Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Georgia, January 2, 2006

The National Weather Service river gage on Crooked Creek along the Fulton/Gwinnett county line, or about 4 miles west-northwest of Norcross indicated that the river had exceeded flood stage at 8:35 AM EST and fell below flood stage at 11:45 am EST. No property damage was reported.

The National Weather Service river gage on Crooked Creek along the Fulton/Gwinnett county line, or about 4 miles west-northwest of Norcross indicated that the river had exceeded flood stage at 8:35 AM EST and fell below flood stage at 11:45 am EST. No property damage was reported.

The Wilcox county cooperative observer reported that a lightning-related fire destroyed a mobile home.

A corrections officer at the state prison facility near Westville reported penny-sized hail.

The Webster County Sheriff reported penny-sized hail near the Stewart county line, about five miles west of Preston.

A National Weather Service damage survey team in conjunction with the Toombs County Emergency Management Director reported that a bow echo of straight-line winds caused extensive damage in an area approximately 10 to 12 miles south of Lyons in southern Toombs county. Two trailer homes were destroyed and many trees and power lines were down in the area between Cedar Crossing and New Branch along and near U.S. Highway 1. While initially believed to have been a tornado, the damage survey concluded otherwise.

The public reported that strong winds blew down three trees in the Brasstown Valley area of northeast Union county, near Brasstown Bald.

The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported quarter-sized hail.

The public reported penny-sized hail along Georgia Highway 5 near the Carroll county line and the community of Devils Den.

The public reported penny to quarter-sized hail in Franklin and quarter-sized hail southwest of Franklin on U.S. Highway 219 near Aubrey.

The public reported two inch diameter hail in Palmetto and penny-sized hail in Fairburn. The Union City police reported quarter-sized hail in Union City. Finally, the public reported penny-sized hail in College Park.

The Coweta County 911 Center reported quarter-sized hail in Dresden and the public reported quarter-sized hail just southwest of Newnan. Further east, an off duty National Weather Service employee reported pea-sized hail just east of Thomas Crossroads.

Reports of nickel to quarter-sized hail were received from the LaGrange area. The public reported golf ball-sized hail, while the Troup County 911 Center and the public reported quarter-sized hail. A storm spotter reported nickel-sized hail.

The public reported penny-sized hail.

A damage survey team from the National Weather Service in Peachtree City concluded that an F2 tornado had touched down just east of Palmetto in the far southern portion of Fulton county near the Coweta and Fayette county borders. The tornado touched down near Interstate-85 and U.S. Highway 29 east of Palmetto and then traveled east into extreme northwest Fayette county. The tornado was rated an F2 and traveled a path of seven miles, of which approximately four miles occurred within Fulton county. The maximum path width was 1/4 mile wide. Roof damage was observed to a number of homes along the path of the tornado. At least six homes east of Palmetto had sustained major damage with large trees down on the structures. Additionally, a number of trees were down along the path along with several power lines. Specifically, the tornado began around 8225 Tatum Road. Numerous trees were down in this area and several homes had sustained roof damage. The chimney was destroyed on one home. The tornado then continued across the intersection of Johnson and Tatum Road to Gullatt Road. Several homes in this area had sustained roof damage and in fact, one home had completely lost its roof. Numerous trees were either uprooted or snapped off along the path and several power lines were down as well. From this point, the tornado traveled toward the intersection of Bohannon and Kirkley Roads. Damage in this section was less extensive with just minor roof damage and only a few trees uprooted or down in the area. The tornado then crossed into Fayette county.

