A strong southern stream short wave was moving from the southern plains toward the southeast.  A cold front remained nearly stationary across the Tennessee Valley and into the Southern Plains.  A long-lived squall line of severe thunderstorms tracked from the mid-south during the morning hours into the southeast by late afternoon, reaching the Georgia border around 5 pm.  The line of thunderstorms weakened quickly as it progressed further eastward into the state, but not before blowing down several hundred trees and power lines, especially in parts of west central Georgia.

Thunderstorm Wind in HEARD, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 16:35:00 to 03-MAY-09 16:57:00 (EST-5)
Location: WARESVILLE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Heard County 911 Center and the Heard County Sheriff's Office reported that more than two dozen trees were down across the county, and a number of power lines as well.  Two homes in Franklin suffered extensive structural damage from downed trees.

Lightning in HEARD, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 16:47:00 to 03-MAY-09 16:47:00 (EST-5)
Location: FRANKLIN
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Heard County 911 Center reported that a home was set on fire.  It was not entirely clear whether this was from a lightning strike or a downed tree, but there was considerable cloud-to-ground lightning in the area at the time as a squall line of thunderstorms moved through the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in TROUP, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 16:30:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ABBOTTSFORD
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Troup County 911 Center and the Troup County Sheriff's Office reported that more than a dozen trees were blown down across the county.  No other structural damage was reported.

Lightning in FLOYD, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:00:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: LAVENDER
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The Rome News Tribune reported that lightning struck the pump house of the pool at the Callier Springs Country Club on the southeast side of Rome.  The pump house suffered minor damage from the resulting fire.

Thunderstorm Wind in DOUGLAS, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:24:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:24:00 (EST-5)
Location: CHAPEL HILL
Magnitude: 36.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

The Douglas County Sentinel reported that a church, located on Chapel Hill Road, suffered minor damage when a tree fell on the structure during thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLARKE, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 18:55:00 to 03-MAY-09 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ATHENS
Magnitude: 35.00 EG
Property damage: 0.75K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported that three trees were blown down within the city of Athens.  No structural damage was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in UPSON, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:51:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:56:00 (EST-5)
Location: YATESVILLE
Magnitude: 37.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Upson County 911 Center reported that three to four trees were blown down in the Yatesville area.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAMAR, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:45:00 to 03-MAY-09 18:02:00 (EST-5)
Location: MILNER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Lamar County 911 Center reported that from six to ten trees were blown down across the county.  No damage to structures was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in MONROE, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 18:08:00 to 03-MAY-09 18:28:00 (EST-5)
Location: CULLODEN
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Monroe County 911 Center reported that eight trees were blown down across the county.  No structural damage was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in HALL, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 18:30:00 to 03-MAY-09 18:37:00 (EST-5)
Location: GNESVILLE COTTON MIL
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Hall County 911 Center reported that up to 10 trees were down from northwest of Gainesville, along Club and Riverside Drives, into the city of Gainesville itself.  No structural damage was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in DE KALB, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:49:00 to 03-MAY-09 18:01:00 (EST-5)
Location: DRUID HILLS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The DeKalb County 911 Center reported that at least 20 trees were blown down across the county.  While no specific locations were provided, radar data indicated that 50 knot or greater winds primarily affected areas from Druid Hills northeast to Tucker.

Thunderstorm Wind in HENRY, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:42:00 to 03-MAY-09 18:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: HAMPTON
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Henry County 911 Center reported that at least seven trees were down within the county.  Three of these trees were down on structures causing damage, while the other four were down on roads.

Thunderstorm Wind in FANNIN, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 16:00:00 to 03-MAY-09 16:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLUE RIDGE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Fannin County 911 Center reported that at least a dozen trees were blown down near Blue Ridge on Raccoon Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind in MUSCOGEE, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 16:55:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:01:00 (EST-5)
Location: COLUMBUS
Magnitude: 47.00 MG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Local Columbus television media reported that wind gusts of 54 mph were measured on the top of Saint Francis Hospital.  Three to four trees were also down across the county, including one at Woodruff Farms and Branton Woods Drive and on 15th Street.

