Severe Storm System Causes Destruction Across Georgia
A major storm system swept through Georgia on March 16, 2025, leaving devastation and chaos in its wake, particularly across the central and southern parts of the state. This system brought strong winds, lightning, and tornado warnings, causing authorities to issue alerts and prepare for potential disasters.
Local officials, particularly from Paulding County, suspect at least one tornado may have touched down as the storm moved through overnight. While they await official confirmation from the National Weather Service, the indication of tornado activity has heightened the sense of urgency among emergency responders. The situation has drawn significant attention as residents prepare for the possibility of recovery and repairs.
The storm's impact has been felt acutely at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which serves as the hub for Delta Airlines and is one of the busiest airports globally. According to flight data from FlightAware, the storm caused extensive disruptions: as of March 16, there were 28 cancellations and 266 delays for flights arriving at Atlanta, alongside 6 cancellations and 346 delays for flights departing the city. Delta Airlines was hit hardest by these disruptions, reporting 25 cancellations and 403 delays, which reflects the challenges of operating through severe weather. Other airlines, including SkyWest, AirCanada, Southwest, and Spirit, also faced cancellations and delays.
Meanwhile, thousands of Georgians found themselves without power as severe weather continued to wreak havoc. Crews worked through the night to restore electricity, but the situation remained dire for many customers. Georgia Power reported over 11,907 customers affected due to 414 outages statewide. The outages not only impacted Georgia Power customers but also affected several electric membership cooperatives, particularly across metropolitan Atlanta and neighboring counties.
By 11 AM on March 16, as restoration efforts continued, the following statistics emerged: Amicalola Electric Membership Corporation reported 31 outages impacting 606 customers, Carroll EMC had 75 outages affecting 1,025 residents, and Coweta-Fayette EMC reported 39 customers affected across Coweta and Fayette counties. GreyStone Power experienced 116 outages impacting 5,172 customers, Jackson EMC noted four outages across Barrow, Gwinnett, and Hall counties, and Snapping Shoals EMC reported 150 outages across Rockdale, DeKalb, Newton, and Henry counties.
The utility companies have been mobilizing resources and personnel to address these outages, demonstrating the urgency of restoring power as communities brace for the devastating impacts of the storm. Residents are reminded to remain cautious as storms may still be moving through the area, and utility crews are working tirelessly to provide needed support.
The upcoming days will likely bring additional challenges as officials conduct damage assessments and begin the process of recovery from what appears to be significant storm damage across the state. Reports of downed trees and damaged properties have already begun trickling in, showcasing the extent of impact from this potent storm system.
Officials urge residents to remain aware of weather alerts and to take precautions, as Georgia has been no stranger to severe weather patterns recently. Community leaders and officials continue to monitor the situation closely, ready to provide necessary assistance as Georgia navigates through these tumultuous times.