April 2009 Climate Summary for Georgia

[Joel Paz]

Below is the April 2009 Climate Summary for Georgia prepared by Pam
Knox, Assistant State Climatologist. A PDF version of the article is
available at: http://agroclimate.org/climateSummary/georgia.php. You
can also check the AgroClimate web site (www.agroclimate.org) for maps
and additional climate information.

Thanks,
Joel


-----------------------
8 May 2009


Writer/Source: Pam Knox 706-542-6067


April 2009 Climate Summary for Georgia


By Pam Knox
The University of Georgia


Athens, GA. - April hit Georgia with almost every weather punch,
including floods, hail, high winds, tornadoes and even two
earthquakes.


Except for a few isolated areas in far north-central counties,
rainfall across the state was above normal. More than 10 inches of
rain was observed by radar in southeast and south-central Georgia,
with some isolated unofficial reports in the U.S. Department of
Agriculture weekly crop bulletin listing over 20 inches.


The highest official monthly total from the National Weather Service
was 7.30 inches in Alma (4.14 inches above normal). The lowest total
was in Augusta at 4.33 inches (1.39 inches above normal).


Atlanta received 5.18 inches (1.56 inches above normal), Athens 4.47
inches (1.12 inches above normal), Columbus 6.53 inches (2.69 inches
above normal), Macon inches 5.66 (2.52 inches above normal), Savannah
6.97 inches (3.65 inches above normal) and Brunswick 5.83 inches (3.03
above normal). Many daily records were set during the month at these
stations, including 3.66 inches at Savannah on April 2.


The highest one-day total rainfall from the Community Collaborative
Rain, Hail and Snow Network was 6.53 inches near Baxley on the morning
of April 3. There were also one-day totals in excess of six inches at
Woodbine with 6.25 inches on April 1 and Moultrie with 6.04 inches on
April.


Rainfall and flooding closed schools near Tifton in south Georgia for
two days early in the month. Major and near-record flooding occurred
along several rivers in the area. Over 80 buildings were impacted by
the flooding, including 62 owner-occupied homes and 20 rentals. Of
these, 20 received minor damage, 44 had major damage, and 18 mobile
homes were completely destroyed.


In Atlanta, the monthly average temperature was 60.7 degrees (.9
degree below normal), in Athens 61 degrees (.1 degree above normal),
Columbus 62.8 degrees (1.4 degrees below normal), Macon 62.6 degrees (.
1 degree below normal), Savannah 65 degrees (.3 degrees below normal),
Brunswick 67.3 degrees (.9 degree above normal), Alma 64.4 degrees
(2.3 degrees below normal) and Augusta 62 degrees (.4 degree below
normal). A record low of 32 degrees for the date was tied in Columbus
on April 8.


There were numerous severe weather events over the month, including
over 30 preliminary reports of tornadoes. This is the most tornadoes
in April in Georgia for a decade.


Hail or high winds were observed somewhere in the state on at least 10
days, including a report of hail covering the ground in Elberton on
April 14. Golf-ball-sized hail was reported at Turner Field in Atlanta
on April 23.


Tornadoes were reported April 5 in south Georgia, April 10 throughout
the northern half of the state, April 13 in south Georgia, and near
Atlanta and Columbus on April 19. One person was killed by a drought-
stressed fallen tree near Buckhead in Atlanta on April 13, and more
than 250,000 people were without power during the storms.


One person was reported injured in Hancock County on April 10. Two
people were reported injured near Woodstock near the Cobb County and
Cherokee County border on April 19. Lightning caused a number of
building fires on April 24 in and around Atlanta and caused the
temporary evacuation of the control tower at Atlanta Hartsfield-
Jackson airport, resulting in delays in arrivals and departures.


Because of the heavy rains this month, farmers had a difficult time
working in the fields. Many fields of corn had to be replanted due to
soggy conditions. High winds and hail damaged peach and pecan trees.
Mild frost damaged grapes, strawberries and blueberries the week
ending on April 13.


Two small earthquakes in Hancock and Baldwin counties on April 4
measured 3.1 and 2.2 on the Richter scale and were felt throughout the
area. They could have been caused by shifting ground due to very wet
soil.


(Pam Knox is the assistant state climatologist and a program
coordinator in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences Department of Biological and Agricultural
Engineering)