South Georgia on lookout for severe weather Thursday night

Terry Richards, The Valdosta Daily Times, Ga.
Updated ·2 min read

May 8—VALDOSTA — Severe weather is possible across South Georgia Thursday night and Friday as a wave of severe storms moves through the area.

The storms are expected to move across South and middle Georgia in two rounds, first from 2-5 p.m. Thursday, then from 5-8 a.m. Friday, a statement from the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee, Fla., said.

Valdosta and Moultrie can expect the storms to start arriving from 2-5 p.m., while Tifton can expect the rough weather to roll in from noon-3 p.m., said Eric Bunker, a meteorologist with the weather service.

He said the storms will be caused by a pair of upper-level events centered over Tennessee.

Valdosta and Moultrie were ranked at "slight" risk for severe storms, while Tifton was just inside the "enhanced" risk border.

The major threats are winds above 75 mph and a few embedded tornadoes, the statement said. Large hail could accompany the second round and power outages could occur, the weather service said.

The chances for tornadoes around Valdosta and Moultrie were low — only 2-4% — while Tifton runs a slightly greater 5-9% chance, NWS data shows.

Rain could average from 1.5-2 inches across the region.

The outlook for South Georgia as of 5 p.m. Wednesday:

— Valdosta: High of 92 Thursday, low of 72, with 40% chance of severe storms Thursday night. Friday, the high slacks off to 85 degrees with 90% chance of thunderstorms.

— Moultrie: High of 91 Thursday with low of 71 and a 40% chance of thunderstorms Thursday night. Friday, the high drops to 83 with a 90% chance of storms.

— Tifton: High of 92 Thursday with a low of 71 and a 50% chance of severe storms Thursday night. Friday the high drops to 84 with an 80% chance of thunderstorms.

Terry Richards is the senior reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times.