Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Georgia, August 29, 2005

A National Weather Survey Team concluded that an F2 tornado touched down approximately 1/4 mile south of Glenloch in far northern Heard county, then continued north at 30-35 mph into Carroll county about three miles southeast of Roopville, finally terminating three miles northeast of Roopville. This was the first confirmed tornado in the Peachtree City forecast area associated with Hurricane Katrina. While the overall damage path with this tornado was 5.5 miles long, only 1.5 miles of this damage path occurred within Heard county. The path width of this tornado was approximately 200 yards wide. Several homes in the Glenloch area were severely damaged, along with a number of downed trees and power lines. Three residents at one of the damaged homes were injured by debris during the tornado.

A National Weather Service Damage Survey Team, in conjunction with the Carroll County Emergency Manager and Chief of Fire and Rescue operations, concluded that the F2 tornado, which began just south of Glenloch in Heard county, continued north into Carroll county. The tornado entered Carroll county approximately three miles southeast of Roopville and continued north at 30-35 mph to a point about three miles northeast of Roopville. The overall path length within Carroll county was 4.0 miles with an approximate path width of 200 yards. Extensive damage occurred along the path of the tornado. A total of 17 large chicken houses were destroyed along with 1,000,000 chickens. This resulted in agricultural damages alone in Carroll county of $3,000,000. A 40-year old man was killed while stepping outside his house to check on the status of his poultry and one of his chicken houses. Other livestock, including cattle and horses were also killed along the tornado path. Several homes and vehicles were also damaged or destroyed. One Chevrolet pickup truck was flipped over by the tornado onto a pile of bricks and wooden panels. Damage to homes and residential property from the tornado was estimated at $1,435,800. Overall damage in Carroll county from the tornado and subsequent thunderstorm wind was estimated at $5,235,800. All together 30 homes in the county suffered moderate damage, with another 100 homes sustaining minor damage.

The Carroll County Emergency Management Director, the Carroll County Fire and Rescue Chief, and the National Weather Service Damage Survey Team determined that while the F2 tornado ended approximately three miles northeast of Roopville, damage continued northward from this location to a point approximately three miles southwest of Carrollton. Several more homes, vehicles, and residential property were damaged in this area. Residential damages from this non-tornadic portion of this storm were estimated at $800,000.

The Rockdale County 911 Center reported that a couple of trees had been blown down.

The Gwinnett County Emergency Management Director reported that lightning struck a vacant apartment building setting the structure on fire. The fire was confined to one unit of the two story building.

A National Weather Service Damage Survey Team concluded that an F0 tornado touched down approximately one mile southeast of Felton in extreme northern Haralson county and ended at the Polk county line about one mile north of Felton. The damage path was approximately one mile long and 75 yards wide. Damage with this tornado was confined mostly to trees, although one barn was destroyed along the path. This tornado developed from the same storm cell which earlier spawned the F2 tornado in northern Heard and southern Carroll counties.

The Jasper County 911 Center reported that a couple of trees were blown down. Funnel clouds were also sighted in the area.

The Paulding County Emergency Management Director reported that an F0 tornado touched down in the New Georgia Meadows Subdivision, about 1/2 mile southeast of the intersection of Nebo Road and Georgia Highway 61. This is about one mile north of the town of New Georgia. The tornado then traveled northwest crossing Georgia Highway 61 and eventually crossing Marshall Fuller Road, just west of Georgia Highway 61. The tornado dissipated as it crossed Nebo Road just west of Marshall Fuller Road about 1/2 mile west of Georgia Highway 61. The tornado path length was one mile with a maximum path width of 50 yards. Considerable damage was done to homes, vehicles, and trees in the area. Fifteen homes were damaged where the tornado first touched down in the New Georgia Meadows Subdivision, mostly on Brittaney Drive and Amanda Drive. Then 14 homes were damaged in the north part of Oak Leaf Township, mostly on Oak Leaf Drive, White Leaf Drive, and Red Leaf Drive. Next, the Crossroads Church sustained minor roof damage and a good number of trees were uprooted or blown down at the intersection of Georgia Highway 61 and Mayfield Road. As the tornado crossed Georgia Highway 61, six homes were damaged. A mobile home was damaged as the tornado crossed Marshall Fuller Road. Finally, six homes were damaged on Nebo Road where the tornado dissipated. All together, 45 homes and 12 vehicles were damaged along with extensive damage to trees and other landscaping in the area. However, damage was reported to be mostly minor to moderate, with none of the damaged structures rendered inhabitable.

