Tornadoes and Hail in Georgia, February 26, 2008

The Rome News Tribune reported that lightning struck a power line adjacent to a barn and workshop setting the structure on fire. Bales of hay were stored in the barn.

The Polk County Emergency Management Director reported that numerous trees were down in the eastern part of the county along Old Fish Creek Road, Dunn Road, U.S. Highway 278, and Pea Ridge Road, and another near the Paulding county line. Two trees were down on U.S. 278.

The Haralson County 911 Center reported that dozens of trees were blown down across the county from strong thunderstorm straight-line winds.

The Heard County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down scattered about the entire county.

A ground and aerial damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia and the Carroll County Emergency Management Director concluded that an EF3 tornado touched down in extreme western Carroll county, just across the Alabama state line, about 13 miles west of Carrollton and continued to a point approximately five miles west of Carrollton. The tornado traveled a path length of seven to eight miles and had a maximum path width of 100 yards. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 140 mph. Twelve structures, mostly single family homes, suffered extensive damage along the path of the tornado. Only four of the affected structures were manufactured or mobile homes. Two of the affected homes were destroyed, on Indian Creek Road. A woman was injured on Smithfield Road when she was blown from her home. Numerous trees and power lines were down throughout the area as well. Damages were estimated to be nearly $10 million. This plus the following tornado resulted in damage to 128 structures. Six single-family and one mobile home were destroyed, two mobile homes suffered major damage, 34 single-family homes sustained minor damage, and 84 single-family homes, along with one mobile home, suffered minor damage. Five businesses were damaged, two of which were destroyed, along with one suffering major and two others minor damage.

The public observed penny-sized hail in western Paulding county.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia and the Carrollton County Emergency Management Director confirmed that yet another tornado touched down in eastern Carroll county spawned by the same squall line of thunderstorms that just a few minutes earlier had resulted in an EF3 tornado in western Carroll county. This tornado was rated an EF1, touching down three miles east of Carrollton and tracking to a point five miles east of Carrollton. The path length was two miles long with a maximum path width of 100 yards. Maximum wind speeds with the tornado were estimated at 90 mph. A total of 24 structures sustained minor damage. The majority of the damage was in the form of roof and siding damage to homes. Numerous trees and power lines were also blown down along this tornado track as well. A man was injured when a tree limb went through his automobile and impaled his body.

A storm survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia and The Weather Channel concluded that a microburst with wind speeds up to 90 mph impacted the northeast part of Cobb county, causing extensive damage to trees, homes, and power lines. Several roads were also blocked. The majority of the damage was concentrated within a 0.3 to 1.0 mile wide path that extended from the Canterbury Woods Country Club north of Marietta eastward to the Fulton county line east of Sandy Plains. The damage continued into north Fulton county near Roswell. Extensive damage to trees and homes was observed in the neighborhoods around the Shallowford Road area. Several homes sustained moderate to major damage when large 80 foot pine trees fell on and through the structures. Thunderstorm winds caused damage to trees, power lines and other minor structural damage in many other parts of the county as well. A total of 87 structures suffered damage, mostly residential single-family homes. Two structures were destroyed, 20 suffered major damage, and 49 sustained minor damage. Many areas of the county were left without power for several hours. At least 75 locations observed downed trees. Trees were down in the cities of Acworth, Kennesaw, and Marietta. The ASOS at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta recorded a wind gust of 64 mph at 627 am EDT.

A cooperative observer for the National Weather Service reported that numerous trees were blown down across the eastern portion of Paulding county near the Cobb county line.

The Douglas County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were blown down across the entire county. The public reported that a portion of the roof covering pumps at a gas station in Lithia Springs, just down the street from the Lithia Springs High School, was torn off by strong winds. Several homes were damaged when trees fell on them. A total of 15,500 residents of the county were left without power for several hours following the storm.

