of variables to consider, so please continue to monitor the forecast if you have plans early next week. Vaughn && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 731 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025 A line of shra/tsra will be moving through the region between roughly 03-09z. VRB/erratic winds, lower vsbys and cigs will be possible as the line moves through. MVFR cigs will be possible following the FROPA persisting until 13-15z before scattering out. Still a question as to weather the line will be able to maintain itself by the time it reaches MCN -- for now maintain a PROB30 for tsra between 08-11z. Gusty WNW/NW winds following FROPA after 14z through the afternoon -- gusts 22-26kts. //ATL Confidence...00Z Update... Medium confidence on all elements. 07 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 67 85 60 82 / 50 0 0 0 Atlanta 69 84 63 83 / 70 0 0 0 Blairsville 61 77 54 73 / 90 10 0 20 Cartersville 66 83 59 81 / 80 0 0 10 Columbus 70 89 62 88 / 60 20 0 0 Gainesville 67 82 60 79 / 70 0 0 10 Macon 70 90 62 88 / 30 20 0 0 Rome 66 82 58 80 / 80 0 0 10 Peachtree City 67 86 60 85 / 70 0 0 0 Vidalia 73 91 64 89 / 10 20 0 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Albright LONG TERM....Vaughn AVIATION...07
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 218 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-211830- 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- 218 PM EDT Tue May 20 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... A line of strong to severe thunderstorms will move into northwest Georgia after 7 PM, then the storms will spread south and east overnight. The highest potential for severe weather is expected along and north of Interstate 85 prior to 2 AM. Damaging winds gusts of 50 to 70 mph are the primary expected hazard. An isolated tornado or large hail could also occur. A limited risk for damaging wind gusts in the 40 to 60 mph range exists for central Georgia between 2 AM and 9 AM Wednesday. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Isolated thunderstorms may return to north Georgia Saturday and Sunday. Then on Memorial Day scattered thunderstorms are expected. At this time the risk for severe weather over the holiday weekend remains low. .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.
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:18 UTC.
50 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near W 12th St and Fouts Way in Chickamauga.
Emergency Manager relayed a report of a tree down across the road near Rolling Hills Drive and Post Oak Road.
Emergency Manager relayed a report of a tree down in the road near LaFayette Road and Brotherton Road.
Emergency Manager relayed a report of a tree down in the road at W Nickajack Road. The location was estimated based on radar velocity.
Emergency Manager relayed a report of a tree in a roadway at the 400 block of Wood Yates Road.
Emergency manager reported a tree down along Wood Station Rd, near McClure Ln.
Emergency manager reported a tree down in the road across Kenny Ln.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near the intersection of Hwy 136 and S Dicks Creek Rd.
Emergency manager reported multiple trees down along Houston Valley Rd, most concentrated in the vicinity of Deerfield Way, Crane Way, and Valley Way.
Emergency manager reported a large tree down across the road on Hwy 157 near the intersection with Valley View Ranch Rd.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near the intersection if Hwy 157 and Sunshine Ln.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near the intersection of Hwy 27 and Hwy 151.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near the intersection of N Main St and Wardlaw St.
Emergency manager reported a tree in the road on Hwy 41 near the intersection with Haig Mill Lake Rd, blocking the southbound lane.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near the intersection of Deforest Ave and Allgood St.
Emergency manager reported a tree down on a home near the intersection of Ridge St and Allgood St.
Trained spotter reported two trees down and power lines down along Edison St.
Emergency manager reported tree damage and damage to power lines along Summerour Rd.
Emergency manager reported damage to a few trees and power lines along Cloudland Rd N.
Trained spotter reported penny-sized hail near Georgia Ave in Summerville.
Emergency manager reported a few trees and power lines down at the intersection of Westover Dr NW and Twin Bridges Rd.
Emergency Manager relayed a report of multiple trees and powerlines down near Park Street, including a tree down on a home.
Emergency manager reported several trees and power lines down near the intersection of Tom Jones Rd NW and Kingston Highway.
