After a nearly week long lull from the daily summer convective activity, scattered thunderstorms, a few severe, developed across the area again.  A weak front, that drifted into the state during the previous weekend, had stalled about halfway across the state.  The front combined with moisture from the extreme outer circulation of hurricane Ike, located near Cuba, and potentially left over residual moisture that drifted over the area from the remnants of hurricane Gustav, provided a favorable environment for scattered thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon and evening hours.  Several of the storms became marginally severe and produced damaging winds.  One storm produced large hail.  Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning was also observed and there were several lightning-related house fires.

Thunderstorm Wind in MURRAY, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 17:51:00 to 08-SEP-08 17:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: HOLLEY
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Murray County 911 Center reported that two trees were blown down in the southern part of the county and two more trees were blown down in the northern part of the county.  Doppler base velocity data showed that the strongest winds were just west of Fort Mountain State Park.

Thunderstorm Wind in FLOYD, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 16:44:00 to 08-SEP-08 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FOSTERS MILLS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Floyd County Emergency Management Director reported that seven trees were blown down, mostly on the northeast side of Rome.  One tree was down on a home on East 2nd Street in Rome, causing major damage to the structure.  Another large tree was down across Shannon Circle in Rome.  Approximately six miles north to northeast of Rome, trees were down across Sam Harris, Bells Ferry, Bert, and Old Dalton Road.  In Shannon, a tree was down across a power line on 2nd Street.

Thunderstorm Wind in PAULDING, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 16:00:00 to 08-SEP-08 16:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEW HOPE
Magnitude: 37.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Paulding County 911 Center reported that four trees were down on power lines in the northwest part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in BARTOW, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 16:10:00 to 08-SEP-08 16:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: CARTERSVILLE
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Bartow County 911 Center reported that three to four trees were down on Colonial Club Drive in the Euharlee area.  A storm spotter reported that a large oak tree was down on Mission Ridge Road.

Lightning in BARTOW, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 16:10:00 to 08-SEP-08 16:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: EMERSON
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Bartow County 911 Center reported that lightning struck a home on Colonial Club Drive and started a fire.  Specific damages were not provided.

Hail in GWINNETT, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 15:40:00 to 08-SEP-08 15:42:00 (EST-5)
Location: SNELLVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed some quarter-sized hail in the extreme southern part of Gwinnett county near Loganville and the Walton county line.  Most of the hail, however, was pea-sized.

Thunderstorm Wind in WHITFIELD, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 17:55:00 to 08-SEP-08 17:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: TUNNEL HILL
Magnitude: 37.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported that a tree was down on a home in Tunnel Hill causing damage to the structure.

Lightning in PICKENS, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 17:56:00 to 08-SEP-08 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: TALKING ROCK
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The Pickens County Progress reported that lightning struck two homes west of Jasper.  A home on Hobson Drive was struck and set on fire causing considerable electrical and smoke damage to the home.  However, the house was apparently not destroyed.  Another home in the 3600 block of Georgia Highway 53 was also struck and set on fire by lightning.  The home was completely destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHEROKEE, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 16:50:00 to 08-SEP-08 16:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: FREE HOME
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director reported that approximately 25 trees were down in the far eastern portion of the county, about 10 miles east of Canton between Free Home and Buffington.  Some of the trees were very large oaks.  Most of the trees were down in a two-mile wide square area around the Holbrook Camp ground near the Forsyth county line.  Two campers at this camp ground were completely destroyed when two very large oak trees fell on them.  No injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in PICKENS, GEORGIA
From 08-SEP-08 17:15:00 to 08-SEP-08 17:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: JASPER
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Pickens County Emergency Management Director reported that four trees were down at various locations around the city of Jasper.