Tornadoes and Hail in Georgia, April 27, 2011

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Georgia, April 27, 2011
Start: 2011-04-27T21:52
End: 2011-04-27T23:32
Location: Georgia

April 27, 2011 · NWS GSP · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $5.0 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

An historic tornado outbreak affected areas from the Deep South to the Mid-Atlantic states April 27-28. A strong tornado touched down in Rabun County late on the 27th, with additional tornadoes affecting the North Carolina foothills during the early morning hours of the 28th. At least three supercell thunderstorms crossed the western Carolinas and northeast Georgia during this time. A greater number of supercells and tornadoes affected areas to the west of the Appalachians. Scattered areas of straight line wind damage and large hail also accompanied the storms.

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 Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 27, 9:32 PM EST, 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 27, 9:32 PM EST, 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1032 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY TO THE
GREAT LAKES TONIGHT...DRAGGING A COLD FRONT TOWARD THE SOUTHERN
APPALACHIANS. THE FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA EARLY TOMORROW MORNING.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN RETURN ON FRIDAY AND LINGER THROUGH
SUNDAY...WITH ANOTHER COLD FRONT ARRIVING FROM THE NORTHWEST EARLY
NEXT WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
AT 1015 PM...MAIN UPDATE FOR POPS IN THE VERY NEAR TERM. NUMEROUS
SUPERCELLS ACRS TN/GA/AL ARE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP INTO MORE OF A
MULTICELL LINE...EXTENDING FROM NEAR CHATTANOOGA...TO SW OF COLUMBUS
GA. TIMING MAY BE A BIT SLOWER THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. BUT ONCE THE
LINE DEVELOPS MORE OF A COLD POOL...IT SHUD START ACCELERATING AS IN
CROSSES THE CWA. TORNADO WATCH STILL IN EFFECT TILL 2 AM.
OTHERWISE...FCST IS ON TRACK.

PORTION OF PREV DISCUSSION...
THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT CONTINUES TO LOOK FAVORABLE FOR THE
PASSAGE OF A DAMAGING SQUALL LINE. SFC LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK
NORTHEAST ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY. THE COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED
WITH THE LOW WILL SWING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION LATE
THIS EVENING...PUSHING EAST OF THE MTNS EARLY THURSDAY MORNING...AND
EAST OF THE CWA AROUND SUNRISE. ALOFT...A SHARP H5 TROF WILL PUSH
INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS LATE TONIGHT. IN ADDITION...A STRONG
JET WILL PIVOT OVER THE REGION OVERNIGHT. THE LLVL ENVIRONMENT AHEAD
OF THE COLD FRONT WILL FEATURE VERY STRONG VEERING WIND PROFILES. IN
FACT...WINDS AROUND 2 KFT MAY EXCEED 50 KTS AS EARLY AS 3Z AND
CONTINUE UNTIL 9Z. HELICITY WILL LIKELY PEAK MORE THAN 400 M2/S2
AHEAD OF THE LINE...WITH SWEAT VALUES BETWEEN 400-450. CAPE VALUES
WILL RANGE BETWEEN 1000 TO 2000 J/KG. THIS ENVIRONMENT WILL CERTAIN
SUPPORT AND MAINTAIN AN ONGOING SQUALL LINE...PRODUCING DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES. IT IS INTERESTING TO
SEE THE HIGH RESOLUTION MESOSCALE MODELS DEVELOP DISCRETE SUPERCELLS
ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE SQUALL. IF THE SUPERCELLS DEVELOP...THEN THE
POTENTIAL OF TORNADOES WILL INCREASE. CURRENTLY...THE AXIS OF THE
SQUALL IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE NC MTNS BETWEEN 0Z TO 2Z. THE
SQUALL LINE WILL PASS ACROSS THE FOOTHILL AND PIEDMONT TERMINALS
BETWEEN 2Z TO 7Z.

