Strong Wind — De Kalb, Georgia

2016-01-23 · De Kalb, Georgia

Event narrative

At approximately 12:30 PM EST northwest winds of 20 to 25 MPH with gusts 30 to 40 MPH caused a tree to fall at the Mystery Valley Golf Club in Lithonia. The tree struck a United States Postal Service vehicle driven by a 36 year old male postal worker. The vehicle left the roadway and travelled down a hill before striking another tree. DeKalb County Fire Department officials believe the impact from the falling tree, which did not appear to be in good health, likely caused the postal worker's death.

Wider weather episode

Very cold air remain entrenched across the southeastern states as a deep surface low developed in the lower Mississippi Valley and swept northeast across the southern Appalachians. A wintry mix of some freezing rain and sleet, but mostly snow, covered north Georgia with snow flurries extending as far south as central Georgia. Strong pressure gradient winds associated with this low pressure system produced northwest winds 20 to 25 MPH with gusts of 30 to 40 MPH across north and central Georgia during the day on the 23rd.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 613720. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.