Thunderstorm Wind in MERIWETHER, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:02:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: ODESSADALE
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Meriwether County Sheriff's Office reported that three trees were blown down in the Greenville area.  One of the trees fell on a home causing damage to the structure.

Funnel Cloud in BARTOW, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:15:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: CARTERSVILLE
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Bartow County 911 Center relayed reports from the public of funnel clouds.  A weak mesocyclone was evident on the radar storm relative velocity data at the time.

Thunderstorm Wind in COBB, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:10:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: POWDER SPGS
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Cobb County 911 Center reported that more than a dozen trees were down across the county, including one that fell on a home causing damage to the structure.  A tree was also down on Alabama Road in Mareitta.  Radar data indicated that there were two lines of thunderstorms causing strong to damaging winds across Cobb county.  One line moved from near Powder Springs at 610 pm EDT to the northeast corner of the county, northeast of Marietta, by 630 pm EDT.  Another smaller line moved from Powder Springs at 630 pm EDT to near Smyrna around 645 pm EDT.

Thunderstorm Wind in FAYETTE, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:28:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:38:00 (EST-5)
Location: ABERDEEN
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Fayette County 911 Center reported that at least 20 trees were down across the county.  The majority of the downed trees were in the western part of the county in the Peachtree City area.  An off duty National Weather Service employee observed that four large pine trees were snapped along Georgia Highway 74 near the Cooper Lighting Facility about three miles south of Peachtree City.  Amateur radio operators reported that a one foot-diameter tree was down in Fayetteville.

Funnel Cloud in POLK, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 16:20:00 to 03-MAY-09 16:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: CEDARTOWN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's Office observed a funnel cloud on the north side of Cedartown near the intersection of the bypass, U.S. Highway 27, and the Super Wal-Mart.  No structural damage or tornado touchdown was observed or reported.  Radar data indicated a weak mesocyclone in the area at the time.

Thunderstorm Wind in COWETA, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:00:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: HANDY
Magnitude: 54.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Coweta County Emergency Management Director reported that more than 100 trees were down across the county.  More than a dozen power lines were also down.  The majority of the damage was observed across the western and northern part of the county from Handy to north of Madras to near Palmetto, along the Fulton county line.  One resident reported that a downburst had occurred in the Handy area where several dozen trees were down at a private residence.  Trees down included large pine and oak trees.  Some trees were also down in the eastern and southern parts of the county near Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia.  No structural damage was reported.  Approximately 3000 residents of the county were left without power for a few hours following the storms.

Thunderstorm Wind in CARROLL, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 16:15:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: BOWDON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported that at least a dozen trees were down across the county.  One home in Amindon Estates suffered structural damage when a tree fell through the structure.

Thunderstorm Wind in SPALDING, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:42:00 to 03-MAY-09 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BIRDIE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Spalding County 911 Center reported that more than 20 trees were blown down across the county.  Most of the downed trees were within the city limits of Griffin.  Widespread power outages were observed within the county from downed power lines.  No structural damage was reported, however.

Thunderstorm Wind in BIBB, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 18:30:00 to 03-MAY-09 18:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: LIZELLA
Magnitude: 36.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported that four trees were blown down in the far northwestern part of the county near the Monroe county line.  Some pea-sized hail may also have been observed in the same area.

Thunderstorm Wind in FULTON, GEORGIA
From 03-MAY-09 17:22:00 to 03-MAY-09 17:47:00 (EST-5)
Location: PALMETTO
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Fulton County Emergency Management Director reported that at least 50 trees were down across mainly the southern half of the county, especially in the Monroe Drive, Interstate-285, and Interstate-20 areas.  At least one structure sustained damage in this area from downed trees.  The public reported that another home in Palmetto suffered substantial damage when a large tree fell on structure.  Three adjacent vehicles were also damaged substantially.