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director reported that thunderstorm straight-line winds of 58 to 65 mph caused extensive damage across many parts of Cherokee county, but especially the central and southern sections of the county. Numerous trees and power lines were down, especially in the central and southern areas of the county. One home was destroyed when a large pine tree crashed through the home, three other homes had moderate damage, and five sustained minor damage. A barn also suffered moderate damage and two automobiles were destroyed when trees fell on the vehicles.

The Coweta County Emergency Management Director reported that from one to two dozen trees were blown down across the county. Some trees were down on Georgia Highways 154 and 16. The Times Herald of Newnan reported that trees were down in the Thomas Crossroads area, Shenandoah Industrial Park, Roscoe Road at Walt Carmichael Road, Minx Road, and along Georgia Highway 16 near Georgia Highway 54.

A survey conducted by The Weather Channel concluded that a very brief EF0 tornado touched down near Lassiter High School, about five miles northeast of Marietta, or near the intersection of Mountain View School Road and Sims Drive, just east of Trickum Road and Shallowford Road. Convergent tree rotation was observed in this area, which otherwise was embedded within a nine-mile long path of damage that extended from the Canterbury Woods Country Club on the west to just north of Roswell on the east. The damage path for this tornado was about one-half block long and 20-yards wide. Extensive damage to trees and homes was noted in the area.

The Fulton County Emergency Management Director reported that the same squall line that rolled through several west central and northwest Georgia counties early in the morning caused extensive damage across Fulton county as well. More than 50 trees were down across the county with at least 20 structures sustaining damage. A number of power lines were also down across these areas. The most concentrated damage continued from northeast Cobb county, within a 0.3 to 1.0 mile wide path, into north Fulton county from the Fulton/Cobb county line west of Roswell to just north of downtown Roswell. This portion of the damage was a continuation of the survey conducted by The Weather Channel. Hundreds of trees were blown down, several on homes. More than 300 trees along were blown down in 80-acre Roswell Park on Woodstock Road. The downed trees caused extensive damage to facilities within the park, including a children's playground, picnic shelters, and a maintenance building. Damage was reported to homes and other structures in Sandy Springs, Atlanta, Milton, and Johns Creek, College Park, and Fairburn. Heavy damage was noted in the Sandy Springs area. A business sign suffered damage near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Two injuries were reported from a home on Moorehouse Drive Southwest in the city of Atlanta when a tree fell on the structure causing the roof and wall to collapse. An adult male and a pregnant adult female were injured as a result. Both injuries were non-life threatening. Damage was reported along Holcomb Bridge Road, Warsaw Road, and Park Bridge Lane. In Fairburn, two homes were damaged when trees fell on the structures on White Mill and Rivertown Roads.

The Clayton County 911 Center reported that many trees and power lines were blown down across the county. Trees and power lines were down on Georgia Highway 138 between Jonesboro and the Henry county line. Official wind gust measurements at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in the far northwest part of the county were 45 knots, but damage suggested that stronger winds were evident in other parts of the county.

The public, amateur radio operators, and the Fayette County 911 Center all reported that several trees were down across the county. The North Cove Subdivision in Peachtree City appeared to have the worst tree damage. At least one tree was down on Georgia Highway 54 in Peachtree City.

The DeKalb County 911 Center reported that a number of trees and power lines were blown down across the county.

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Director reported that numerous trees and power lines were down across the southern half of the county. Significant damage to homes was reported in the southern part of the county from near the Fulton county line northeast of Alpharetta to Cumming. Fifteen homes were damaged in this portion of the county, mostly from trees which fell on the structures. Much of the damage was concentrated in the area along Atlanta Highway, Georgia Highway 9 in the southern portion of the county and along Georgia Highway 400 near McFarland Road. The winds blew in the door of a fire station near McFarland Road. A total of 30 homes within the county sustained some damage.

The public reported that from 30 to 40 trees were blown down in George Pierce Park, just east of Suwanee. The Gwinnett Daily Post of Lawrenceville reported that tree and property damage stretched from Duluth to Stone Mountain. Six homes were heavily damaged when trees fell on the structures. Trees were down on homes at Wildwood and Suwanee Creek, Old Peachtree Road and South Scale Road in Duluth, and Caldwell Circle in Suwanee.

