A weak back door type cold front was moving southwest through north and central Georgia.  A deep upper trough was located along the east coast with an active northwest flow continuing into the southeast United States.  An area of thunderstorms developed along the southwestward moving front during the early afternoon and propagated southward along the front through much of east central Georgia.  The thunderstorms merged into a complex of thunderstorms as the afternoon progressed and increased in areal coverage.  The storms produced large hail and damaging downburst winds, especially across the eastern counties of middle Georgia.

Hail in CARROLL, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 16:55:00 to 24-MAY-08 16:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: BOWDON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

A fire station south of Bowdon observed penny-sized hail in the southwest part of Carroll county.

Thunderstorm Wind in TELFAIR, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 17:03:00 to 24-MAY-08 17:07:00 (EST-5)
Location: MC RAE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Telfair County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were down along the eastern border of the county from McRae, to Scotland, to Towns.

Thunderstorm Wind in BALDWIN, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 15:15:00 to 24-MAY-08 15:32:00 (EST-5)
Location: MILLEDGEVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Baldwin County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down in the Milledgeville area.  A storm spotter observed that several trees limbs were down in the south central and southeast part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in WILKINSON, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 15:32:00 to 24-MAY-08 15:56:00 (EST-5)
Location: IVEY
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Wilinson County 911 Center reported that an apparent microburst or downburst blew down dozen of trees and at least 10 power lines across the county.  According to the radar data, winds up to 60 mph, and in a few cases likely in excess of 60 mph, likely occurred across the north central, central, and west central part of the county from northeast of Ivey to west of Irwinton.

Thunderstorm Wind in WHEELER, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 16:52:00 to 24-MAY-08 17:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: ALAMO
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Wheeler County 911 Center reported that dozens of trees and power lines were blown down across the northern and central part of the county, including Alamo and Erik.  At least eight roads were blocked and closed from downed trees.

Hail in PUTNAM, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 14:50:00 to 24-MAY-08 15:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: EATONTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed nickel-sized hail in the Eatonton area.  Radar data supported that hail of similar size likely fell across much of the county from the northern border near Godfrey in Morgan county to the southern border of Baldwin county, south of Flat Rock.

Hail in BALDWIN, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 15:15:00 to 24-MAY-08 15:32:00 (EST-5)
Location: MILLEDGEVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail of penny-size or larger fell across much of Baldwin county in a swath from north to south as a supercell thunderstorm tracked across the county.  A storm spotter observed quarter-sized hail between Scottsboro area and the Washington county line.  The public observed nickel-sized hail in Scottsboro, and the Baldwin County 911 Center observed penny-sized hail in Milledgeville.

Hail in LAURENS, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 16:11:00 to 24-MAY-08 16:48:00 (EST-5)
Location: DUBLIN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter-sized hail in the Dublin area.  The Laurens County Emergency Management Director relayed a report of nickel-sized hail from the Cedar Grove area.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAURENS, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 16:11:00 to 24-MAY-08 16:51:00 (EST-5)
Location: DUBLIN
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 250.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Laurens County Emergency Management Director reported that a downburst or microburst caused extensive damage to the Cedar Grove community in southern Laurens county.  Two convenience stores, located at the intersection of Georgia Highways 46 and U.S. Highway 441, just west of Cedar Grove, suffered extensive damage.  At one of these convenience stores, the awning was destroyed, one of the gas pumps was blown away and found several dozen feet away, and another was bent over.  There was also damage to the roof, windows and the front of the store.  A home across the street also sustained some roof and siding damage.  In addition, at least two barns were destroyed and a trailer was overturned with damage to other trailers at Padget's Mobile Home Park.  Hundreds of trees were also blown down in the area and several roads were blocked, including Georgia Highway 46.  However, there did not appear to be any evidence of a tornado.  It all appeared to be from a downburst or miscroburst.  Further north, wind damage was also reported.  Dozens of trees were blown down in the northern and central part of the county, including Dublin.  In addition, a backup radio antenna tower at the county Emergency Operations Center in Dublin was blown over and several traffic signals, street lights, and signs were down.  The local electric management cooperation reported that at least 30 utility poles were blown down around the county.
In addition to property damage, at least 100 acres of oats were damaged from the strong thunderstorm winds.

Hail in JACKSON, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 13:11:00 to 24-MAY-08 13:14:00 (EST-5)
Location: HOSCHTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed penny-sized hail near Hoschton and west of Jefferson near the Barrow county line.

Hail in BARROW, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 13:30:00 to 24-MAY-08 13:39:00 (EST-5)
Location: WINDER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter reported nickel-sized hail in the Winder area.

Hail in MORGAN, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 14:35:00 to 24-MAY-08 14:39:00 (EST-5)
Location: GODFREY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter observed penny-sized hail just north of Godfrey.  Radar supported that hail of similar, perhaps larger size, continued to the Putnam county border south and southeast of Godfrey.  The storm spotter and the Morgan County 911 Center also reported that a couple of trees were blown down.  This same storm spotter also estimated wind gusts to be on the order of 60 mph, but tree damage in the area did not support this.

Thunderstorm Wind in BARROW, GEORGIA
From 24-MAY-08 14:30:00 to 24-MAY-08 14:39:00 (EST-5)
Location: THOMPSONS MILL
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Barrow County Emergency Management Director reported that numerous trees and power lines were down in the Thompsons Mill area, especially along Interstate-85.