The public reported penny-sized hail.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Peachtree City Georgia and the Fayette County Emergency Management Director concluded that the F2 tornado, which originally developed in far south Fulton county just east of Palmetto continued into extreme northwest Fayette county. The overall tornado path length was seven miles, of which approximately three miles occurred within Fayette county. The maximum path width was 1/4 mile. The most significant damage associated with the tornado occurred in Fayette county. The tornado entered the county just south of Fairburn and just west of Georgia Highway 74 (Senoia Road) near Milam Road. In this area the tornado destroyed a small apartment home and rolled a hay baler approximately 15 yards from its origin. A number of trees were uprooted or snapped off in this area as well. The storm then skipped across Georgia Highway 74 just south of the Wendell Coffee Golf Center into the River Oaks Subdivision. A home on Westbourne Drive next to the Golf Center was damaged with trees down on the structure. A metal awning was also torn off the home. Further down the street, also in the River Oaks Subdivision, a large home was damaged beyond repair and about six others sustained minor to moderate damage, mainly to the roofs of the structures. While one family was trapped in their home during the event, they were rescued without injury. The tornado ended in the 600 block of Westbourne Drive in the River Oaks Subdivision.

The public reported that a number of trees were blown down.

Numerous reports of large hail were received from the public in Jonesboro, Morrow, Rex, and Lovejoy. Golf ball-sized hail was reported by a storm spotter and also by the Clayton County 911 Center in Jonesboro. The public reported quarter-sized hail in Morrow and Jonesboro. A storm spotter reported quarter-sized hail in the Rex area near the intersection of U.S. Highway 23 and Interstate-675 and the public reported quarter-sized hail in Lovejoy. Another individual reported observing penny-sized hail on Interstate-285 just south of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service and confirmed by Emergency Managers from both Pike and Meriwether counties concluded that an F3 tornado touched down one mile southeast of Hollonville in northwest Pike county and traveled east for approximately 3 miles, terminating at a point about 4 miles east-southeast of Hollonville in north central Pike county. Five homes along the path were extensively damaged or destroyed. One home was moved 60 feet from its foundation. Two vehicles were thrown 250 yards. Several farm structures were also damaged in the area. A number of trees and power lines were also down in the area. Three injuries were reported during the event. Two men that were working in a barn were injured when the tornado blew the barn away. A third man was injured while clinging to a fence post that the tornado ripped from the ground. The tornado had an overall path length of 3 miles with a path width of 1/4 mile. One interesting note is that family photographs from one of the homes destroyed near Hollonville were found as far away as Williamson, near the Spalding county line.

The public reported penny-sized hail.

The public reported penny-sized hail.

The Meriwether County 911 Center and Emergency Management Director reported golf ball-sized hail just north of Greenville, while the public reported penny-sized hail near Gay.

The public reported half-dollar-sized hail.

The public reported that several trees were blown down and a number of shingles were displaced from a roof on Cardinal Drive in Tucker. The public also reported that a considerable amount of leaf and pine cone debris was found in the area.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that straight-line thunderstorm wind damage had blown down a number of trees in north central Lamar county about two miles southeast of Orchard Hill. The parent thunderstorm that caused this damage had earlier spawned an F3 tornado in northern Pike county and shortly after this damage near Orchard Hill occurred spawned an F0 tornado in northeast Lamar county near Chappel.

The public reported penny to quarter-sized hail.

The public reported golf ball to softball-sized hail in the southwest part of Pike county near Molena. This hail was caused by a different thunderstorm from the one that spawned the F3 tornado in northern Pike southeast of Hollenville earlier. The thunderstorm that caused the large hail in southwest and south central Pike county was a separate supercell thunderstorm moving east across the southern part of the county.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that a brief F0 tornado had touched down about three miles southwest of Chappel or six miles north-northeast of Barnesville and traveled on the ground eastward for an approximate distance of 300 yards or 0.2 mile. The tornado path width was 50 yards. A number of trees were snapped or toppled along the path, but no damage to structures was reported. This tornado was produced from the same supercell thunderstorm that had earlier spawned an F3 tornado in Pike county.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service and information provided by the Henry County Emergency Management Director concluded that an F1 tornado had touched down three miles north of McDonough on Turner Circle Road and traveled approximately 1000 yards or about 0.6 mile to the east. The tornado had a path width of 300 yards at its maximum point. Damage was reported to several homes on Waterford Lane in the Vineyards Subdivision, which is located near the intersection of Jodeco Road and Georgia HIghway 42. At least eight trees were down on one home on Turner Circle and a small storage building was destroyed. The home suffered considerable damage on one side. Several structures being used as a religious retreat or campground were also heavily damaged. A motel in the area also suffered damage to a sign and the portico. In addition, numerous trees were either uprooted or snapped off along the path of the tornado.

