Tornado in Georgia, March 12, 2001

Name: Tornado in Georgia, March 12, 2001
Start: 2001-03-12T17:15
End: 2001-03-12T17:20
Location: Georgia

March 12, 2001 · NWS TAE · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 2
Property damage: $500,000
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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 12, 2:37 PM EST, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 12, 2:37 PM EST, 2 hours 38 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
237 PM EST MON MAR 12 2001

CURRENTLY: AN ACTIVE AFTN CONVECTION-WISE UNFOLDING AS INTENSE
SQUALL LINE W/ EMBEDDED MESOS/LEWPS/BOWS MARCHING EWD NEAR 50 MPH
ACROSS SRN AL/WRN FL PANHANDLE. SPC HAS ISSUED  TOR WATCH 61 FOR ALL
SE AL/ERN FL PANHANDLE COUNTIES UNTIL 3 PM CST. RECENT MESO
DISCUSSION HINTS AT PSBL WW BOX FOR PORTIONS OF SW GA/FL BIG BEND
AROUND MID AFTN. 18Z MSAS SHOWED COLD FRONT OVER MID MS VALLEY SWWD
INTO RED RIVER VALLEY/N TX. A WARM FRONT EXTENDED FROM EXTREME S GA
INTO LOW PRESSURE NEAR MGM. DEWPTS S OF THIS BOUNDARY RECOVERED INTO
THE 60S OVER FL ZONES. MORE INSOLATION OVER SE BIG BEND ALLOWED
TEMPS TO RISE INTO LOWER 80S.

MODELS/ZONES: 12Z MODELS INITIALIZED UPPER FEATURES EXCEPTIONALLY
WELL. SPLIT FLOW WILL PREVAIL THRU FCST PERIOD...WITH NRN STREAM
TRACK FROM NRN/CNTRL ROCKIES E/NEWD TO NERN STATES...AND SRN STREAM
DIPPING INTO NRN MEXICO FROM CA...THEN LIFTING NEWD ALONG GULF COAST
STATES. POTENT S/W TROF WILL SWING FROM UPPER MS VALLEY INTO NERN
STATES AS CLOSED LOW OFF SRN CA COAST OPENS UP OVER BAJA AND EJECTS
EWD AS WAVE. FLOW REMAINS NEARLY ZONAL (WSW) OVER SERN CONUS. COLD
FRONT TO OUR NW DROPS SEWD W/ FROPA AT DHN 12Z-15Z...ABY-TLH-PFN
15Z-18Z...VLD/CTY 18Z-21Z. WILL KEEP CATEGORICAL POPS ALL BUT SE BIG
BEND ZONES W/ LIKELY POPS AS SQUALL LINE PROGRESSES ACROSS THE CWFA
MAINLY THIS EVENING W/ NARROWER BAND OF CONVECTION TO ACCOMPANY THE
COLD FRONT TUE MORNING. WILL KEEP SEVERE POTENTIAL ALL ZONES FOR
FIRST PERIOD. WINDS SHIFT FROM SW TO NW & PPCN ENDS W/ FROPA TUE
FOLLOWED BY DECREASING CLOUDS & COOLER TEMPS TUE NIGHT & WED.
FAVORED FAN TEMPS & POPS FIRST TWO PERIODS...THEN AVERAGE PERIODS
THREE & FOUR.

EXTENDED: SPLIT FLOW PATTERN LINGERS ON. BAJA SHORTWAVE MOVES EWD
INTO LOWER MS VALLEY EARLY THU. APPROACHING SURFACE LOW AND COLD
FRONT AFFECTS CWFA THU INTO FRI MORNING W/ CHANCE OF SHOWERS OR
TSTMS. SYSTEM CLEARS OUT IN TIME FOR NICE WEEKEND W/ HIGH PRESSURE.
NEXT SYSTEM FOLLOWS SAME TRACK AS ITS PREDECESSOR & BRINGS ANOTHER
CHANCE OF SHOWERS OR TSTMS. TEMPS THRU PERIOD AVERAGE OUT NEAR CLIMO.

FIRE WEATHER: NO REQUIREMENTS AS RH VALUES WILL REMAIN ABOVE MINIMUM
THRESHOLD...ALTHOUGH 20-FOOT WIND SPEEDS NEAR CRITERION.

MARINE: WINDS ALREADY AT SCEC LEVELS & PROGGED TO INCREASE TO SCA
TONIGHT AS FRONT APPROACHES FROM NW & PASSES THRU TUE AFTN. WINDS
SHIFT TO NW LATE IN THE DAY & DIMINISH SLOWLY. RESPITE FROM SCEC/SCA
CONDITIONS WILL BE TEMPORARY AS GRADIENT TIGHTENS & WINDSS VEER TO
SE LATE WEDNESDAY IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER SURFACE LOW & COLD FRONT.

PREL|IMINARY CCF:
TLH WB 065/077 046/073 85-0
PFN EB 067/075 052/070 +300
DHN EB 060/074 047/070 +400
ABY EB 060/074 046/072 +400
VLD WB 064/076 048/074 95-0

.TLH...
AL...NONE.
GA...NONE.
FL...SCA GMZ750-755-770-775.

