Hail — Marion, Georgia

2013-03-18 · near Draneville, Marion, Georgia

Event narrative

The Marion County Emergency Manager reported that widespread dime-sized hail covered the ground along Georgia Highway 30. Some of the hailstones were as large as golfballs.

Wider weather episode

A strong upper level system combined with a moist south to southeast flow, moderate instability, a cold pool aloft, and enhanced surface convergence along and ahead of an approaching cold front moving through the Deep South. This combination of parameters resulted in widespread severe weather across northwest, west central, and central Georgia including damaging winds, large hail, and a tornado. A wedge of cold air was in place across northeast Georgia, which acted to stabilize this area with only isolated reports of severe weather. The bulk of the severe weather was concentrated along a zone just to the south and west of the wedge front, where instability and low-level shear were maximized.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.2269, -84.5027)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 436986. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.