An EF0 tornado touched down late Tuesday evening at 1142 PM EDT|in Gordon County to the southeast of Calhoun Along Plainview Road|SE where several large trees where uprooted including one onto a|home. The tornado continued to the Northeast crossing Blalock Rd|remaining south of Erwin Hill Road before crossing Shope Lake|Road and Cornelison Road where several trees were snapped and|uprooted. Further to the east along Cornelison Road, roofing|from a section of a chicken house was torn off. The tornado|continued northeast and impacting a neighborhood along Windy|Hills Lane and Windy Hill Dr where numerous trees were snapped or|uprooted, including several onto homes. A roof and siding was|removed from a manufactured home, a pontoon boat was flipped, and|2 small sheds were destroyed. The tornado crossed Folsom Road|SE and and lifted before reaching Yarborough Mill Road. It|should be noted that the Hytop radar was down during this time|and the Peachtree City radar had the best view of the storm. |Radar data suggests the presence of a larger mesocyclone with|storm which originated as a supercell storm in AL evolving into a|hybrid supercell/QLCS storm into GA. This particular tornado|appears to be 1 of 2 which likely occurred in this area as part|of this larger mesocyclone and can be discerned in both the data|on the ground and from the KFFC radar. This tornado was best|aligned with the strongest portion of the mesocyclone.
An EF0 tornado touched down late Tuesday evening at 1143 PM EDT|in Gordon County to the southeast of Calhoun near the|intersection of Hwy 53 and Foster Lusk Road. The tornado|uprooted a few small trees and continued ESE crossing|HWY53 destroying a pole barn on the south side of Hwy53 just past|Plainview Road. Debris from the barn was scattered approximately|150 yards to the east and a few trees were snapped in the area. |The tornado continued east snapping and uprooting several trees|along Erwin Road SE, including one on a home. A barn along Erwin|Road SE lost its roof and one of the walls was blown out as well.|The tornado continued ESE into a neighborhood along Rosewood Dr|where several trees where snapped and numerous branches were|scattered around. The tornado weakened as it crossed Erwin Hill|Road SE. It should be noted that the Hytop radar was down|during this time and the Peachtree City radar had the best view|of the storm. Radar data suggests the presence of a larger|mesocyclone with storm which originated as a supercell storm in|AL evolving into a hybrid supercell/QLCS storm into GA. This|particular tornado appears to be 1 of 2 which likely occurred in|this area as part of this larger mesocyclone and can be discerned|in both the data on the ground and from the KFFC radar.
A Georgia mesonet station near the intersection of I-75 and Folsom Rd SE reported a 59 mph wind gust.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near the intersection of Bible Baptist Rd and Yukon Trace.
Emergency manager reported a few trees and power lines down in the 1000 block of Cass Pine Log Rd in Rydal.
Emergency manager reported a tree down at the intersection of Richards Rd and Luke Quarles Rd.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near the intersection of Clear Creek Rd and Pleasant Valley Rd NW.
Emergency manager relayed a report of a tree down along County Line Rd No 2 near Perry Rd.
Emergency manager reported several trees down at the intersection of Folsom Glade Rd and County Line Rd.
Emergency manager reported several trees down near the intersection of Hwy 140 and Garland Mountain Trail.
Emergency manager reported a tree down on power lines on Mckelvey Dr.
An EF0 tornado with maximum winds of 75mph touched down just to|the northwest of Waleska late Tuesday night and Early Wednesday just|after midnight at 12:09 EDT. The tornado touched down just|west of Reinhardt College Parkway where a few trees were uprooted|or snapped including Grady Street in Waleska. The tornado|continued ESE paralleling parkway snapping several trees near|houses along the hwy and several across the hwy. The tornado|continued ESE crossing the intersection of Land Road and Darby|Roads continuing to down several trees along the hwy near homes. |The last point of damage discovered was behind a home on|Reinhardt College parkway before Hobart Smith Road. While|limited, radar data suggests that this tornado evolved as a|bookend vortex as a result of a strong surge in wind just to the|southwest of the area in a rural portion of NW Cherokee County.
Emergency manager reported power lines down on Cut Off Rd in Cartersville.
Public report of a snapped tree and a damaged shade structure near Flatbottom Rd and Clark Ln.
Emergency manager reported that trees fell on two different homes near the intersection of Dena Dr and Mills Wood Run.
