Hail — Bleckley, Georgia

2010-10-25 · near Cochran, Bleckley, Georgia

Event narrative

The Bleckley County Emergency Management Director reported nickel to quarter-sized hail east of Cochran.

Wider weather episode

October 25th began a 3-day long period of active convective weather for north and central Georgia. The culprit was a developing intense upper-level low and associated surface low located across the northern plains, which moved slowly east toward the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley region by the 27th. Record low surface pressures were observed with this system in Wisconsin on the 26th. A strong cold front developed from the surface cyclone southward into the Arklatex region by the 26th. Deep southerly flow in advance of the system brought unseasonably warm, moist air well northward across the eastern U.S. Even though the parent system was well north of Georgia, strong dynamics, a strong low-level jet, and the warm, unstable air mass provided a near perfect environment for scattered to numerous thunderstorms. The slow movement of the system resulted in three consecutive days of strong to severe thunderstorms across north and central Georgia.

On the 25th, a leading vigorous short wave was tracking across the southern states. This short wave resulted in severe thunderstorms and several tornadoes from east Texas eastward to Georgia. Two tornadoes were confirmed with this event in northwest Georgia on the 25th, including an EF1 in southern Dade county. These tornadoes were part of a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) or line of severe thunderstorms that moved across north Georgia during the early morning hours. The line dissipated by late morning across east and central Georgia. However, individual strong to severe thunderstorms redeveloped once again during afternoon heating across east central and southeast Georgia producing large hail and damaging wind gusts. No tornadoes were observed with the second round of activity, however.

Unusually for October, this event ended up being one of the most significant severe weather outbreaks for the year.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.3800, -83.3157)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 264484. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.