Central Georgia Hit by Multiple Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Yesterday
Six severe thunderstorm warnings battered central Georgia yesterday evening, bringing damaging winds up to 60 mph and hail across multiple counties.
DUBLIN, GEORGIA — Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued across central Georgia on May 17, with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City releasing six alerts over three hours as storms brought damaging winds and hail.
The first warning was issued at 5:05 PM EDT for east central Laurens County, Treutlen County, and northern Montgomery County, where storms were located along a line from near Lowery to Barnhill to near Kibbee, moving north at 10 mph. The warning lasted until 5:30 PM EDT.
These storms brought 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail, with radar indicating potential damage to vehicles and wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Affected locations included Soperton, Tarrytown, Lothair, Orland, Rockledge, Orianna, Lowery, Barnhill, Zaidee, and Kibbee.
Storm Activity Intensifies Across Region
At 5:17 PM EDT, another warning was issued for central Dodge County and northwestern Telfair County, where a storm was located over Milan, about 8 miles west of McRae, moving northwest at 20 mph. This warning expired at 5:45 PM EDT.
The Milan-area storm produced similar conditions with 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. Communities in the path included McRae, Eastman, Helena, Milan, Chauncey, Union, Jay Bird Springs, Five Points, Achord, and Godwinsville.
At 5:28 PM EDT, meteorologists tracked another severe thunderstorm over Godwinsville near Eastman, moving northwest at 20 mph. This storm brought more intense conditions with 60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail, affecting Eastman, Chauncey, Union, Godwinsville, and Five Points until 5:45 PM EDT.
Dublin Area Faces Extended Threat
The most prolonged threat developed at 5:31 PM EDT when storms formed along a line extending from near Cedar Grove to Orland to near Zaidee, moving north at 10 mph. This warning covered eastern Laurens County, west central Emanuel County, Treutlen County, and south central Johnson County until 6:00 PM EDT.
These storms produced 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail, impacting a wide area including Dublin, Soperton, East Dublin, Adrian, Dexter, Rentz, Covena, Cedar Grove, Orland, Rockledge, Orianna, Norristown, Minter, Norristown Junction, Blackville, Lowery, Zaidee, Gillis Springs, Scott, and Harlow.
The weather service issued two additional warnings for central Laurens County. At 5:58 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Rentz, 12 miles south of Dublin, moving northwest at 15 mph. The final warning came at 6:15 PM EDT for a storm over Dexter, 7 miles southwest of Dublin, also moving northwest at 15 mph.
Both Dublin-area storms brought 60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail, with the 5:58 PM warning affecting Dublin, Dexter, Dudley, Cadwell, Rentz, and Harlow, while the final warning impacted Dublin, Dexter, Dudley, and Harlow. All warnings concluded by 6:30 PM EDT.