Amateur radio operator reported a tree down on a home near the intersection of Pilgrim Mill Rd and FAA Rd.
Emergency manager relayed a report of a downed tree partially blocking the 5000 block of Liberty Rd.
Emergency manager reported a tree down across the road on Pocahontas Dr.
Emergency manager reported a tree down in the road at the 4000 block of Bill Arp Rd.
Emergency manager reported a tree down on a power line near the intersection of Campbellton St and Rose Circle.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near the 2000 block of US Hwy 78.
Emergency manager reported a tree down in the roadway near the intersection of Lambert Ln and Lovvorn Rd.
Emergency manager reported a tree down in the road near the intersection of Bethesda Church Rd and Horton Rd.
Emergency manager reported a tree down at the 2900 block of Tommy Dillard Rd.
Broadcast media reported numerous trees down on vehicles in the Stone Rd neighborhood. Radar signatures suggest that a downburst over the area was the likely cause.
Emergency manager relayed a report of a tree down across the road near Capps Ferry Rd and Brecken Dr. The downed tree caused a vehicle accident, but no injuries were reported.
Public reported 1.5i inch diameter hail in the River Crest neighborhood in Tyrone.
Emergency manager reported a tree down near Vernon Ferry Rd and Bailey Rd.
An EF1 tornado touched down in extreme northeastern Spalding|county along Old McDonough road near Johnson Road early Wednesday|morning around 339 AM EDT May 21 2025. The tornado knocked over|a few trees on the west side of Hwy 155 before crossing the hwy|and ripping off the roof to a large barn. Two people were asleep|in a camping trailer near the barn when the tornado hit. They|claimed the camper lifted off the ground and slammed down|breaking the jacks supporting the front end of the camper. |Additionally roof material from the nearby barn slammed into the|camper and was spread eastward into a field area. The tornado|continued east crossing Amelia Drive snapping trees before|crossing into Henry County.
Emergency manager reported that the roof was taken off of a barn near the intersection of Hwy 155 and Johnson Rd.
Emergency manager reported a tree down at the intersection of Amelia Rd and Apple Rd.
The tornado|continued east crossing Amelia Drive snapping trees before|crossing into Henry County along Collins Drive snapping and|uprooting a few trees. The storm continued ESE crossing Lester|Mill Road snapping a few trees before crossing I75 near LG|Griffin Road. Several trees were snapped along Hossannah Road|which runs along the east side of I75. The storm continued east|within a largely uninhabited area before reaching a neighborhood|along Locust Road, in the community of Locust Grove. Numerous|trees were downed along Locust Road, Grove Pointe Ct, Grove Point|Way, and Grove Point Dr, including several onto homes in that|area. The tornado briefly entered Butts county before re-entering Henry county and returning back to Butts.
Emergency manager reported a tree down on Plaza Dr.
The tornado briefly entered Butts county before quickly returning to Henry County, and returning to Butts once again.
The tornado briefly re entered Henry county before quickly returning to Butts county.
Emergency manager reported a tree down on Halls Bridge Rd near Yellow Water Creek. The location was estimated based on radar.
The tornado continued east into Butts County crossing Deer|Point Cir and Dean Patrick Roads snapping off a few trees. The|tornado continued east snapping and uprooting a few trees along|County Line Road, England Chapel Road, and Shiloh roads. |Ironically, the damage within portions of this track coincided|with damage still present from the January 2023 tornado path. The|tornado continued east crossing Walter Moore Road snapping a few|trees before lifting east of the road before reaching the|northern portion of the City of Jackson in Butts County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2025Warnings in Georgia, May 2025
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: 1267646, 1267647, 1267648, 1267649, 1267650, 1267965, 1267651, 1267652, 1267959, 1267655, 1267656, 1267660, 1267661, 1267663, 1267664, 1267668, 1267666, 1267671, 1267675, 1267641, 1267688, 1267689, 1267691, 1268488, 1268487, 1267971, 1267692, 1267693, 1267694, 1267696, 1267695, 1267967, 1267722, 1267724, 1268486, 1267726, 1267728, 1267723, 1267725, 1267727, and more.