Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Georgia, December 22, 2011

The Polk County 911 Center reported that two to three trees were down along U.S. Highway 278 near Esom Hill.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia, confirmed that an EF2 tornado, the first of six tornadoes to affect west Georgia on this day, touched down approximately three miles west-southwest of Rome, then continued on a northeastward track approximately 12 miles before lifting about 7 1/4 miles north-northeast of Rome. The tornado was determined to have a maximum path width of 200 yards with maximum winds estimated to be 125 mph. As the tornado first touched down just west of Rome, it was classified as an EF1 but strengthened to an EF2 as it moved toward the community of Walton Creek. The tornado remained at an EF2 intensity for approximately 1 1/2 miles as it crossed Georgia Highway 20. The tornado eventually lifted and dissipated just west of Georgia Highway 53, just north of Jones Bend Road. At least 20 homes along the path of the tornado sustained significant damage. Many trees and several power lines were also damage or destroyed by the tornado. In addition, three minor injuries were reported at one of the damaged homes. Numerous trees and power lines were down along the path of the tornado as well, including along Georgia Highway 27, Division Street, Shorter Avenue, Edmond Road, and Elm Street. Some traffic signals were also blown down.

[12/22/11: Tornado #1, County #1-1, EF2, Floyd, 2011:027].

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City confirmed a second tornado touchdown in extreme northeast Floyd county, northeast of Pinson, just north of Georgia Highway 140. Within Floyd county the tornado remained at an EF0 intensity with a path width of 440 yards or 1/4 mile. The tornado quickly moved into extreme northwest Bartow county, and then into Gordon county where it eventually intensified to an EF3 causing considerable damage. This tornado was also determined to have begun from the same circulation that was earlier responsible for an EF2 tornado just west to just north of Rome, which caused significant damage to at least 20 homes in that area. Damage with this EF0 tornado in extreme northeast Floyd county was confined to several trees. No structural damage was observed.

[12/22/11: Tornado #2, County #1-3, EF3, Floyd-Bartow-Gordon, 2011:028].

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that the EF0 tornado that touched down in extreme northeast Floyd county continued into extreme northwest Bartow county before continuing into Gordon county. The tornado remained at EF0 intensity across extreme northwest Gordon county with a maximum path width of 440 yards. Damage survey members observed and county emergency personnel reported that a number of trees were down along Oak Grove Road just north of Georgia Highway 140. A few homes in this area also sustained minor to moderate damage from downed trees.

[12/22/11: Tornado #2, County #2-3, EF3, Floyd-Bartow-Gordon, 2011:028].

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that the EF0 tornado, that initially touched down in extreme northeast Floyd county and continued across extreme northwest Bartow county, continued into Gordon county. The tornado entered Gordon county about 2.8 miles east-southeast of Plainville before continuing on a northeastward track into central Gordon county, lifting and dissipating on the east side of Calhoun. The tornado strengthened to an EF1 almost immediately after entering Gordon county, then to an EF3 as it approached the south side of Calhoun. At its maximum intensity and size the tornado was determined to be 880 yards or 1/2 mile wide and had maximum winds of 150 mph. The tornado tracked at least 10 miles through Gordon county. As the tornado entered Gordon county, several homes along Emily Lane were damaged from falling trees just east of Plainville. As the tornado strengthened to an EF3 near the corner of Boone Ford Road and Beason Road just south of Calhoun, were several additional homes were damaged and one was completely destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines were also down along the path of the tornado through Gordon county, including several blocking Interstate-75 near the Bartow county line. Four injuries were also reported from the destroyed home.

[12/22/11: Tornado #2, County #3-3, EF3, Floyd-Bartow-Gordon, 2011:028].

The Gilmer County Emergency Management Director reported and the Cherokee County Emergency Management Director discovered an area of damage in southwest Gilmer county. The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director determined that the damage was the result of an EF1 tornado. The tornado touched down approximately four miles southeast of Carters (in Murray county) in far southwest Gilmer county near Georgia Highway 136. The tornado tracked on the ground, paralleling Georgia Highway 136, in an east-northeastward direction for only 1.5 miles before lifting near the intersection of Camp Branch Road and Georgia Highway 136. The damage path was determined to be 300 yards wide with maximum winds estimated to be 90 mph. The most significant damage resulting from the tornado was to the Shady Grove Church, which sustained minor damage from falling trees. No other structures were damaged. However, a total of at least 100 trees and six power poles were snapped or downed by the tornado.

[12/22/11: Tornado #3, County #1-1, EF1, Gilmer, 2011:029].

The Troup County 911 Center reported that several trees were down in the Hogansville area. WSR-88D radar indicates that a developing mesoscale circulation was evident in this area, which subsequently moved rapidly northeast and spawned a brief EF1 tornado in south central Coweta county, just southwest of Moreland.

The Coweta County 911 Center reported that several power lines were down on Mount Carmel Road between Arnco-Sargent and Plant Yates. WSR-88D radar data suggests that strong winds or perhaps a mesoscale circulation impacted this area and northeast toward Dunaway Gardens and Roscoe.

The Douglas County 911 Center reported that three trees were down in the Winston area.

The Harris County Emergency Management Director reported that two trees were down in the Lake Harding Backwater area and two more trees were down on O Street, just northeast of downtown Hamilton.

The Meriwether County 911 Center reported that a few trees were down in the Primrose Community. WSR-88D indicated a mesoscale circulation developing in the area at the time, which later tracked across far south and southeast Fayette county spawning a brief EF1 tornado near Lake Horton.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that a brief EF1 tornado affected south central Coweta county. While damage was initially determined to be caused by strong straight line winds responsible for isolated tree and power line damage just north of Grantville, a brief EF1 tornado subsequently touched down as the storm progressed further northeast. The tornado touched down approximately two miles southwest of Moreland and tracked on the ground for just slightly over one mile, lifting approximately 1.2 miles southwest of Moreland. The tornado was determined to have a maximum path width of 100 yards with maximum winds of 90 mph. EF1 tornado damage began immediately upon touchdown along Polk Road where dozens of trees were snapped. Tree damage continued to the northeast along Dingler Road. One home on Polk Road sustained substantial damage to its roof. Several trees were also uprooted or snapped on this property as well.

[12/22/11: Tornado #4, County #1-1, EF1, Coweta, 2011:030].

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that a brief and weak EF1 tornado touched down in far southeast Fayette county along the northeast shore of Lake Horton. The tornado first touched down near the end of Woolsey Creek Trail just west of Georgia Highway 92. The tornado then moved northeast a total of 1.6 miles, lifting just north of the end of Mudbridge Road and just shy of the Clayton county line. Intermittent tree damage was observed along the path of the tornado with a total of 35 trees snapped or downed. Two homes sustained minor roof damage and two outbuildings, including a large barn, were destroyed.

[12/22/11: Tornado #5, County #1-1, EF1, Fayette, 2011:031].

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees and power lines were down across the county. A tree was blown down onto a home just southwest of Cumming causing minor damage to the structure.

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City confirmed that a brief EF0 tornado affected far north Fayette county. The tornado touched down near Lees Mill Road just west of Georgia Highway 92 and traveled northeast about one mile before lifting just northeast of the end of Hill Road. Approximately 50 trees and six power poles were downed or snapped along the path of the tornado, especially along Hill Road. One home on Hill Road lost several shingles, a few gutters, and a portion of the flashing on its roof. A wooden fence was also destroyed at the same property from downed trees. WSR-88D also indicated that the circulation that spawned this tornado was likely associated with the same circulation that earlier spawned an EF1 tornado in Coweta county.

[12/22/11: Tornado #6, County #1-1, EF0, Fayette, 2011:032].

The Clayton County 911 Center reported that one tree was down at the intersection of Panhandle Road and Woolsey Road near the Fayette county line, a couple of trees were down at the intersection of Tara Boulevard and Old Town Place, and a couple of trees were down at the intersection of Lake Jodeco Road and Camp Road, all in the Jonesboro area.

The Henry County 911 Center reported that a couple of trees were down around Hampton and a couple more trees were down in the McDonough area.

The public reported that a couple of trees were down on power lines within the city of Monroe at the intersection of Youth Monroe Road and Georgia Highway 81.