Flash Flood — Gilmer, Georgia

2015-12-24 · near Elders, Gilmer, Georgia

Event narrative

A USGS stream gauge on the Coosawattee River off Legion Road near Ellijay reached flood stage of 8 feet. The river crest at 13.9 feet. Major flooding affected around 45 homes and a few businesses in Ellijay with some evacuations. The Spring Ellijay Plant flooded and portions of the Pilgrims Pride Processing Plant parking lot were under 3 feet of water. The American Legion Post 82 building and the Georgia Power Substation next to the Post were flooded with around 3 feet of water. Most of the Harold Hefner River Park was flooded with a few feet of water.

Wider weather episode

Persistent, deep and strong southwesterly upper-level flow across the eastern U.S. resulted in an extremely moist and moderately unstable atmosphere over North and Central Georgia. A stalled frontal boundary and a series of short waves in the southwesterly upper flow resulted in multiple rounds of heavy rain, and strong to severe thunderstorms, with widespread flash flooding, damaging thunderstorms winds, hail and an isolated tornado.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.6900, -84.5700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 611950. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.