A National Weather Service Damage Survey Team confirmed that an F1 tornado touched down approximately two miles east of Cedartown and traveled on a northwesterly track terminating at a point about two miles north of Cedartown. The damage path was 2.8 miles long and 50 yards wide. The most significant damage was to a Chevron gas station, which sustained a damaged portico, and several brick storage units, which were flattened. In addition, a large billboard on U.S. Highway 27 was bent to the ground by the tornadic winds. A number of trees and power lines were also blown down in a small area along the path of the tornado. Minor damage was also reported to a Wal Mart store on the east side of Cedartown and a power transformer apparently burned when a power line was blown down.

The leader of the Gwinnett County Skywarn reported a funnel cloud in the Lawrenceville area. A possible tornado touchdown was also reported. However, no damage was ever confirmed in this area. There was a definite mesocyclone indicated on National Weather Service Doppler Radar.

The Morgan County Emergency Management Director reported observing a funnel cloud which tracked above Georgia Highway 83 from just south of Madison to Bostwick. The funnel cloud was also observed by the Rutledge Fire and Rescue Department. There were various reports that the funnel cloud touched down, especially in the Bostwick area, but none of these reports were confirmed. The location of the funnel cloud was consistent with a strong circulation indicated on National Weather Service Doppler radar.

The Morgan County Emergency Management Director and the Rutledge Fire and Rescue Department reported that about eight or nine trees were blown down in the Centennial and Rutledge areas. Some reports of funnel clouds were received from the area, but the damage was not directly attributed to a tornado.

The Gwinnett County Emergency Management Director reported several isolated incidents of downed trees and power lines. A tree was blown down on Pleasant Lake Village Lane at the Saratoga Springs Apartments in Duluth. A female nearby was injured when the tree limbs knocked her to the ground. The fallen tree also caused damage to an nearby vehicle. Another tree fell on Sycamore Road, also in Duluth, bringing down power lines and blocking the road. Power lines were also brought down on Old Peachtree Road at Bunten Road in Duluth and Ewing Chapel Road in Dacula. No damage was reported to structures at any of these locations.

The Floyd County Emergency Management Director reported that a few trees were blown down.

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Director reported that an F0 tornado touched down in a small subdivision near A. C. Smith Roads, Jewell Bennett, and Conner Roads, just south of Silver City near the Dawson county line. The tornado caused roof damage to four homes. Two of the homes had moderate damage with wood siding blown off and windows blown out. A number of large pecan and oak trees were also down in the area. The overall path of the tornado was determined to be 1/2 mile with a path width of 50 yards. Reports of public clouds were also received from the public near the time of the tornado.

The Dawson County 911 Center relayed a report of a funnel cloud sightning near the intersection of Georgia Highways 53 and 400. This coincided with a definite mesocyclone circulation indicated on the WSR-88D Doppler radar in this area.

The Henry County Emergency Management Director reported that there had been several sightings of funnel clouds. No touchdowns were reported. National Weather Service Doppler radar confirmed that there was a definite mesocyclone circulation moving north across the eastern portion of the county.

The Chattooga County Emergency Management Director reported that many trees were blown down throughout the county. Most of the damage was across the eastern portion of the county, east of a Tidings, to Summerville, to Trion line. National Weather Service Doppler radar clearly indicated a mesocyclonic circulation that traveled northwest across the county from the southeast corner to near Trion during this period.

The Oconee County Emergency Management Director concluded that an F0 tornado touched down about six miles southwest of Bogart on Ridgeway Road, just west of Lane Creek Road. This is also just south of Georgia Highway 53. The tornado damage path was only 0.1 mile long and 25 yards wide. Ten large trees were blown down in different directions and scattered about. A portion of a roof of a home was also blown off and the back deck railings were removed from the foundation and scattered about the yard.

The Taylor County Emergency Management Director confirmed that an F1 tornado occurred in extreme northeast Taylor county, touching down 1/2 mile south of the town of Fickling Mill, then traveled northwest for a distance of three to four miles, terminating near the Flint River and the Upson county line. The damage path was three to four miles long and 200 to 300 yards wide. Two site-built homes were destroyed at the touch down point. A man was trapped in his truck by downed power lines and had to be rescued. He sustained minor injuries during the ordeal. Eight other homes near Fickling Mill sustained minor roof damage, while one mobile home was destroyed in this same area. Hundreds of trees were blown down or uprooted along the path of the tornado, including extensive damage to a pecan orchard just north of Georgia Highway 137 and Fickling Mill. Several power lines were also brought down by the wind and downed trees. Only minor tree damage to a largely rural area was reported north of Fickling Mill to the Flint River and the Upson county line.

The Jasper County 911 Center reported that at least a dozen trees were down in the far western portion of the county along and either side of Georgia Highway 16. National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a distinct mesocylone in the area at the time. However, no tornado touchdown was confirmed.

