MLG FLC ENCOUNTERING WX ON ARR RTE IS UNABLE TO TURN AS VECTORED WITHOUT ENTERING TSTMS. EXPERIENCED TURB AND HAIL FROM OVERHANG. AFTER LNDG RWY CONFIGN CHANGED.

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INBOUND TO ATL ON MALEY 2 ARR; WE BEGAN PAINTING LARGE TSTM CELLS ON THE ARR RADIAL. WE WERE HEADED SW AND THE CELLS EXTENDED APPROX 8-10 MI W OF AIRWAY. WE ADVISED ZTL OF OUR NEED TO DEVIATE W. THE REQUEST WAS APPROVED WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO 'STAY AS CLOSE TO ARR AS POSSIBLE.' AS THE CELL WAS PASSING OFF OUR L; WE WERE ON A HDG OF 260 DEGS; CTR TOLD US TO TURN L TO A 180 DEG HDG. I TOLD THEM WE WERE UNABLE DUE TO CELL BUT COULD TURN TO A 220 DEG HDG. CTR SAID 'UNABLE 220 DEGS FLY HDG 190 DEGS.' I REPEATED UNABLE. AT THIS TIME WE PASSED UNDER THE CELL'S OVERHANG AND EXPERIENCED MODERATE TURB AND HAIL. WE REMAINED ON THE 220 DEG HDG AND CTR HANDED US OFF TO APCH. ATL APCH TOLD US TO JUST PROCEED DIRECT ATL WHEN ABLE. AS WE DID THIS WE NOTED LARGE CELLS APPROX 15 MI E OF ATL THAT MIGHT AFFECT OUR INTENDED FINAL APCH FOR A W LNDG. AT ABOUT 10 MI N OF ATL ON A 180 DEG HDG; APCH ISSUED A L TURN TO 110 DEGS. THIS HDG WOULD PUT US IN THE CELLS ON FINAL. THE CAPT WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY; WE WERE GIVEN NUMEROUS HDG AND ALT CHANGES ALONG WITH 3 DIFFERENT RWY ASSIGNMENTS. WE MADE MANY XMISSIONS TO APCH THAT WENT UNANSWERED CONCERNING OUR INABILITY TO FLY ASSIGNED HDGS DUE TO LIGHTNING; RAINSHAFTS AND TURB. SHORTLY AFTER OUR LNDG; THE ARPT CHANGED CONFIGN TO E LNDGS TO AVOID WX ON W LNDGS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TRIP FOR THE CAPT AFTER COMPLETION OF IOE. HE DID A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO COMPLY WITH BOTH ATC INSTRUCTIONS AND COMPANY OPERATING PROCS FOR WX AVOIDANCE. I FEEL ATC SHOULD HAVE BETTER WX DEPICTION AVAILABLE TO SEE INTENSITY OF STORMS. THIS MIGHT HAVE CHANGED ARPT CONFIGN SOONER AVOIDING THE PROBS WE EXPERIENCED. OF NOTE IS THAT THE STORMS WE AVOIDED WERE RPTED ON TV NEWS TO HAVE SPAWNED TORNADOES AND NUMEROUS HOUSE FIRES FROM THE LIGHTNING STRIKES.