Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Georgia, February 24, 2016

Name: Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Georgia, February 24, 2016
Start: 2016-02-24T00:07
End: 2016-02-24T04:55
Location: Georgia

February 24, 2016 · NWS TAE · 20 events in 11 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: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $122,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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 TAE wrote it up.

An unusually strong upper level trough and area of low pressure moved across the southeast states during the Feb 23-24 period, bringing with it numerous reports of wind damage and tornadoes. The low level jet was particularly strong with very strong 0-1 km shear values in excess of 60 knots. The 0-1 km helicity values were in excess of 1000 m2/s2 in some areas with CAPE values around 500 j/kg. There were a total of 11 tornadoes across southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia, including 9 EF1 tornadoes and 2 EF0 tornadoes.

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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 23, 7:04 PM EST, 5 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 23, 7:04 PM EST, 5 hours 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
704 PM EST TUE FEB 23 2016

...Significant severe weather event expected tonight through
Wednesday morning...

.Aviation...
[Through 00Z Wednesday]...Conditions at the terminals will
deteriorate rapidly this evening and overnight at all the
terminals. Widespread strong to severe thunderstorms are expected
starting around 06Z to the west and clearing around 12Z to the
east. This is covered well in convective tempo groups with showing
gusts as high as 50kts at all but VLD. It will be windy behind
the front on Wednesday with gusts as high as 35 kts.

&&

.Prev Discussion [510 PM EST]...

.Near Term [Through Tonight]...

A powerful, deep-layer cyclone will move from LA to western TN
overnight dragging a cold front eastward and into the western
portions of our FA by daybreak. The front will be preceded by a
squall line or multiple bands of convection and supercells. A
significant severe weather threat accompanies this system and SPC
has now expanded the moderate risk area from near Albany to
Tallahassee westward with an enhanced and slight risk for severe
covering the remainder of the Tri-state region. The timing of the
severe weather threat remains unchanged beginning in our westernmost
zones between 11 pm and Midnight EST impacting SW GA and the western
Big Bend zones between 4 am and 8 am EST.

The global models continue to show strong forcing for ascent,
impressive shear and helicity values, especially from Albany to
Tallahassee westward. This includes 120 kt mid-upper level jet, low
level jet (85H) 50-60 kt, surface dewpoints in the lower to mid 60s,
deep layer shear (0-6km) around 60 kt, low level shear (0-1km)
exceeding 30 KT, and SBCAPE 500-1000 J/kg; highest near the
panhandle coast. This environment would support the development of
supercells with the possibility of significant and long lived
tornadoes. The 09z and 12z CAM shows long track updraft helicity
streaks in the moderate risk area. However, the main threat will
be damaging straight line winds up to 70 mph. Severe hail is also
possible, especially near the coast, due to stronger buoyancy and
relatively steep 700-500 mb lapse rates of 6 to 6.5 C/km.

.Short Term [Wednesday Through Thursday Night]...

The severe weather threat will be ongoing Wednesday morning as the
focus shifts to our eastern zones. The activity will end by
afternoon as the cold front clears to our east. We are expecting
windy conditions behind the front Wednesday with sustained winds
around 25 to 30 mph with frequent gusts over 40 mph. A wind
advisory will likely be issued after the severe weather threat
ends. High temperatures Wednesday may occur in the morning most
areas with temps remaining steady or slowly falling in the
afternoon. Expect cooler and dryer conditions for Thursday. Min temps
Thursday night may drop to the freezing mark for our northernmost
zones Thursday night.

.Long Term [Friday Through Tuesday]...

Throughout the long term, high pressure will dominate the CWA
suppressing rain chances. Until Sunday, the combination of the upper
level trough funneling cooler air to the region and low level high
pressure will keep temperatures fair and cool. Going from Sunday
into Monday, deep level ridging will build and temperatures will
begin to increase into the beginning of the work week.

