A strong upper-level low pressure area and associated cold front were moving from the mid-south into the southeast U.S.  A backdoor cold front was located across northeast Georgia.  A warm, tropical air mass was present between the advancing cold front to the west and the backdoor front across northeast Georgia.  Upper-level forcing was strong, thanks to the deep upper low moving into the southeast U.S.  These systems combined to bring a 24-hour period of heavy rain and thunderstorms that progressed from northwest to southeast across north and central Georgia.  With this event falling only 6 days after the record and catastrophic flooding that affected west central and north central Georgia on the 20th and 21st, flash flooding was a major concern.  Fortunately, the activity moved through more quickly, but additional flash flooding and river flooding was observed.  In addition, as the afternoon progressed and the activity moved into the central and east central portions of the state, an increasingly warm and unstable air mass was encountered, resulting in several thunderstorms becoming strong to severe.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 19:39:00 to 26-SEP-09 19:44:00 (EST-5)
Location: SANDERSVILLE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Washington County 911 Center reported that from 15 to 20 trees were blown down in the Sandersville area, near the county 911 center.  Some businesses in Sandersville sustained at least minor damage from downed trees.  In addition, a metal carport was blown over.

Lightning in MURRAY, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 13:03:00 to 26-SEP-09 13:03:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHATSWORTH
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The Daily Citizen of Dalton reported that lightning struck and set the Rock Building on fire.  This was the site of the first high school in Murray County.  The building was completely destroyed from the fire.

Flood in WHITFIELD, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 17:30:00 to 26-SEP-09 20:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: BEAVERDALE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The USGS stream gage on the Conasauga River near Eton reached its flood stage of 12.0 feet at 630 pm EDT.  The river runs along the Murray/Whitfield county line.  The river remained above flood stage through 915 pm EDT.  In addition, minor flooding continued along Coahulla Creek near Keith's Mill during this time period.  Monetary damage from this flooding was confined to minor debris removal to land adjacent to the river.  No siginficant property damage was reported.

Flash Flood in GORDON, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 11:45:00 to 26-SEP-09 14:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: RESACA ZACK ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed flash flooding in the far northwest part of the county, just northwest of Resaca.  Dry Creek along Cline Road was out of its banks flooding adjacent pastures.  A nearby house was threatened from by flood waters of the creek, but was not actually flooded.  Significant debris removal was required in the area placing the monetary damage estimate at $30,000.

Flash Flood in DADE, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 12:15:00 to 26-SEP-09 17:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: SINCLAIR LAKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Dade County Emergency Management Director reported that flash flooding caused a mudslide when a 30 by 30 foot section of hillside washed onto White Oak Gap Road west of Trenton.  Removal of debris from the affected road was estimated to be $10,000.

Flash Flood in FULTON, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 20:09:00 to 26-SEP-09 21:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ATLANTA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The USGS stream gage along the upper portion of Peachtree Creek near the Fulton/DeKalb county reached its flood stage of 12.0 feet at 909 pm EDT.  The creek remained above flood stage for approximately an hour.  Only minor flooding was observed with this event.  Monetary damage was confined to minor debris removal.

Flood in MURRAY, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 14:24:00 to 26-SEP-09 20:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: SINCLAIR LAKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The USGS stream gage on the Conasauga River near Eton reached its flood stage of 12.0 feet at 630 pm EDT.  The river runs along the Murray/Whitfield county line.  The river remained above flood stage through 915 pm EDT.  Monetary damage from this flooding was confined to minor debris removal to land adjacent to the river.  No siginficant property damage was reported.

Flash Flood in COBB, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 18:48:00 to 26-SEP-09 20:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: FAIR OAKS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The USGS stream gage on Nickajack Creek near Mableton reached its flood stage of 10 feet at 748 pm EDT as the final round of heavy showers and thunderstorms tracked from west to east across the area on totally saturated ground from several weeks of flooding rainfall.  This incident resulted in only minor debris removal with monetary damages estimated to be $2000.

Flash Flood in DE KALB, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 20:09:00 to 26-SEP-09 21:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BELT JCT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The USGS stream gage along the North Fork of Peachtree Creek near Atlanta on Buford Highway reached its flood stage of 12.0 feet at 909 pm EDT.  The creek remained above flood stage for almost an hour.  Only minor debris removal was required as a result of this flood event.

Hail in WASHINGTON, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 19:39:00 to 26-SEP-09 19:44:00 (EST-5)
Location: TENNILLE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Washington County 911 Center relayed a report of penny-sized hail from the Tennille area.

Flash Flood in WHITFIELD, GEORGIA
From 26-SEP-09 13:23:00 to 26-SEP-09 14:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: COHUTTA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Whitfield County Emergency Management Director reported considerable flash flooding across the county as the final round of showers and thunderstorms with very heavy rain tracked across the county from west to east.  The ground was totally saturated from previous rainfall earlier that day and during prior weeks.  At least 20 roads across the county were flooded and closed.  Coahulla Creek at Keith's Mill near Dalton reached its flood stage of 16 feet at 223 pm EDT and continued to rise during the afternoon, remaining above flood stage into the next day.  The flash flood event transitioned to an aerial flood event after 315 pm EDT.  Monetary damage was generally confined to debris removal and estimated at $10,000.