National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

May 3 - 4, 2021 Severe Thunderstorms

May 3rd and 4th brought two main rounds of strong and severe thunderstorms. Five tornadoes were spawned on May 3rd with additional numerous reports of damaging winds and one tornado on May 4th. In addition, due to multiple rounds of thunderstorms, heavy rainfall totals brought localized flooding to some areas of north Georgia both days.

Rainfall Totals, May 3-4

Widespread rainfall totals of 2-4" with locally higher totals over 5" led to localized flooding across north Georgia.

Warnings Issued, May 3-4

Numerous convective warnings were issued on May 3rd and 4th.


 

 

 

Preliminary Survey Information: 

(click Location for Detailed Survey)

Location of Tornado

EF-Scale Rating

Fatalities/   Injuries

Damage Path Length/Max Width Start Point/ Time

End Point/   Time

Douglas County

May 3

EF-1

90 mph

0

1.5 miles long   

250 yards wide

1 E Bill Arp

33.6681 / -84.7821

10:00 AM EDT 

2 WSW Chapel Hill

33.6717 / -84.7572

10:03 AM EDT

Fulton County (SW Atlanta) 

May 3

EF-1

110 mph

0 (no known injuries)

5.8 miles long

400 yards wide

3 WSW Sandtown

33.6974 / -84.6206

10:22 AM EDT

3 E Cassville

34.2397 / -84.7971

10:34 AM EDT

Walton County

May 3

EF-0

85 mph

0

1.4 miles long

200 yards wide

2 SSW Gratis

33.8501 / -83.6841

12:39 PM EDT

1 SSE Gratis 

33.8607 / -83.6634

12:42 PM EDT

Madison County

May 3

EF-1

90 mph

0

5.6 miles long

250 yards wide

1 SSE Neese

34.0672 / -83.315

12:54 PM EDT 

2 S Danielsville

34.0865 / -83.2213

1:32 PM EDT 

Oglethorpe County

May 3

EF-0

80 mph

0

2.0 miles long

200 yards wide

1 S Winterville

33.9543 / -83.2791

1:29 PM EDT 

Dunlap

33.9544 / -83.2464

1:32 PM EDT 

Lumpkin County

May 4

EF-0

85 mph

0

4.8 miles long

350 yards wide

3 ENE Auraria

34.4797/ -83.9624

1:24 PM EDT 

3 SE Garland

34.4785/ -83.8799

1:32 PM EDT

Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Convective Outlooks

May 3rd:

Initial Day 1 Convective Outlook Day 1 Outlook Report Verification

Initial Day 1 Tornado Probabilities  Initial Day 1 Wind Probabilities

Initial Day 1 Hail Probabilities 
 
May 4th:
 

Initial Day 1 Convective Outlook  Day 1 Outlook Verification

Initial Day 1 Tornado Probabilities  Initial Day 1 Wind Probabilities

Initial Day 1 Hail Probabilities
 
Local Storm Reports, May 3-4:

 

 - Tornado Report

 - Wind Damage Report

 - Flooding Report

 - Hail Report

 - Lightning Damage Report

 
 

Surface Analysis:

May 3

8 AM EDT, May 3 11 AM EDT, May 3
 

2 PM EDT, May 3 5 PM EDT, May 3
 
May 4
 

8 AM EDT, May 4 11 AM EDT, May 4
 

2 PM EDT, May 4 5 PM EDT, May 4
 

8 PM EDT, May 4
 
 
Upper Air Maps:
May 3

250 mb analysis, 8 AM  500 mb analysis, 8 AM

850 mb analysis, 8 AM
 
May 4

250 mb analysis, 8 AM 500 mb analysis, 8 AM

850 mb analysis, 8 PM