On Monday, the GFS has a slight chance of a weak frontal boundary
dissipating to the northwest of the area that could potentially
bring rain to SE AL. However, being this far out in the forecast and
the rain only present in one model, will wait for later model runs
to confirm it.

.Marine...

A Gale Warning is in effect from this evening through Wednesday
evening for frequent gusts of 34-40 kt as a strong cold front
pushes through the local waters. The strong onshore winds ahead
of the cold front will drive the tides higher than normal. The
highest tides (coupled with relatively high astronomical tides)
will be in the 3 to 4 feet range at the time of high tide late
tonight and Wednesday, along the coast east of Apalachicola. This
is not quite high enough to warrant a Coastal Flood advisory.
Winds and seas will be slow to subside and may see advisory level
conditions from Wednesday night through Thursday night.

.Fire Weather...

A wetting rain is likely tonight as severe thunderstorms are move
through tonight. Winds will be very gusty behind the front with gust
of 30 to 40 mph possible. Dispersion indices will be high due
Wednesday to high transport winds.

.Hydrology...

Since we expect smaller, rather ragged bands of rain instead of a
large QLCS, our deterministic storm total QPF is a bit lower than
24 hours ago. This lower QPF is also aided by the expected rapid
movement of these rain bands. We expect rain totals from one half
to one inch, with the highest totals north and west of
Tallahassee. The Apalachicola River at Blountstown remains at
minor flood stage, and given the expected rain upstream, it's
likely to stay in minor flood through next week. Otherwise we're
not expected river flooding.

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...

Tallahassee   64  69  39  62  35 /  80  50   0   0   0
Panama City   60  64  42  60  38 /  90  30   0   0   0
Dothan        57  62  38  60  34 /  90  20   0   0   0
Albany        62  67  38  59  32 /  90  60   0   0   0
Valdosta      65  72  40  62  35 /  60  80   0   0   0
Cross City    65  72  41  63  34 /  40  80   0   0   0
Apalachicola  64  67  43  60  38 /  90  30   0   0   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through late tonight FOR South Walton.

GA...NONE.
AL...NONE.
GM...Gale Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM EST Wednesday FOR
     Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to
     Ochlockonee River Fl out to 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-
     Coastal waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL out 20 NM-
     Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60
     NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL from 20 to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...BARRY
SHORT TERM...BARRY
LONG TERM...BARRY/CHANEY
AVIATION...BARRY
MARINE...BARRY
FIRE WEATHER...WESTON
HYDROLOGY...FOURNIER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 23, 10:44 PM EST, 1 hour 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1044 PM EST TUE FEB 23 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1015 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LIBERTY                 30.82N 86.22W
02/23/2016                   WALTON             FL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINES DOWN NEAR HIGHWAY 331 AND COUNTY ROAD 1084

&&

DVD

Local storm report, Feb 23, 11:39 PM EST, 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1139 PM EST TUE FEB 23 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1130 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DE FUNIAK SPRINGS       30.72N 86.12W
02/23/2016                   WALTON             FL   911 CALL CENTER

            COUPLE REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN THE DEFUNIAK SPRINGS
            AREA.

&&

08-LAMERS

Local storm report, Feb 23, 11:42 PM EST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1142 PM EST TUE FEB 23 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1135 PM     TSTM WND GST     DE FUNIAK SPRING AIRPOR 30.73N 86.15W
02/23/2016  M62 MPH          WALTON             FL   AWOS

            PEAK GUST TO 54 KNOTS OR 62 MPH.

&&

08-LAMERS

Local storm report, Feb 23, 11:48 PM EST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1148 PM EST TUE FEB 23 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1133 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 E MIDLAND CITY        31.32N 85.45W
02/23/2016  M47.00 MPH       DALE               AL   ASOS

            MEASURED GUST TO 41 KNOTS OR 47 MPH AT THE DOTHAN AIRPORT
            AUTOMATED OBSERVATION.