MAJ

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 12, 11:22 AM EST, 5 hours 53 minutes before

ALZ065>069-FLZ007>019-026>029-034-GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161-121815-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1122 AM EST MON MAR 12 2001

...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AHEAD OF A WARM FRONT. ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND EASTERN
LOUISIANA AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE EASTWARD INTO SOUTHERN
ALABAMA AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE THIS AFTERNOON...AND INTO SOUTHWEST
GEORGIA AND THE FLORIDA BIG BEND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF A
FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON OVER SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA...AND ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND BIG BEND
TONIGHT. THE PRIMARY THREATS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...
HOWEVER INCREASED LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR MAY SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
ISOLATED TORNADOES OVER SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
LOCALIZED FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW LYING AREAS MAY OCCUR
WITH SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS.

STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY EXACERBATE THE RIVER
FLOODING ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE VIA OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TLH/ OR LISTEN TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL TELEVISION OR RADIO STATIONS.

MAJ

Special weather statement, Mar 12, 12:29 PM EST, 4 hours 46 minutes before

ALZ065>069-FLZ007>014-GMZ750-122000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1229 PM EST MON MAR 12 2001

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF

   SOUTHERN ALABAMA
   NORTHWEST FLORIDA
   COASTAL WATERS

EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON FROM 1130 AM UNTIL 300
PM CST.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 90 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST
OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA TO 10 MILES
NORTH OF MONTGOMERY ALABAMA.

THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
IN ALABAMA...COFFEE...GENEVA...DALE...HENRY...AND
HOUSTON. IN FLORIDA...WALTON...HOLMES...WASHINGTON...BAY...JACKSON...
CALHOUN...GULF.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
TALLAHASSEE VIA OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/TLH/ OR LISTEN TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL TELEVISION OR RADIO STATIONS.

WATSON

Special weather statement, Mar 12, 3:53 PM EST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

ALZ067>069-FLZ007>019-026>029-034-GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161-GMZ750-
755-770-775-130200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
353 PM EST MON MAR 12 2001

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS
OF SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL
GEORGIA. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE COASTAL WATERS.

EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 345 PM UNTIL 900
PM EST.

THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

IN FLORIDA...WALTON...HOLMES...WASHINGTON...BAY...JACKSON...
CALHOUN...GULF...GADSDEN...LIBERTY...FRANKLIN...LEON...WAKULLA...
JEFFERSON...MADISON...TAYLOR...DIXIE...AND LAFAYETTE.

IN ALABAMA...GENEVA...HENRY...AND HOUSTON.

IN GEORGIA...QUITMAN...CLAY...EARLY...MILLER...SEMINOLE...RANDOLPH...
CALHOUN...BAKER...DECATUR...TERRELL...DOUGHERTY...MITCHELL...GRADY...
LEE...WORTH...COLQUITT...THOMAS...TURNER...TIFT...COOK...BROOKS...
BEN HILL...IRWIN...BERRIEN...LANIER...AND LOWNDES.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 130 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST
OF A LINE FROM 10 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA TO
70 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF WAYCROSS GEORGIA.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE/ TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

MOLLERE

Special weather statement, Mar 12, 4:00 PM EST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

ALZ067>069-FLZ007>019-026>029-034-GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161-GMZ750-
755-770-775-130200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
400 PM EST MON MAR 12 2001

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS
OF SOUTHEAST ALABAMA...NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL
GEORGIA. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE COASTAL WATERS.

EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 345 PM UNTIL 900
PM EST.

THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:

IN FLORIDA...WALTON...HOLMES...WASHINGTON...BAY...JACKSON...
CALHOUN...GULF...GADSDEN...LIBERTY...FRANKLIN...LEON...WAKULLA...
JEFFERSON...MADISON...TAYLOR...DIXIE...AND LAFAYETTE.

IN ALABAMA...GENEVA...HENRY...AND HOUSTON.

IN GEORGIA...QUITMAN...CLAY...EARLY...MILLER...SEMINOLE...RANDOLPH...
CALHOUN...BAKER...DECATUR...TERRELL...DOUGHERTY...MITCHELL...GRADY...
LEE...WORTH...COLQUITT...THOMAS...TURNER...TIFT...COOK...BROOKS...
BEN HILL...IRWIN...BERRIEN...LANIER...AND LOWNDES.

TORNADOES...HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
TO 80 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS ALONG AND 130 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST
OF A LINE FROM 10 MILES SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA TO
70 MILES NORTH NORTHWEST OF WAYCROSS GEORGIA.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.
PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING
WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

MOLLERE

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Miller

When: March 12, 5:15 PM EST to 5:20 PM EST
Where: Miller County, 2 mi S of Boykin
Rating: F1
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 31.083, -84.700

An F1 tornado touched down just west of U.S. Highway 27 in southern Miller County and tracked east to North Eldorendo Road before it disspiated. Seven mobile homes were damaged. A roof was torn off a frame house. One frame house collapsed. Several sheds were damaged. One single-wide trailer was destroyed. An irrigation system was damaged. Storm damage surveyed by the NWS Tallahassee WCM.

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Georgia in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Georgia, 2001 Warnings in Georgia, March 2001

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: 5238004.