THURSDAY...THE PRE FRONTAL CONVECTION AND COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO
PUSH EAST OF THE CWA AROUND SUNRISE. DRY AIR WILL INCREASE ACROSS
THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH THE MORNING...DROPPING POPS NEAR ZERO.
GUSTY WEST-SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP BY MID DAY AND CONTINUE
THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. DOWNSLOPE FLOW AND INCREASING INSOLATION WILL
ALLOW TEMPS TO PEAK AROUND 5 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM WEDNESDAY...UPPER TROUGH AXIS WILL CROSS THE SOUTHERN
APPALACHIANS WED NIGHT AS THE TROUGH TRANSITIONS EASTWARD TO THE
COAST. WITH DRY AIRMASS IN PLACE...ANY PRECIP ASSOCIATED WITH THE
TROUGH PASSAGE WOULD BE CONFINED TO THE NORTHERN NC MOUNTAINS WHERE
SOME SCATTERED SPRINKLES CAN'T BE RULED OUT LATE THU NIGHT.
OTHERWISE...UPPER RIDGE WILL GRADUALLY BUILD OVER THE REGION THROUGH
SAT WITH SURFACE HUIGH PRESSURE TRANSITIONING FROM THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TO THE SE COAST. THEREFORE EXPECT MOSTLY CLEAR
CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH SEASONABLE MAX TEMPS ON
FRI...INCREASING TO A CATEGORY ABOVE AVE ON SAT. DRY AIRMASS ALONG
WITH LIGHT OVERNIGHT WINDS... WILL PROMOTE IDEAL RADIATIONAL
COOLING. IN FACT...IT LOOKS LIKE SCATTERED FROST IS A GOOD BET FRI
NIGHT IN MANY MOUNTAIN VALLEY LOCATIONS IN NC WITH LOWS IN THE MID
TO UPPER 30S THERE. USED A MOS BLEND FOR TEMP FIELDS.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
AS OF 1 PM WEDNESDAY...THE MEDIUM RANGE FCST PICKS UP AT 00Z ON
SUNDAY WITH THE AXIS OF THE H5 RIDGE OVER THE REGION AND SFC HIGH
PRESSURE CENTERED JUST OFF THE CAROLINA COAST. THE UPPER RIDGE WILL
GRADUALLY MOVE EAST THRU THE PERIOD AS ANOTHER BROAD UPPER TROF
MAKES ITS WAY TOWARDS THE CWFA. THE LATEST GFS OP RUN HAS A MUCH
BROADER UPPER TROF THAT MOVES A LAGGING BURST OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY
OVER THE FCST AREA LATE TUES/EARLY WED WHICH IS MORE IN LINE WRT
TIMING WITH THE OLDER RUN OF THE ECMWF. THE EC...HOWEVER STILL
MAINTAINS A MUCH MORE AMPLIFIED PATTERN AND ACTUALLY HAS A POTENT
LOOKING NEGATIVE TILT TO ITS UPPER TROF AS IT MOVES OVER THE CWFA
LATE TUES/EARLY WED. WITH THE SPREAD APPEARING TO INCREASE BETWEEN
THE MODEL SOLUTIONS AT THE CURRENT TIME...I DECIDED NOT TO MAKE ANY
MAJOR CHANGES TO THE SENSIBLE FCST FOR NOW. POPS STILL RAMP UP FROM
LATE SUN THRU MON AND THEN TAPER OFF LATE TUES INTO WED. BEST CHANCE
FOR SH/TS STILL IN THE LATE MON THRU TUES TIME FRAME. TEMPS WILL BE
ABOVE NORMAL SUN AND MON WITH VALUES FALLING TO BELOW NORMAL BY DAY
7.

&&

.AVIATION /03Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
AT KCLT AND ELSEWHERE...MAIN FCST CHALLENGE WILL BE TSTM ACTIVITY
OVRNGT. THE LTST MESOSCALE MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT ON TIMING
OF AN EXPECTED SQUALL LINE TO CROSS ALL OUR TAF SITES BY 12Z THU.
HAVE PUT TEMPS TSRA WITH GUSTY WINDS TO SHOW INCREASED CONFIDENCE.
OTHERWISE...GENERALLY VFR WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTY S/SE WNDS AHD OF THE
LINE...BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AS LINE NEARS. A COLD FRONT WILL PASS
AFTER THE SQUALL LINE DURING THE MIDDAY HOURS. WINDS WILL BE SW
BEHIND LINE...THEN NW TOWARD END OF 00Z TAF PERIOD (EXCEPT N AT KAVL
BY MID MORNING). EXPECT FREQUENT GUSTS BACK IN THE 20-30 KT RANGE AT
MOST SITES WITH DAYTIME HEATING. SKIES GENERALLY CLEAR OUT WITH SOME
STRATOCU EXPECTED DURING THE AFTN.