A damage survey conducted by the Dawson County Emergency Management Director concluded that an F0 tornado has touched down just across the Dawson county line in Lumpkin county approximately 2.5 miles north of Burtsboro, or just north of Georgia Highway 9. The tornado then traveled north-northwest for almost one mile before lifting. The tornado damage path was determined to be 0.9 miles long and about 125 yards wide. Most of the damage occurred along Sheep Wallow Road off Mill Creek Road. Initial damage began at 2239 Sheep Wallow Road where 12 trees were uprooted or snapped. More damage was then reported between the 3210 and 3400 block of Sheep Wallow Road where damage occurred to a nursery. A greenhouse, warehouse, and two vehicles sustained mostly minor damage at this facility. Approximately 30 trees were also blown down on the nursery property or nearby.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service confirmed that an F2 tornado had touched down just south of Fort Valley, crossed Georgia Highway 49 in Fort Valley and continued north for approximately four miles. The overall damage path was four miles long and 50 yards wide. The worst damage was along Taylor's Mill Road. Extensive damage occurred to homes and businesses in the area. Several homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged beyond repair, including a branch of the Robins Federal Credit Union. Hundreds of large trees in the area were completely uprooted, including a pecan orchard which was destroyed. Three people suffered minor injuries in the way of bruises and scrapes from tornado debris. Parts of Taylor's Mill Road and Georgia Highway 49 were blocked by debris and had to be closed.

The Walker County Sheriff's Department reported that several trees and power lines were down in the area.

An amateur radio operator reported sighting a funnel cloud in the vicinity of Barnesville. National Weather Service Doppler radar did detect a mesocyclonic circulation in the area at the time.

The Newton County Emergency Management Director reported that a few trees were down in the area of U.S. Highway 278 and Georgia Highway 11 in the far northeast part of the county. The Emergency Management Director also reported sighting a funnel cloud or tornado in the area, but National Weather Service disaster surveys conducted in the area found no tornado-related damage.

The public reported sighting a funnel cloud at the intersection of U.S. Highway 29 and Beaver Run Road, just northeast of Lilburn. National Weather Service Doppler radar detected a definite mesocyclone in the area at the time.

The Walton County 911 Center relayed reports of funnel clouds sightings just northwest of Social Circle. National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a definite mesocyclone circulation in this area at the time.

The Georgia Post of Roberta reported that 14 large trees were blown down around a century-old home. One of the fallen tree limbs caused minor damage to the side of the structure. A nearby pecan orchard also suffered minor to moderate damage. There were reports of a possible tornado in the area and National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a definite mesocyclone in the area at the time. However, a damage survey did not confirm any tornado touchdown in the county.

The Gwinnett County Emergency Management Director reported that a tree and a power line were down on Whited Way.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service and the Fannin County Emergency Management Director confirmed that a high-end F0 tornado had touched down at the intersection of U.S. Highway 76 and Loving Road and traveled almost due north for approximately 1/4 mile paralleling Loving Road. The damage path was determined to be 1/4 mile long and 100 yards wide. The damage began at the Appalachia Baptist Church on U.S. Highway 76. Part of the roof was blown off the church and the church's sign on the highway was destroyed. It was also noted that a trash dumpster was moved several dozen feet in the parking lot and an air conditioning compressor was moved from its concrete base. The tornado continued north into a subdivision along Loving Road. Dozens of large trees were uprooted or blown down at over at least a dozen homes. At least two homes sustained moderate damage when large trees fell on the structures. Several homes sustained minor roof damage when shingles were blown off. A large swath of trees were blown down in a wooded area between the church and the homes on Loving Road.

The Banks County 911 Center reported sightings of funnel clouds in the Homer area. This was consistent with a definite mesocyclone indication on National Weather Service Doppler radar.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that an F1 tornado had touched down in a rural area of southeast Spalding county approximately five miles north of Orchard Hill in the vicinity of Wild Plum and McDonough Roads. The tornado continued north from this location for approximately one mile. The overall tornado path was one mile long and 100 yards wide. One small home was completely destroyed and another nearby brick home under construction suffered major damage. A sport utility vehicle was also damaged at this home when the garage collapsed. Two people in the small home were injured during the tornado. A few other homes nearby sustained minor damage. A number of trees and some power lines were also down in the area. A horse trailer was thrown about 200 yards from its original location.

The Fulton County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees were down across the county, but mostly across the northern portion of the county. National Weather Service Doppler radar detected a mesocyclone that travelled across the northern portion of Fulton county, entering the county near Warsaw and exiting the county north of Alpharetta.

