Thunderstorm Wind, Elbert
- When
- February 21, 3:45 PM EST to 3:50 PM EST
- Where
- Elbert County, 2 mi NE of Elberton
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 34.130, -82.850
Damaging Wind in Georgia, February 21, 1997
A squall line proceeded rapidly across northeast Georgia causing several areas of wind damge. A tornado crossed from Hall county into Habersham county and moved across the county in about 15 mintues.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.
A squall line proceeded rapidly across northeast Georgia causing several areas of wind damge. A tornado crossed from Hall county into Habersham county and moved across the county in about 15 mintues. Most of the wind damage occurred along or near the tornado track. For the most part, damage consisted of downed trees and power lines - many of which fell on homes and businesses. Some light structural damage occurred especially around Cornelia and just after the tornado crossed into Habersham. In northern Stephens county wind damage continued after the tornado dissipated. Farther south, wind damage occurred in storms which later would cause some tornado damage across the border in South Caorlina. Where not mentioned specifically, damage listed above was downed trees and power lines.
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 102 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:45 UTC.
Event by event
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Damaging Wind in Kentucky, February 21, 1997
- Tornadoes in Mississippi, February 21, 1997
- Tornado in South Carolina, February 21, 1997
- Rip Current in Florida, February 21, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Georgia, February 21, 1997
- Tornado in North Carolina, February 21, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Georgia, February 21, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Georgia, February 21, 1997
- Tornado in Georgia, February 21, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Tennessee, February 21, 1997
- Damaging Wind in South Carolina, February 21, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Missouri, February 21, 1997
More
Every storm in Georgia in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, February 1997
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5589023.