OUTLOOK...QUIET WX IS EXPECTED FRIDAY THRU SUNDAY.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR GAZ010-017-018-
     026-028-029.
NC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR NCZ033-035>037-
     048>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082-501>510.
SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR SCZ001>014-019.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JPT
NEAR TERM...ARK/NED
SHORT TERM...LG
LONG TERM...JPT
AVIATION...NED

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 27, 9:23 PM EST, 29 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1023 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>070-501>510-SCZ001>008-010-011-290230-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-AVERY-ALEXANDER-
IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-
ROWAN-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-
HENDERSON-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-
GREATER CALDWELL-BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
EASTERN MCDOWELL-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD-
POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-
GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-
1023 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EDT THURSDAY...
...TORNADO WATCH 241 IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EDT THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT
NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE WIND ADVISORY.
   TORNADO WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE WIND ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE.

NCZ071-072-082-SCZ009-012>014-019-290230-
MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-YORK-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-
GREENWOOD-
1023 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EDT THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE WIND ADVISORY.

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE IN FROM THE WEST AND CONTINUE
EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA LATE THIS EVENING THROUGH THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS. IT IS LIKELY THAT SEVERE...DAMAGING WINDS WILL
ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE LINE
COULD PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR TORNADO WATCHES WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED.
MAKE PLANS NOW FOR WHERE YOU WILL TAKE SHELTER WHEN THUNDERSTORMS
ARRIVE. KEEP AN ALERTING NOAA WEATHER RADIO NEARBY IN CASE
WARNINGS ARE ISSUED WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   LAKE WIND ADVISORY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD ANY REPORTS OF LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...TORNADOES OR FLASH FLOODING TO OUR OFFICE.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 27, 4:31 PM EST, 5 hours 21 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
531 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

NCZ064-065-509-510-SCZ002-003-272215-
EASTERN POLK-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-HENDERSON-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-POLK
MOUNTAINS-TRANSYLVANIA-
531 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT HENDERSON...NORTHERN PICKENS...
NORTHWESTERN GREENVILLE...SOUTHEASTERN TRANSYLVANIA AND WESTERN POLK
COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM EDT...

AT 527 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR NINE TIMES...OR 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF
PICKENS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  EDNEYVILLE...JONES GAP STATE PARK...TABLE ROCK RESERVOIR...NORTH
  SALUDA RESERVOIR...TUXEDO...TRYON...SALUDA...MOUNTAIN HOME...MILL
  SPRING...LITTLE RIVER...LAKE ADGER...HENDERSONVILLE...FLAT ROCK...
  EAST FLAT ROCK...DANA...COLUMBUS...CEDAR MOUNTAIN...BAT CAVE...
  ROCKY BOTTOM...PUMPKINTOWN...NINE TIMES...CLEVELAND AND CAESARS
  HEAD.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

LAT...LON 3549 8232 3545 8227 3540 8227 3540 8222
      3527 8210 3484 8283 3491 8291 3497 8292
      3499 8294 3501 8292 3503 8292 3547 8239
      3546 8237 3549 8237

07

Special weather statement, Apr 27, 5:09 PM EST, 4 hours 43 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
609 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

NCZ037-272245-
DAVIE-
609 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN DAVIE COUNTY THROUGH 645
PM EDT...

AT 604 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES WEST OF ADVANCE...OR 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF
MOCKSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BERMUDA
  RUN...FORK CHURCH...FARMINGTON AND ADVANCE.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF
POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID
USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES.