The Henry County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees and a couple of power lines were blown down across the county. Some structural damage was also observed in the western part of the county. A gas station steel awning was bent in half at the intersection of Racetrack Road and Georgia Highway 42 in McDonough. Amateur radio operators reported that a 50-foot tall radio tower was bent over near Hampton.

The Walton Count 911 Center reported that several power lines were down across the county. A portion of Georgia Highway 11 near Monroe was blocked from a downed power line.

The Harris County 911 Center observed nickel-sized hail.

The Upson County Emergency Management Director observed nickel-sized hail four miles east of Thomaston, while the public reported penny-sized hail in downtown Thomaston and pea-sized hail five miles southwest of Thomaston.

The Columbus Ledger-Inquirer reported that heavy rain caused flooding of part of the first floor of Columbus High School. Consequently, some classes had to be moved to an auditorium for a brief period.

The Muscogee County 911 Center and the local news media reported that several trees and power lines were down around the county and especially within the city of Columbus. Trees and power lines were down on Ginny Avenue, Matthews Street, and were blocking Whittlesey Boulevard.

The Monroe County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail in the Culloden area in the southern part of the county.

The Crawford County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.

The Jones County Emergency Management Director reported penny-sized hail.

The Taylor County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail in the northern part of the county around Carsonville.

The Bibb County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.

The Talbot County 911 Center relayed a report of penny-sized hail along Geneva highway in the southern portion of the county.

The Crawford County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.

An amateur radio operator reported nickel-sized hail on Georgia Highway 49 near the Jones county line and the public reported penny-sized hail in the Cross Keys area of northeast Bibb county.

The Webster County Emergency Management Director observed penny-sized hail on Deerfield Road.

The Houston County 911 Center reported that a few trees were down in the Perry area.

The Schley County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down across Georgia Highway 26 northeast of Ellaville and also south of Ellaville on U.S. Highway 19.

The Schley County 911 Center reported penny-sized hail.

The Twiggs County 911 Center reported that a couple of trees and power lines were down along Coolsprings Road in the extreme southeast part of the county.

The Macon County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down along Georgia Highway 26 between Oglethorpe and Montezuma.

The Dooly County 911 Center reported that several trees were down scattered about mainly the northern portion of the county. The most significant damage was noted in the Unadilla area.

The Bleckley County 911 Center reported that several trees were blown down in the Cochran area.

The Pulaski County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees were blown down throughout the county. Trees were blocking parts of Upper River, Lower River, and Industrial Boulevard in Hawkinsville. In addition, a grain elevator was toppled over in Hawkinsville.

The Dodge County 911 Center reported that several trees were down across the county. Trees were down on Cemetery Road and West Chicken Road near Eastman. A home was damaged from fallen trees on Joiner Creek Road in Eastman.

The Laurens County Emergency Management Director reported that a mobile home and a carport to a home along David Mullis road just northeast of Rentz were damaged from thunderstorm winds gusts.

The postal service for the Alamo area reported that several trees were blown down across the northern portion of the county, generally north of a line from Little Ocmulgee State Park to Glenwood. A large tree was down across Georgia Highway 46 in the far northern part of the county and several other trees were down in the area. A few trees were also down within Little Ocmulgee State Park.

The Telfair County 911 Center reported that several pine trees were down on U.S. Highway 441 on the east side of McRae. A tractor-trailer rig hit one of the downed trees on the highway.

The Montgomery County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were down along U.S. Highway 221/Georgia Highway 56 in the Mount Vernon area, especially near the state prison.

The Toombs County 911 Center reported that over six trees and more than three power lines were down within the city of Vidalia.

The Montgomery County Emergency Management Director reported penny-sized hail on Mount Vernon Road, two miles west of Alston.

The Toombs County 911 Center relayed a report of penny-sized hail east of Lyons.