The Monroe County Emergency Management Director reported golf-ball sized hail across much of the northern part of the county.

The Lamar County 911 Center reported quarter-sized hail.

The Henry County 911 Center reported that lightning struck a house on Waterfront Street. Damage was minimal and no fire occurred.

The Monroe County Emergency Management Director reported golf ball-sized hail across much of the southern part of the county.

The Jasper County Emergency Managment Director reported that a few trees were blown down near Hillsboro in the Oconee National Forest area.

The Monroe County Emergency Management Director reported that several large trees were down in the Bolingbroke area.

The Monroe County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.

A storm survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that an F1 tornado had touched down near the town of Wayside and roughly paralleled Georgia Highway 11 from there to the town of Bradley. The tornado had a path length of three miles with a path width of 300 yards at its maximum point. Four buildings, including a barn and machine shop, were destroyed and a double wide mobile home sustained considerable damage. At least six other mobile homes were severely damaged along the path of the tornado, two of which were on Wheeler Road near Bradley. A number of trees were uprooted and snapped off along the path as well. A large pine tree fell across and destroyed two vehicles on Wheeler Road.

The public reported golf ball-sized hail.

The Bibb County Emergency Management Director reported that a few trees were down across the eastern portion of the county.

WXGA Television of Macon, Georgia broadcast a report from the public of baseball size hail in southwest Jones county, six to eight miles north-northeast of Macon. A number of vehicles sustained damage in the area.

The Baldwin County Emergency Management Director reported nickel-sized hail, while the Baldwin County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.

The Twiggs County 911 Center reported that a number of trees were down in the extreme north part of the county near the Jones county line, about five miles northeast of Dry Branch. One tree had fallen through the roof of a home.

The Baldwin County Emergency Management Director reported that three to four trees and one power line were down in the eastern portion of the county.

The public reported quarter-sized hail.

The Wilkinson County Emergency Management Director reported that a few trees were blown down in the Toomsboro area.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency relayed a report of quarter-sized hail in Oconee.

The Baldwin County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service and the Johnson County Emergency Management Director concluded that an F1 tornado had touched down approximately five miles north of Kite near the intersection of U.S. Highway 221 and U.S. Highway 319 and traveled east-southeast to a point four miles east-northeast of Kite. The tornado than continued into Emanuel county. The damage path within Johnson county was approximately five miles long and 1/4 mile wide. Overall, the tornado traveled a 12 mile long path across Johnson and Emanuel counties. Near the tornado's touchdown point, siding was blown off the Gum Log Church. Then, six homes along the path of the tornado sustained damage from downed trees. In addition, a couple of silos were destroyed and several vehicles were damaged.

The Georgia State Patrol reported that several trees were down on U.S. Highway 1 just wouth of Wadley.

The public reported penny-sized hail.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service concluded that the tornado, which began in Johnson county northwest of Kite, continued on an east-southeastward track across northern Emanuel county. The tornado entered the county four miles east-northeast or Kite or four miles west-southwest of Blundale and traveled a distance of approximately seven miles across the northern portion of the county, terminating approximately two miles south of Summertown. The tornado path length within Emanuel county was seven miles while the path width was approximately 1/4 mile. The overall path length of the tornado for Johnson and Emanuel counties combined was 12 miles. A number of trees and power lines were down along the path of the tornado, especially along U.S. Highway 1 between the Johnson county line and Summertown. One home also sustained damage in this area.