A strong shortwave, embedded within northwest flow aloft, combined with a very unstable surface air mass to result in the development of numerous northwest to southeastward moving large hail producing severe thunderstorms...primarily during the afternoon and evening hours.  Many reports of quarter to golf ball-sized hail were received across primarily the northern half of the state during these hours.

Hail in GORDON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 17:36:00 to 23-APR-09 18:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: RESACA
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter-sized hail in the northwest part of the county west of Resaca and in Resaca, half-dollar-sized hail just north of Calhoun, and penny-sized hail in and just east of Calhoun.  This was the first of two severe thunderstorms to track across Gordon county during the evening of April 23rd.

Hail in GORDON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:33:00 to 23-APR-09 18:37:00 (EST-5)
Location: CALHOUN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed penny-sized hail near and southeast of Calhoun as yet a second severe thunderstorm tracked from northwest to southeast across the county.

Hail in PAULDING, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 17:45:00 to 23-APR-09 17:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEW HOPE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter-sized hail in east central Paulding county near New Hope southeast toward the Cobb county line.

Hail in GWINNETT, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 19:40:00 to 23-APR-09 20:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: DACULA
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed 1.50 inch diameter sized-hail on the east side of Dacula, while the public observed penny-sized hail for a 20-minute period on the northwest side of and near Dacula.  This hail occurred from a separate thunderstorm that developed more than 11 miles north of the one tracking across southern Gwinnett county from Lilburn to Snellville, which produced quarter to half-dollar-sized hail.

Hail in WALTON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 20:10:00 to 23-APR-09 20:36:00 (EST-5)
Location: BOLD SPGS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed nickel to quarter-sized hail in the far northern part of the county near Bold Springs, while the public and the Walton County 911 Center observed nickel-sized hail further south in Monroe and south-southeastward toward the east side of Social Circle.

Hail in NEWTON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 19:50:00 to 23-APR-09 20:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: COVINGTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed penny-sized hail in the Covington area.  Radar data suggests that most of the hail fell on the east and southeast side of Covington.

Hail in PUTNAM, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 20:50:00 to 23-APR-09 21:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILLARD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Putnam County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail near Eatonton.  Radar data suggests that similar sized-hail or larger likely fell across the northwest part of the county.

Hail in MONROE, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 20:25:00 to 23-APR-09 21:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: HIGH FALLS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed nickel to quarter-sized hail from the northwest corner of the county near High Falls and Blount to just northeast of Forsyth.

Thunderstorm Wind in WALKER, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 17:35:00 to 23-APR-09 17:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: NAOMI
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Walker County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down between Naomi and Villanow.

Hail in PAULDING, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 17:25:00 to 23-APR-09 17:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: DALLAS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Paulding County Emergency Management Director and the public observed nickel to quarter-sized hail across the southeast part of the county from southeast of Dallas to along the Douglas-Paulding county line, south of Hiram.

Lightning in BIBB, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 22:31:00 to 23-APR-09 22:31:00 (EST-5)
Location: FRANKLINTON
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Bibb County Sheriff's Office reported that lightning struck a small shed on Mealer Street and set it on fire.

Thunderstorm Wind in DODGE, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 05:34:00 to 23-APR-09 05:34:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLAINFIELD
Magnitude: 35.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Dodge County 911 Center reported that a tree was blown down across a utility pole causing a power outage along Chester Highway in northeast Dodge county.

Hail in COBB, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:00:00 to 23-APR-09 18:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: POWDER SPGS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed nickel to quarter-sized hail in the Powder Springs area in the southwest part of the county.  This was the second of four severe thunderstorms to impact Cobb county during the evening of April 23rd.

Lightning in GWINNETT, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 20:09:00 to 23-APR-09 20:09:00 (EST-5)
Location: LILBURN
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Gwinnett County 911 Center reported that lightning struck a home on Riverwalk Trail just off Annistown Road.  The roof collapsed as as a result of the fire and the home was destroyed.

