Tropical Storm — Decatur, Georgia

2008-08-22 to 2008-08-24 · Decatur, Georgia

Event narrative

Numerous trees and power lines were down throughout the county. Of the two dozen homes affected by flood waters and winds, nine were damaged and one was destroyed. Several roads were washed away in the Climax area where up to 20 inches of rain fell. One business suffered major damage. Twenty-six roads were closed to flood waters, including Bower Station Road, which was inundated with water after more than 16 inches f rain fell over the southern portion of the county. Spring Creek near Iron City crested well short of the 1998 flood level, at two feet above flood stage. The rising waters forced the closure of part of Whites Bridge Road and near State Road 285 in Brinson. A state of emergency was declared by the Governor.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Fay, which came ashore along the northeast Florida coast, moved slowly westward toward the Florida Panhandle from the 22nd through the 24th. The rain bands from Fay produced sustained winds of 25 to 40 mph with frequent gusts over 45 mph. These winds downed numerous trees and power lines throughout most of southwest and south central Georgia. Rainfall amounts associated with the western semicircle of Fay's circulation generally averaged from one to three inches. However, as Fay moved into the Florida Panhandle on the 23rd, it tapped into Gulf of Mexico moisture, which resulted in excessive rainfall on its east side. Storm total rainfall during the 48-hour period from noon on the 22nd through the 24th varied from four to as much as 27.50 inches at Thomasville. Much of this area experienced severe drought conditions, with low stream flows. Nonetheless, the high volume of runoff resulted in minor to moderate flooding on many of the stem rivers and creeks. The maximum sustained wind and peak wind measured was at Bainbridge on the 23rd. The lowest sea-level pressure recorded was 1003 millibars. A motorist was injured in Valdosta when a tree fell on his vehicle. A 12-year-old boy drowned when he was swept away by flood waters while playing near a drainage ditch in Cairo. Many area schools were closed on the 22nd and 25th. Many area farmers were faced with flattened corn crops, bent cotton plants and as many as 600 downed pecan trees. The following counties were declared disaster areas by the Governor: Baker, Berrien, Brooks, Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Lanier, Lee, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Randolph, Seminole, and Thomas.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 133016. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.