An upper-low continued to sink slowly south from the mid-Atlantic region into the southeast United States.  This combined with the usual July heat and humidity allowed for pulse thunderstorms to develop as usual.  A few of these became severe and produced marginal severe hail, wind damage, and intense lightning.  One significant downburst was observed in southern Cherokee county where nearly 1000 trees were blown down, causing extensive damage to hundreds of homes.

Thunderstorm Wind in PAULDING, GEORGIA
From 07-JUL-08 18:20:00 to 07-JUL-08 18:21:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEW HOPE
Magnitude: 37.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Paulding County Emergency Management Director reported that two to three trees were down in the northern part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHEROKEE, GEORGIA
From 07-JUL-08 19:05:00 to 07-JUL-08 19:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: VICTORIA
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director conducted a survey of extensive thunderstorm wind damage across south central Cherokee county in the Towne Lake area, just west and northwest of Woodstock.  The damage area, oriented from northwest to southeast, was bounded on the northwest by Eagle Watch Drive and Running Deer Parkway on the southeast, or about one mile west Interstate 75.  It was concluded that the damage was caused by thunderstorm downburst winds between 58 and 65 mph.  Damage was very extensive with 800 to 100 trees either blown down or snapped in half.  Many of the trees fell on residential homes causing significant damage.  All together, 196 homes were damaged, 14 sustaining major damage and 132 with minor damage.

Hail in CHEROKEE, GEORGIA
From 07-JUL-08 19:10:00 to 07-JUL-08 19:18:00 (EST-5)
Location: WOODSTOCK
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Numerous reports of hail, ranging in size from pennies to quarters, were received from the public across the southern portion of Cherokee county in the Towne Lake area, just northwest of Woodstock, and also in Woodstock as well.

Thunderstorm Wind in COBB, GEORGIA
From 07-JUL-08 19:00:00 to 07-JUL-08 19:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: ACWORTH
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Acworth Police reported that six large trees were down in the northeast part of the city.

Lightning in CHEROKEE, GEORGIA
From 07-JUL-08 19:05:00 to 07-JUL-08 19:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: VICTORIA
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director reported that seven homes, mostly in the Towne Lake area west of Woodstock, were struck by lightning.  While most of the resulting fires caused minor damage, one home was completely destroyed as a result of the fire started by the lightning strike.

Hail in COBB, GEORGIA
From 07-JUL-08 19:00:00 to 07-JUL-08 19:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: ACWORTH
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed penny-sized hail in the Acworth area.  The hail fell for up to three minutes in the area.

Hail in COBB, GEORGIA
From 07-JUL-08 19:32:00 to 07-JUL-08 19:37:00 (EST-5)
Location: MARIETTA
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed penny-sized hail in northeast Cobb county, just northeast of Marietta.  This was from a separate thunderstorm cell that developed on outflow from the earlier thunderstorm that also produced penny-sized hail as well as wind damage in the Acworth area.

Lightning in PAULDING, GEORGIA
From 07-JUL-08 18:15:00 to 07-JUL-08 18:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: DALLAS
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Paulding County Emergency Management Director reported that lightning struck several homes across mostly the northern half of the county causing structural fires.