Lightning in FULTON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 19:00:00 to 23-APR-09 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: (ATL)ATLANTA INTL AR
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The 398-foot tall FAA control tower at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport sustained a lightning strike.  Intense cloud-to-ground lightning during a severe thunderstorm had already resulted in a loss of power to much of the airport.  Employees of the tower smelled smoke in the tower immediately following the strike, which required a brief evacuation of the tower.  Ground operations were ceased for several minutes during this thunderstorm as a result, compounding an already bad situation at the world's busiest airport.  In addition, penny to quarter-sized hail fell off-and-on from 806 pm EDT to 852 pm EDT, winds gusts to 42 knots, and nearly 1.5 inches of rain fall during the one-hour period from 8 pm to 9 pm EDT.  Much of the metro Atlanta area reported power outages following these thunderstorms.  Despite the lightning strike to the tower and its impact on airport operations, no significant damages were reported.

Hail in FULTON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:24:00 to 23-APR-09 19:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: FAIRBURN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter-sized hail in the College Park area.  Earlier reports from the public indicated that golf ball-sized hail fell along the Douglas/Fulton county line southeast of Chapel Hill.  This storm tracked with similar intensity from this point eastward across southern Fulton county to College Park.  This was a separate thunderstorm from the one that was simultaneously producing hail further north in the county, northwest of Atlanta.

Hail in FULTON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 19:23:00 to 23-APR-09 19:36:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROSWELL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter-sized hail in the Roswell area.  This was the third severe thunderstorm to affect Fulton county during the evening of April 23rd.

Hail in JONES, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 21:25:00 to 23-APR-09 21:32:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRAY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed penny-sized hail in the southwest part of Jones county, not far from Gray and Clinton.  Time and location of data refined with radar data.

Hail in COBB, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:40:00 to 23-APR-09 18:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: MABLETON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter to 1.50 inch diameter-sized hail in the far southeast corner of the county from just north and west of Mableton to around Six Flags.  This thunderstorm was the same thunderstorm that earlier produced hail in southwest Cobb county near Powder Springs.

Hail in BANKS, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:40:00 to 23-APR-09 18:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: HOLLINGSWORTH
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Banks County 911 Center reported that penny-sized hail was observed at the Fire Station on Damascus Road northwest of Hollingsworth.  Radar data suggests that similar hail likely fell with this thunderstorm further southwest to east of Lula.

Hail in WALKER, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 17:00:00 to 23-APR-09 18:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: HIGH PT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several reports of half-dollar to golf ball-sized hail were received from the public in the northern part of Walker county near Chickamauga.  Penny-sized hail was reported from the southern part of the county near LaFayette.  Radar data supports that hail of similar size likely fell in a large swath from northwest to southeast across the county from High Point to Villanow.

Hail in DOUGLAS, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 17:35:00 to 23-APR-09 18:24:00 (EST-5)
Location: DOUGLASVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.30M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter-sized hail in northern Douglas county, north of Douglasville near the Douglas/Paulding county line, penny-sized hail in Douglasville, and golf ball-sized hail in the southeast part of the county near and southeast of Chapel Hill.  The public reported that hail completely covered the ground in some areas.  Significant damage to vehicles was reported from this area.

Hail in COBB, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:25:00 to 23-APR-09 18:33:00 (EST-5)
Location: VININGS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several reports of penny, quarter, and golf ball-sized hail received from the Smyrna and Vinings area in eastern Cobb county.  This was the second of four severe thunderstorms to impact Cobb county during the evening of April 23rd.

Hail in BARTOW, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:40:00 to 23-APR-09 18:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: CARTERSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 400.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed golf ball-sized hail just south of Emerson and quarter-sized hail southeast of Cartersville.  Radar data suggests that similar-sized hail likely fell from Cartersville to the southeast corner of the county near Lake Allatoona.

