Hail in Cherokee County, Georgia

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director reported golf ball-sized hail.

Strong northwest flow, a result of an unseasonably deep polar vortex over the northeast U.S. and southeast Canada, combined with several short waves embedded within the northwest flow aloft, to lead to a two-day outbreak of severe thunderstorms. This was the most significant bout of severe weather north and central Georgia had experienced since mid-April with an almost complete lack of severe weather in May, normally a very active month. The activity peaked during the afternoon and evening hours, but lingered well overnight on the 11th into the early morning hours of the 12th. Most of these thunderstorms affected central and east central Georgia. More widespread severe thunderstorms were observed on the 12th, including much of the Atlanta metropolitan area. A number of the storms produced large hail, while a lesser amount produced damaging downburst winds.