LAT...LON 3591 8037 3584 8046 3597 8062 3606 8052
      3605 8049 3607 8046 3601 8041 3599 8041
      3596 8037 3592 8036

07

Special weather statement, Apr 27, 8:47 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
947 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

GAZ010-017-280300-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CLAYTON...CLARKESVILLE
947 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA...

AT 945 PM...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 50
MPH ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA. IF THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HOLDS
TOGETHER...IT WILL APPROACH PARTS OF RABUN COUNTY AND HABERSHAM
COUNTY AROUND 1030 PM TO 1045 PM. UNLESS THIS STORM WEAKENS...IT
WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE A TORNADO...DAMAGING WIND
GUSTS...AND LARGE HAIL. PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN RABUN AND HABERSHAM
COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS STORM AND LISTEN FOR
LATER WARNINGS.

MOORE

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 133 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:52 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 tornado, 1 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Habersham

When: April 27, 9:52 PM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Habersham County, 5.02 mi WNW of Batesville to 5.17 mi N of Batesville
Rating: EF2
Path length: 5.06 mi
Path width: 500 yd
Continued into: Rabun, Ga (GSP)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.789, -83.675

An area of strong tornado damage began in a secluded area across extreme northern Habersham County. Damage was initially found just west of Baker Branch Rd, though an aerial survey performed by the NWS office in Peachtree City, GA confirmed that the tornado actually began in northern Lumpkin County, moved across northern White County and continued into northwest Habersham County. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted as the tornado tracked northeast toward Goshen Mountain Rd. About 8 homes along Goshen Mountain Rd received minor to moderate roof damage. Meanwhile, trees fell on some homes and vehicles. Other homes had porches blown off while a small cabin was completely destroyed. The tornado continued northeast from there, but the track was lost in this very remote area. However, additional tornado damage was found just across the Rabun County line, on the west side of Lake Burton.

Tornado, Rabun

When: April 27, 10:00 PM EST to 10:16 PM EST
Where: Rabun County, 7.52 mi SW of Persimmon to 0.47 mi N of Mountain City
Rating: EF3
Path length: 14.17 mi
Path width: 900 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $5.0 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.825, -83.596

The path of an intense tornado, which was likely the continuation of the Habersham County tornado, was found in Rabun County beginning in the Lake Burton area. Damage was first found near a marina on Wildcat Creek Cove. A fire department building near this location was destroyed. As the tornado moved northeast across Moccasin Creek, it intensified and widened to around one half mile. Several large lake homes were completely destroyed in this area. Another home slid off its foundation into the lake. The tornado continued northeast across the Moccasin Creek peninsula and over the main channel of Lake Burton. Severe damage was observed again along the north shore of Timpson Cove, roughly paralleling Meeting House Mountain Rd. Several large luxury homes along the shore were destroyed, while many others received major structural damage. One 83-year-old man was killed in one of these homes. In addition to the major structural damage, thousands of trees were blown down in the Lake Burton area. The tornado weakened as it crossed highway 76 just northeast of Timpson Cove, proceeding to Black Rock State Park, where hundreds of additional trees were blown down. As the tornado continued northeast from the state park, it intensified slightly as it moved over a residential area in Mountain City. Half of the roof was blown off a condominium building, while surrounding homes had minor to moderate roof damage. The tornado crossed highway 441 just north of Mountain City and appeared to lift in the Oakey Mountain area. The tornado was very unusual not only for its strength but also for the rugged terrain in which it occurred. It was the first tornado to hit Rabun County since 1983 and the first F3 or EF3 tornado in the county's recorded history.

Hail, Rabun

When: April 27, 10:05 PM EST
Where: Rabun County, 2.99 mi NNE of Persimmon
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.940, -83.480

Golf ball size hail was reported on Blue Ridge Gap Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Habersham

When: April 27, 11:32 PM EST
Where: Habersham County, 0.57 mi W of Batesville
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 34.750, -83.610

Trees were blown down along highway 197 with the third severe thunderstorm to move across the northern part of the county during the late evening.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Rabun	2011-04-27	83	Male	Permanent Home	Direct

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

Every storm in Georgia in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Georgia, 2011 Warnings in Georgia, April 2011

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: 292506, 301771, 301773, 301786.