Severe Storms Bring Flooding, Damaging Winds to Southwest Georgia
Heavy storms dump up to 3 inches of rain per hour while packing 60 mph winds across multiple southwest Georgia counties Friday evening.
DAWSON, GEORGIA — Severe thunderstorms with 60 mph winds and heavy rainfall led to multiple weather warnings across southwest Georgia Friday evening, with flooding already affecting several communities.
The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory at 4:57 PM EDT for Calhoun, Randolph, and Terrell counties, indicating that minor flooding was ongoing or expected shortly due to excessive rainfall. The advisory remains in effect until 7:30 PM EDT.
“Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms,” according to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee. “Hourly rainfall accumulations of 2 to 3 inches are possible with locally heavier amounts with these storms.”
Multiple Communities Under Threat
The flooding particularly affects low-lying and poor drainage areas near Cuthbert and Dawson. Twenty communities face potential flooding impacts, including Morgan, Cuthbert, Dawson, Edison, Shellman, Bronwood, Parrott, Pachitla, Martins Crossroads, Goffs Mill, Graves, Fountain Bridge, Doverel, Aycock Mill, Brooksville, Shivers Mill, Wades, Benevolence, White House, and Cordrays Mill.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were also issued for multiple counties. At 4:48 PM EDT, the weather service issued a warning for western Dougherty County, northern Clay County, Randolph County, Lee County, Calhoun County, Quitman County, and Terrell County until 6:00 PM EDT.
Wind Damage Expected
The severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from nine miles north of Fort Gaines to near Leary at 4:48 PM EDT, moving northeast at 30 mph. Radar indicated 60 mph wind gusts capable of causing damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Communities in the path of the severe storms include Morgan, Dawson, Leesburg, Cuthbert, Georgetown, Albany, Edison, Shellman, Leary, Smithville, Walker, Sasser, Bronwood, Parrott, Wire Bridge, Carnegie, Watson Crossroads, Ricks Place, Dawson Municipal Airport, and Chambliss.
A separate severe thunderstorm warning was issued at 4:50 PM EDT for areas near Tifton, where a storm seven miles southeast of the city was moving north at 20 mph. That warning affected Tifton, Enigma, Omega, Lenox, Ty Ty, Phillipsburg, Unionville, Vanceville, Hillsdale, Eldorado, Staunton, Wagon Wheel, Tift Airport, Fender, Brookfield, and Cool Spring until 5:15 PM EDT.
Safety Precautions Urged
The weather service urged residents to avoid driving through flooded roadways and to seek shelter from the damaging winds. Officials reminded the public that just six inches of moving water can knock down an adult, and twelve inches can carry away a vehicle.
All warnings and advisories were issued by the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee, Florida, which provides weather services for the affected Georgia counties. Residents can find additional flood safety information at weather.gov/safety/flood.