Hail in COBB, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:58:00 to 23-APR-09 19:28:00 (EST-5)
Location: ACWORTH
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Many reports of quarter sized-hail were received across northern Cobb county from Acworth to Kennesaw to Marietta and the northeast corner of the county.  The public reported golf ball-sized hail northeast of Acworth near the Cherokee county line.  The public estimated that wind gusts with the thunderstorm were near 50 mph, but no structural, tree, or power line damage was reported.

Hail in CHEROKEE, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 19:05:00 to 23-APR-09 19:23:00 (EST-5)
Location: WOODSTOCK
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several reports of large hail were received from southern Cherokee county.  The public observed penny to quarter-sized hail from southwest Cherokee county approximately six miles west-northwest of Woodstock into the city of Woodstock.  Golf ball-sized hail was observed by the public in the southeast corner of the county, or about five miles east-southeast of Woodstock.  The Fulton County EMA Director was in the area at the time and estimated wind gusts of 60 mph.  However, no tree, power line, or structural damage was reported.

Hail in FULTON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 20:10:00 to 23-APR-09 20:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: ATLANTA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Fulton County Emergency Management Director reported that golf ball-sized hail fell at Turner Field just southeast of Atlanta.  The public observed penny-sized hail on the north side of Atlanta.  This was the fourth severe thunderstorm to track across Fulton county during the evening of April 23rd.

Hail in CLAYTON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 19:06:00 to 23-APR-09 20:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: ATLANTA HARTSFIELD I
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several reports of large hail were received from the public across Clayton county as a slow moving severe thunderstorm tracked from the northwest to the east central part of the county.  The ASOS observer at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport observed penny to quarter-sized hail off and on for a period of 46 minutes.  Golf ball-sized hail was reported from the public in Forest Park and Morrow, while penny to quarter-sized hail fell near Rex, east of Morrow, and northeast of Jonesboro as the storm began to weaken slightly as it approached the eastern border of the county.  In addition, the wind gusted to 42 knots at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport during the hailstorm.  Frequent to continuous cloud-to-ground lightning was also observed at the airport during the thunderstorm.

Hail in GWINNETT, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 19:30:00 to 23-APR-09 19:58:00 (EST-5)
Location: LILBURN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 1.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed golf ball-sized hail just west of Snellville and half-dollar-sized hail in the Snellville area.  Amateur radio operators reported quarter-sized hail in the Lilburn area.

Hail in BARROW, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 20:00:00 to 23-APR-09 20:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: AUBURN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 900.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter to golf ball-sized hail in the far western part of Barrow county, especially in the Auburn area.  They reported that it hailed for up to 10 minutes in the Auburn area.  The public also reported nickel-sized hail in the Bethlehem area.

Hail in MORGAN, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 20:40:00 to 23-APR-09 20:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: RUTLEDGE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed penny-sized hail.  Radar data suggests that this occurred in the northwest part of the county near Rutledge, not near Madison, where little to no radar returns were indicated.

Hail in DE KALB, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:55:00 to 23-APR-09 19:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: TUCKER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed penny-sized hail in the Tucker area and penny to golf ball-sized hail in the Stone Mountain area.  Radar data suggests that large hail likely fell from Tucker to Stone Mountain and points just to the east.

Hail in HENRY, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 20:25:00 to 23-APR-09 20:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: STOCKBRIDGE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter observed quarter-sized hail just west of Stockbridge, while the public observed quarter-sized hail for up to 10 minutes in the Stockbridge area.  Nickel-sized hail was observed on Interstate-75 near Flippen and penny-sized hail was observed by the public in the McDonough area.

Hail in FULTON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 18:18:00 to 23-APR-09 18:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: ATLANTA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed quarter-sized hail northwest of Atlanta near the Cobb county line.

Hail in MADISON, GEORGIA
From 23-APR-09 20:36:00 to 23-APR-09 20:49:00 (EST-5)
Location: DIAMOND HILL
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed golf ball-sized hail in the southwest part of Madison county.  They reported that it hail for up to 12 minutes in this area.