A very strong, cutoff upper-level low pressure system moved slowly through the southeast U.S. from the evening of the 19th of March through the morning of the 20th.  The accompanying surface low took a path from near Columbus, Georgia to near Athens, Georgia, to near Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina between midnight and noon on the 20th.  Very strong east to northeast winds accompanied the surface low as it took this path through central and northeast Georgia during the early morning hours on the 20th. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to near 60 mph were common throughout central, north central, and northeast Georgia during the morning hours on the 20th, particularly around sunrise.  The ground was saturated from heavy rains which occurred overnight and in preceding days.  This simply aggravated the situation.  Widespread damage was reported to trees, power lines, and structures across much of north central, northeast, and east central Georgia.  Most of the damage reported was northeast of a line from Chatsworth, to Douglasville, to Newnan, to Griffin, to Macon, to Milledgeville, to Sparta.  The hardest hit areas were in north central and northeast Georgia where many roofs were blown off buildings, particularly in Pickens, Cherokee, Dawson, Lumpkin, Forsyth, and White counties.  Downtown Jasper was closed as tin roofs from several buildings littered the streets and created a hazard with flying debris.  Just to the south in Cherokee county, a church steeple was blown down and the roof was blown off Fire Station No. 2.  In White county, the roof was blown off the Cleveland Auto Body Shop causing $200,000 in damage to the building and vehicles on the premises.    Extensive damage was also reported in Bibb county at Macon, in Forsyth county, where dozens of roofs were blown off homes.

High Wind in HALL, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in JONES, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in FORSYTH, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 85K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in DAWSON, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in PUTNAM, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in WALTON, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in MADISON, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in ROCKDALE, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in WHITE, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 300K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in GREENE, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in TOWNS, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in NEWTON, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in GWINNETT, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in BARROW, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in UNION, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in PICKENS, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 250K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in DOUGLAS, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in CHEROKEE, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in COBB, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in BANKS, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in GILMER, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in NORTH FULTON, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 2.5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in FAYETTE, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in COWETA, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in FANNIN, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in BALDWIN, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 200K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in BIBB, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in BUTTS, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in HENRY, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in HANCOCK, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in JASPER, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in CLAYTON, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in LUMPKIN, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in JACKSON, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in CLARKE, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in DE KALB, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in OCONEE, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in SOUTH FULTON, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 2.5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in TROUP, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in HARRIS, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

High Wind in MORGAN, GEORGIA
From 20-MAR-01 06:00:00 to 20-MAR-01 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER