Several subtle upper level shortwaves affected the area during a three day period between March 1-3 as a broad long-wave upper level trough located west of the area slowly progressed eastward. Subtle surface boundaries were also in the area with a relatively warm, moist and unstable airmass in place.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.
Several subtle upper level shortwaves affected the area during a three day period between March 1-3 as a broad long-wave upper level trough located west of the area slowly progressed eastward. Subtle surface boundaries were also in the area with a relatively warm, moist and unstable airmass in place. Instability values approached 2000 j/kg with low level shear around 30 knots and deep layer shear around 50 knots. Several tornadoes occurred in the National Weather Service Tallahassee forecast area with numerous instances of straight line wind damage, heavy rain, and localized flooding as well.
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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 2, 3:19 PM EST, 5 hours 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 319 PM EST Fri Mar 2 2012 ...Strong to severe thunderstorms possible Saturday... .SHORT TERM (Tonight through Sunday night)...A deep upper trough over the central states is forecast to slide east over the next two days. Several impulses of energy will move through the trough and energize showers and thunderstorms along a cold front. This setup is generating widespread severe weather over portions of the mid-south today. This far south, there is enough upper ridging in place to prevent any deep convection through much of tonight. Low clouds and fog will continue to be an issue along the coast through the night with the continuing warm and moist onshore flow. Storms will begin to approach southeast Alabama late tonight. Isolated severe storms will be possible during this time. However, diminishing forcing and instability will likely limit the threat for SE Alabama. An active day is on tap for Saturday as the cold front moves across the forecast area. After some initial weakening in the morning across southeast Alabama, showers and thunderstorms are forecast to intensify right along the frontal boundary by late morning as it moves into the eastern Panhandle and southwest Georgia. This reintensification appears to be the result of a subtle impluse rounding the base of the upper trough combined with destabilization due to daytime heating. Deep layer shear aoa 50 knots and sfc-based CAPE approaching 1000j/kg will support severe thunderstorms as this line moves across the eastern two-thirds of the forecast area. The best chance for severe weather appears to be east of a line from Panama City to Albany, primarily from the late morning into the early afternoon. The primary mode will support damaging straight-line winds. However, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. The severe threat will end with the frontal passage. However, locally heavy rainfall may continue for several hours behind the front. Expect to see a swath of 2 to 3 inches from Panama City to Valdosta with locally higher amounts possible. Dryer and cooler conditions will spread over the area for Sunday. .LONG TERM (Monday through Friday)...The large scale pattern commences rather amplified with troughing over Ern Pac, ridging over wrn half and troughing over ern half on CONUS with low over Que and trough axis SSW to Cntrl Gulf region. Locally, this yields dry and cool NW steering flow. At surface, in the wake of the passing cold front Sunday morning, high pressure over Cntrl Plains beginning to build SEWD towards se region with cooler temps overspreading local area but this cooling will be short lived. By Mon eve, Pac trough over West Coast pushing downstream ridging EWD and shunting ern trough into extreme Wrn Atlc. Models have come in better agreement bringing full latitude trough to the Rockies on Wed and to Plains on Thurs. This will result in an amplified ridge and rising heights over Ern CONUS thru at least early Wed. Then, models diverge with ECMWF much more bullish with upper and lower features. In this scenario trough deepens over Wrn half of CONUS with SWLY steering flow approaching SE region as Ern ridge shunted offshore. By Fri aftn, deep low over MS Valley with trough axis down to Wrn Gulf with deep layer moisture advecting NWD over local region. At surface, large high moves ewd across Gulf reaching Cntrl FL Mon night and another moves ewd from mid-continent across Ern states reaching TN Valley Mon night and to Carolina coast Tues aftn and off coast Tues night allowing both highs to merge providing a long fetch of breezy ELY flow, suppressing fog and moderating temps and continuing into Fri. Influenced by above upper trough, elongated surface low develops and moves NEWD dragging cold front and possible squall line ahead of it across local area very late Thurs into Fri late aftn or eve. Conversely, much weaker and slower GFS doesnt bring any precip to area until after end of extended forecast and in a much weaker form. so model confidence for latter half of extended remains low and forecast will go slightly above drier and warmer MEX until i see better agreement. Will go with nil pops thru Thurs night then wdly sct-lo sct on Fri. In wake of recent front, min temps Sun night will commence around 5 degrees below climo then moderate each night rising to climo Mon and Tues nights and around 5 degrees above climo Wed and Thurs nights. Max temps will be around climo Mon thru Wed then rise to around 5 degrees above climo Thurs and Fri as local area placed increasingly in warm sector ahead of next weather system. (avg inland climo is 45/71 degrees). && .AVIATION (through 18z Saturday)...Ceilings have lifted above VFR levels this afternoon to the north of I-10...with generally MVFR conditions further south for KTLH and KECP. Restrictions will once again increase within a few hours of sunset this evening and anticipate a widespread MVFR/IFR event after midnight, with the potential for periods of LIFR. Shower/storm chances will also begin to increase before sunrise...especially up toward KDHN. All terminals will experience considerable shower and thunderstorm activity during the daylight hours of Saturday with conditions likely not improving above MVFR. && .MARINE...Expect to see increasing winds tonight over the coastal waters ahead of an approaching cold front. Exercise Caution conditions are expected. Small Craft advisory conditions are likely by early afternoon on Saturday with strong southerly flow ahead of the front and strong northerly flow in its wake. A few gusts to gale force will be possible over the offshore waters early Sunday morning behind the front. Conditions will slowly improve beginning Sunday afternoon with light northerly winds expected by Monday. && .FIRE WEATHER...Abundant low level moisture will continue to stream into the region ahead of a cold front which will then cross the area during Saturday. Areas of rain with embedded thunder are expected throughout much of Saturday along and behind this front. The eastern Big Bend will be the last to see the rain arrive during mainly the afternoon/evening hours. Much drier air will spill into the region in the wake of the front for Sunday. A combination of low relative humidity and high dispersion indices will likely result in critical fire weather conditions over much of northern Florida. North of the Florida border, relative humidity is forecast to briefly drop below critical levels, however at this time, winds are not expected to be strong enough to result in red flag conditions. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Tallahassee 64 74 47 65 38 / 20 90 80 10 10 Panama City 65 70 46 64 48 / 30 90 70 10 10 Dothan 65 68 40 64 39 / 50 80 70 10 10 Albany 66 70 42 63 39 / 30 80 80 10 10 Valdosta 64 78 48 65 39 / 20 90 80 10 10 Cross City 61 78 53 64 38 / 10 60 80 20 10 Apalachicola 66 73 50 63 47 / 20 90 80 10 10 && .TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. GA...None. FL...None. GM...None. && Camp/Mroczka/Godsey
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 528 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012 ALZ065>069-FLZ007>019-026>029-034-108-112-114-115-118-127-128-134- GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161-GMZ730-750-755-765-770-775-031000- COFFEE-DALE-HENRY-GENEVA-HOUSTON-INLAND WALTON-CENTRAL WALTON- HOLMES-WASHINGTON-JACKSON-INLAND BAY-CALHOUN-INLAND GULF- INLAND FRANKLIN-GADSDEN-LEON-INLAND JEFFERSON-MADISON-LIBERTY- INLAND WAKULLA-INLAND TAYLOR-LAFAYETTE-INLAND DIXIE-SOUTH WALTON- COASTAL BAY-COASTAL GULF-COASTAL FRANKLIN-COASTAL JEFFERSON- COASTAL WAKULLA-COASTAL TAYLOR-COASTAL DIXIE-QUITMAN-CLAY- RANDOLPH-TERRELL-DOUGHERTY-LEE-WORTH-TURNER-TIFT-BEN HILL-IRWIN- EARLY-MILLER-BAKER-MITCHELL-COLQUITT-COOK-BERRIEN-SEMINOLE- DECATUR-GRADY-THOMAS-BROOKS-LOWNDES-LANIER- APALACHEE BAY OR COASTAL WATERS FROM KEATON BEACH TO OCHLOCKONEE RIVER FL OUT TO 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM OCHLOCKONEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL OUT TO 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM SUWANNEE RIVER TO KEATON BEACH OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM SUWANNEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 528 AM EST FRI MAR 2 2012 /428 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA... SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...AND THE FLORIDA BIG BEND AND PANHANDLE...AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... WIDESPREAD FOG NEAR THE COAST THIS MORNING WILL OCCASIONALLY REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ONE-QUARTER MILE AT TIMES. VISIBILITIES WILL ALSO BE RESTRICTED ACROSS THE NEAR SHORE COASTAL WATERS UNTIL LATE MORNING. STRONGER ONSHORE WINDS TODAY WILL LEAD TO A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE FLORIDA BIG BEND AND PANHANDLE BEACHES. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE WEST LATE TONIGHT WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO HOLD OFF UNTIL SATURDAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION ON SATURDAY BRINGING THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE PRIMARY THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH STORM TOTALS NEARING 2 TO 4 INCHES. DRIER WEATHER WILL MOVE IN BEHIND THE COLD FRONT ON SUNDAY WITH TRANQUIL CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY BUT IS POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV...THEN CLICK ON YOUR AREA OF INTEREST ON THE NATIONAL MAP. 38-GODSEY
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
611 PM EST FRI MAR 02 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0601 PM TORNADO 1 W BROOKLYN 31.31N 86.19W
03/02/2012 COFFEE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL REPORTS OF A TORNDAO RECIEVED WEST OF BROOKLYN.
&&
BOLDENPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
650 PM EST FRI MAR 02 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0636 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 E NEW BROCKTON 31.38N 85.87W
03/02/2012 COFFEE AL EMERGENCY MNGR
ROOF OFF BUILDING ON HIGHWAY 266.
&&
WOOLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 753 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012 ALZ067-069-GAZ142-030130- HOUSTON AL-EARLY GA-HENRY AL- 653 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR EARLY...HENRY AND HOUSTON COUNTIES... * UNTIL 730 PM CST/830 PM EST/ AT 650 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR COWARTS...OR NEAR SMYRNA...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. PEOPLE IN NORTHERN HOUSTON...SOUTHEASTERN HENRY AND WESTERN EARLY COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF COWARTS...WEBB AND COLUMBIA... SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. A FEW WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. SOME WEAK MID LEVEL ROTATION WAS ALSO DETECTED. LAT...LON 3141 8502 3122 8499 3119 8535 3129 8539 TIME...MOT...LOC 0052Z 251DEG 28KT 3123 8531 08-LAMERS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
803 PM EST FRI MAR 02 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0718 PM TORNADO 2 SSE BALD HILL 31.14N 85.62W
03/02/2012 GENEVA AL AIRPLANE PILOT
REPORTED BY INSTRUCTOR PILOT OUT OF FORT RUCKER.
&&
WOOLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 827 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012 GAZ123-142-144-030215- BAKER GA-CALHOUN GA-EARLY GA- 827 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR BAKER...CALHOUN AND EARLY COUNTIES... * UNTIL 915 PM EST AT 824 PM EST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES EAST OF COLUMBIA...OR NEAR ROCK HILL...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. PEOPLE IN NORTHERN EARLY...NORTHWESTERN BAKER AND SOUTHWESTERN CALHOUN COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BLAKELY AND ARLINGTON... SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. WINDS AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. SOME WEAK ROTATION WAS ALSO DETECTED IN THIS STORM. RELAY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT. LAT...LON 3157 8463 3132 8454 3127 8503 3140 8508 TIME...MOT...LOC 0127Z 252DEG 30KT 3133 8499 08-LAMERS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 830 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012 ALZ069-FLZ011-030200- HOUSTON AL-JACKSON FL- 730 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2012 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR HOUSTON AND JACKSON COUNTIES... * UNTIL 800 PM CST AT 728 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COTTONWOOD...OR NEAR ELLAVILLE... MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. PEOPLE IN NORTHERN JACKSON AND SOUTHEASTERN HOUSTON COUNTIES...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. WINDS AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. SOME WEAK ROTATION HAS ALSO BEEN DETECTED WITH THIS STORM. RELAY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT. LAT...LON 3115 8517 3096 8502 3089 8536 3098 8543 TIME...MOT...LOC 0130Z 240DEG 26KT 3095 8534 08-LAMERS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
33 heavy rain, 11 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 3 flash flood, 2 funnel cloud, 1 hail, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A mobile home was severely damaged by thunderstorm winds. Monetary damage was estimated.
A 24 hour total of 4.00 inches was measured at GA-CQ-1.
A storm total of 4.14 inches was measured at the Chickasawhatchee Creek near Albany.
A storm total of 4.71 inches was measured at the Sawhatchee Creek.
A 24 hour total of 4.45 inches was measured at GA-DH-5.
A 24 hour total of 3.33 inches was measured at GA-TF-3.
A storm total of 4.20 inches was measured at the Ichawaynochaway creek below Newton.
A 24 hour total of 4.25 inches was measured at GA-LW-7.
A storm total of 4.41 inches was measured at the Withlacoochee river near Quitman.
A 24 hour total of 3.66 inches was measured at GA-LW-4.
A storm total of 4.69 inches was measured at the Alapaha river near Irwinville.
A 24 hour total of 3.48 inches was measured at GA-CQ-2.
A storm total of 5.11 inches was measured at the Ichawaynochaway creek near Elmodel.
A storm total of 4.03 inches was measured at the Little Attapulgus creek.
A 24 hour total of 4.38 inches was measured at GA-GY-2.
A storm total of 4.30 inches was reported in Ty Ty.
A 24 hour total of 3.16 inches was reported at GA-TF-5.
A storm total of 4.43 inches was measured at the Alapaha river near Alapaha.
A 24 hour total of 4.09 inches was measured at GA-LW-8.
The public reported a storm total of 4.10 inches in Isabella.
A storm total rainfall of 3.93 inches was measured at Moody AFB.
A storm total rainfall of 4.40 inches was measured at the Withlacoochee river near Valdosta.
A storm total of 6.11 inches was measured at the Little River near Hahira.
A storm total of 5.78 inches was measured at the Ochlockonee River near Thomasville.
A 24 hour total of 6.95 inches was measured at GA-TH-4.
A 24 hour total of 5.96 inches was measured at GA-SM-2.
A 24 hour total of 4.76 inches was measured at GA-LW-1.
A storm total of 5.13 inches was measured at the Spring Creek near Reynoldsville.
A storm total of 3.50 inches was measured in Moultrie.
A 24 hour total of 6.66 inches was measured at GA-TH-5.
An NWS storm survey confirms that an EF0 briefly touched down on Cooktown Road. Damage occurred to one home with the tin roof and front porch torn off. Several pine trees were also snapped and uprooted. Maximum winds were estimated around 85 mph with a width estimated around 25 yards. The path length was estimated to be approximately 0.25-0.30 miles. Monetary damage was estimated.
A 24 hour total of 4.00 inches was measured at GA-TF-7.
Scattered trees were blown down along Spring Head Road, Phillipsburg Road, Highway 91 at Big Drain Creek, and Cooktown Road. Monetary damage was estimated.
A 24 hour total of 4.75 inches was measured at GA-LW-5.
An NWS Storm Survey confirmed that an EF0 tornado touched down near Vada Road and moved northeastward with intermittent damage before lifting about 5 minutes later. An attached garage of a home was destroyed along with a farm equipment shed. A car was also flipped. Maximum winds were estimated around 80 mph. Monetary damage was estimated.
A funnel cloud was spotted by the public.
Trees and power lines were blown down. Monetary damage was estimated.
Multiple trees were blown down in the area. Monetary damage was estimated.
Trees were reported down at 2100 Spence Road. Monetary damage was estimated.
The public reported 5 inches of rain in less than a 6 hour time frame.
A few trees were blown down along Spruce Road. Monetary damage was estimated.
A few trees were blown down around Boston. Monetary damage was estimated.
At least two trees were blown down. Monetary damage was estimated.
A tree was blown down onto a camper at 6941 Pine Circle. Monetary damage was estimated.
A funnel cloud was spotted by the public near Cat Creek Road. This funnel touched down and became a significant tornado that moved through northeast Lowndes and Lanier counties.
The public estimated hail up to golf ball size on Bemiss Road north of Moody AFB. Most stones were quarter size but a few were golf ball. This hail occurred with the same supercell that spawned a significant tornado in northeastern Lowndes and Lanier counties.
An NWS Storm Survey confirmed that an EF2 tornado occurred in Lowndes county, then moved into Lanier county where it strengthened into an EF3 with maximum winds around 140 mph. The path width was estimated to be around 390 yards wide with a path length in Lowndes county of slightly over 4 miles long. In Lowndes county, the tornado likely initially developed along Cat Creek Road. Several reports were received of funnels from this location while the event was ongoing. There was a house near Cat Creek Road that had uprooted trees on the property with one or two impacting the house. Trees were generally blown down to the northeast, although a street sign was bent to the ground facing to the northwest. A few trees were also blown down along a tree line across the road. At that point, the tornado entered a more heavily forested area with no access roads. However, an aerial flyover by emergency management confirmed sporadic tree damage and a continuous damage path in that area. After the tornado cleared this forested area, the damage path began to widen and the tornado damage increased in intensity. Along Arapaho Trail, about a half mile south of Highway 122, the first instance of EF2 damage occurred as a mobile home was completely destroyed with debris blown downstream, mainly into fencing on the property. Also in this location, a shed was completely destroyed, a camper was flipped, part of the roof of a house was removed, and a silo was destroyed with the debris found resting on the opposite side of the house from where it started. Debris from locations along Arapaho Trail were found well downstream, in some cases at least one third of a mile. Along the next cross street - Peters Road - mostly EF1 damage was observed with snapped and uprooted trees and some broken windows in houses. The survey team found a tree sitting on the ground with a root ball at the end, but could not locate the hole or source of the tree within at least several hundred yards. Along Peters Road gouges were observed in the ground as some debris began to impact the ground. As the tornado crossed Bemiss Road (Highway 125) near Walkers Crossing, the damage path began to reach its widest phase. The maximum width of the tornado was estimated to be around 390 yards or 0.22 miles based on the damage survey. Additional EF2 damage was observed on both sides of the road with wooden power poles snapped, hardwood trees snapped or uprooted, and several homes damaged. A second abandoned home was pushed six feet off the concrete foundation. Maximum winds along this part of Bemiss Road were estimated to be around 125 mph based on damage. Also near these homes, there were deep gouges in the ground, including this one that was close to 1 foot deep and 6 feet long. Large debris also continued to be found along the damage path, including strips of metal that were twisted around damaged trees. The tornado then continued east-northeast, crossing Highway 122 near Barber Road into Lanier county. The Lowndes county emergency manager estimated property damage for Lowndes county at around $250,000 with an additional $100,000 in crop damage from fallen pecan trees.
This is a continuation of the tornado that occurred in Lowndes county. This tornado strengthened to EF3 status while in Lanier county with maximum winds estimated around 140 mph. The tornado entered Lanier county along Highway 122 near Barber Road and then impacted a property just north of 122 along Boyette Road. As the tornado approached Boyette Road, it was likely reaching maximum intensity. Radar reflectivity showed a signature known as a debris ball and gave forecasters high confidence that a tornado was in progress, despite an actual tornado not having been reported yet. The damage at the aforementioned location was severe. A mobile home was completely destroyed with debris scattered for hundreds of yards in many directions. This site was originally unrecognizable as a mobile home to the survey team. A few trees at the location were almost totally debarked. A one story residence also had some roof and window damage, a small grain silo was completely destroyed, and a large shed structure was completely destroyed with debris swept well away from the original location. Other things were noted around this location. There were quite a few instances of objects driven into the ground, including metal bars, gutters, branches, and other debris. There was some ground scouring noted, and many of the shrubs were ripped out of their original spots. Large debris was lofted for hundreds of yards including what appeared to be a hatch door from the missing grain silo, a door off of a chest freezer, and a mower and propane tank. The main part of the chest freezer was found across the street. Near the location of the large shed structure that was swept away, an electric meter was ripped out of the ground, and additional deep gouges were found in the ground. The tornado continued to the east-northeast, cutting a clear path through some dense forest in the swampland to the south of Highway 122 and to the west of Banks Lake. Around that time, the damage path began to narrow as the tornado approached the town of Lakeland. Once in Lakeland, the tornado largely caused damage to trees and vegetation, although some structures were impacted. A mobile home was completely destroyed, a nearby full shipping container was rolled about 50 feet, and some debris was driven through metal. Near the end of the tornado path it impacted the hospital in Lakeland, pushing a trailer away from its original location and damaging the ambulance station. Some antennas were also snapped at the hospital, and some damage was reported to the AC units on the roof. Damage in Lanier county was estimated at around $500,000.
A tree was blown down at 4800 Block Lori Street. Monetary damage was estimated.
KVLD airport measured 4.42 inches of rain from 2 pm EST to 5 am EST.
Water entered a residence on Passmore Street due to excessive rainfall of several inches in a short period of time. Monetary damage was estimated.
McDonald Road from U.S. Highway 319 North across to Hall Road was washed out and closed due to excessive rainfall of several inches in a short period of time. This was reported initially by the public on the WCTV web page and later verified by Thomas county dispatch. Monetary damage was estimated.
Six to eight inches of water was reported flowing over Highway 122 due to excessive rainfall amounts of several inches in a short period of time.
A tree was blown down in the road at 1304 Pinehurst Ct. Monetary damage was estimated.
A small earthen dam broke on the northern end of Lake Larry and affected one home at 228 Omega-Eldorado Road. The water crossed Omega-Eldorado Road and Union Road and entered the home to a depth of approximately 4 inches. Country drain pipes were also damaged. Heavy rainfall of around 4.00 inches from March 3rd contributed to the dam failure. Monetary damage was estimated.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Georgia, 2012Warnings in Georgia, March 2012
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: 359523, 359581, 359582, 359583, 359584, 359639, 359640, 359641, 359642, 359643, 359644, 359645, 359646, 359647, 359648, 359649, 359650, 359651, 359652, 359653, 359654, 359655, 359656, 359657, 359658, 359659, 359660, 359661, 359662, 359663, 360325, 359664, 360354, 359665, 359666, 359667, 360331, 360351, 360352, 359579, and more.