The Monroe County Emergency Management Director reported that dozens of trees were down in the Bolingbroke area. A number of power lines were also down and power was out throughout the area. The Emergency Management Director indicated that it was possible that a tornado had touched down in the area. Although National Weather Service damage surveys conducted in the region could not confirm a tornado touchdown, National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a definite mesocyclone circulation in the area at the time of the damage reports. Several trees and power lines were down on Zebulon Road and Estes Road in Bolingbroke. A few trees and power lines were also down in the Juliette area of northeast Monroe county along the Jones county line.

The Henry County Emergency Management Director reported that strong thunderstorm winds caused damage to a rollup door on a warehouse just north of Locust Grove.

The Dalton Daily Citizen reported that several trees were blown down across the central portion of Murray county, mostly just south and east of Chatsworth. Trees and some power lines were down on Crandall, Ellijay, and Old Federal Roads. A transformer was blown down on Georgia Highway 225 north of Chatsworth. The Murray County 911 Center reported another tree down at Fort Mountain State Park east of Chatsworth.

The Jasper County 911 Center reported that at least 10 trees were down in the Lake Jackson community on the south end of Lake Jackson along the Butts county line. Power outages were also reported in the Monticello area. National Weather Service Doppler radar detected a definite mesocyclone circulation which tracked across the west and central portion of the county during this period.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service confirmed that an F0 tornado had touched down in Social Circle in the far southern part of the county. The tornado path was only 1/4 mile long and 50 yards wide. Damage was confined mostly to trees, but several homes were damaged from downed trees. Approximately 30 trees were down on private property on Canon Drive and a number of trees were down on Elder Drive through the historic district, as well as Dogwood Road, Holly Street, Hightower Road, and Carner Drive, where some of the heaviest damage was reported. The most significant damage occurred to a carport when a large tree fell on the structure. Another home under construction just down the street also suffered damage when a tree limb tore through a house under construction. A couple of vehicles were also damaged by downed trees. Several power lines were also down in the area leaving 1800 residents of the city without power.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service confirmed that an F0 tornado had torn a 1.5 mile long and 100 yard wide path through Fort Yargo State Park, just southwest of Winder. The tornado began roughly in the middle of the park, traveled northwest across Masseys Lake, and terminated near the west entrance to the park on Georgia Highway 81. From 800 to 900 trees in the park were uprooted or blown over. Some minor damage occurred to camp sites and park benches within the park. A vehicle and a camper were also damaged from downed trees. Nearby in Bethlehem, several chicken houses and outbuildings suffered minor to moderate damage and minor roof damage was also reported to a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

The Jackson County Emergency Management Director reported that a tornado had touched down just southeast of Braselton and traveled approximately one mile to the north. The tornado crossed Georgia Highway 124, and then ended just before Interstate-85. Several dozen large trees were blown down in the area, some on roads and power lines. In addition, minor damage was reported to roofs on a few homes. Damage was confined largely to debris clean up.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that an F0 tornado touched down about 1 mile south of Lula and traveled a long nearly 11-mile path to the north-northwest, terminating near Mossy Creek in southeast White county. Eight miles of the tornado path occurred within Hall county. The majority of the damage with this tornado also occurred in Hall county, especially along a six-mile path near Lula. Along this path, hundreds of trees and many power lines were blown down and eighteen homes, six of which were mobile homes, sustained minor to moderate damaged. The damage was confirmed by the Hall county Sheriff and the Hall County Emergency Management Director at the time of the incident. The overall tornado path within Hall county was eight miles long and 50 yards wide.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that the F0 tornado that touched down just south of Lula continued on a nearly 11-mile long north-northwest track crossing into White county near Rogers Mill. The tornado continued for approximately three miles into White county before finally lifting about one mile west-southwest of Mossy Creek just across Georgia Highway 254. The tornado tracked through a very rural portion of White county and as such, damage was confined almost entirely to trees and a few power lines. Most of the damage was located along New Bridge and Duncan Bridge Roads. No reports of damage to structures or buildings were received from White county. The overall damage path of this tornado was 11 miles long and 50 yards wide. The portion within White county was approximately three miles long and still 50 yards wide.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in cooperation with the White County Emergency Management Director and the White County Sheriff concluded that an F2 tornado had carved a five mile long path of destruction, roughly parallel to Georgia Highway 75, causing major destruction to the town of Helen. Extensive damage was reported to several business in downtown Helen, a Bavarian tourist town in the northeast Georgia mountains. The entire second floor was ripped off the Helen Econo Lodge by the tornado. A nearby chapel was completely destroyed. The roof of Hansel & Gretel's Candy Kitchen, the Alpine Village Shoppes, as well as that of a nearby barbecue company were all ripped off by the tornadic winds. A Circle K grocery store also suffered significant damage. Hundreds of trees were also down. One resident reported losing 200 trees just at his property. Georgia Highway 75 was completely blocked on both the north and south side of Helen from downed trees. Many power lines were also down in the area and power was out to much of the area for at least two days.