&&

08-LAMERS

Local storm report, Feb 23, 11:56 PM EST, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1156 PM EST TUE FEB 23 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1150 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PITTMAN                 30.94N 85.82W
02/23/2016                   HOLMES             FL   911 CALL CENTER

            SCATTERED REPORTS OF TREES BLOWN DOWN ACROSS PORTIONS OF
            HOLMES COUNTY.

&&

08-LAMERS

Local storm report, Feb 24, 12:05 AM EST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1205 AM EST WED FEB 24 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1143 PM     HAIL             1 E DE FUNIAK SPRING AI 30.73N 86.14W
02/23/2016  E0.75 INCH       WALTON             FL   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MCDERMOT

The radar

The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 46 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Early

When: February 24, 12:07 AM EST to 12:12 AM EST
Where: Early County, 4.3 mi SW of Kolomoki Mounds State Park to 2.06 mi SW of Kolomoki Mounds State Park
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.24 mi
Path width: 350 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.415, -84.980

This tornado began around Grimsley Road with tree damage noted in surrounding fields and along the road. It then moved northeast, crossing State Highway 39 to the northwest of Blakely. The most significant damage was noted in a grove of trees off Cotton Patch Road, with numerous mature, healthy trees snapped or uprooted. This tornado was rated EF1 with max winds estimated around 105 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: February 24, 12:15 AM EST
Where: Clay County, 1.16 mi SSE of Fort Gaines
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.605, -85.031

Trees were blown down around Highway 37 near Fort Gaines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Early

When: February 24, 12:50 AM EST
Where: Early County, 3.65 mi NNW of Rowena
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 31.430, -84.730

A tree was blown down onto a power line near Arlington resulting in a power outage.

Tornado, Terrell

When: February 24, 12:55 AM EST to 1:02 AM EST
Where: Terrell County, 2.35 mi E of Clarks Mill to 0.27 mi NW of Chickasawhatchee
Rating: EF1
Path length: 5.09 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.640, -84.420

Damage along this path was primarily to pine and pecan trees. A portion of the southern end was a focused area of uprooted and snapped mature pines. Much of the tornado track ran along Bobby Locke Road. This tornado was rated EF1 with max winds estimated around 90 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: February 24, 1:10 AM EST
Where: Lee County, 1.85 mi SSW of Oakland
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.645, -84.261

A tree was blown down on Hickory Ridge Court.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dougherty

When: February 24, 1:20 AM EST
Where: Dougherty County, 4.11 mi N of Walker
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.599, -84.309

A tree was blown down on the 5400 block of Old Dawson Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dougherty

When: February 24, 1:22 AM EST
Where: Dougherty County, 4.75 mi N of Lockett Crossing
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.619, -84.251

Two trees fell on a home on the 2800 block of Doublegate Drive. Damage was estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dougherty

When: February 24, 1:22 AM EST
Where: Dougherty County, 2.72 mi NW of Albany
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 31.600, -84.200

A large pine tree was blown down in northwest Albany per a public post to the WALB-TV facebook page.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: February 24, 1:22 AM EST
Where: Lee County, 0.91 mi SE of Stocks
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 31.640, -84.080

A tree was blown down off Stocks Dairy Road per a public post to the WALB-TV facebook page.

Tornado, Lee

When: February 24, 1:26 AM EST to 1:27 AM EST
Where: Lee County, 2.88 mi SSE of Chokee to 2.76 mi SSE of Chokee
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.850, -84.028

This tornado touched down briefly at this location with a path length of less than one half mile. There was significant damage to a mobile home roof, along with the complete removal of an asphalt roof of a single family home. This tornado was rated EF1 with max winds estimated around 105 mph. Damage cost was estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Worth

When: February 24, 1:30 AM EST
Where: Worth County, Warwick
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 31.820, -83.920

A few trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Decatur

When: February 24, 2:06 AM EST
Where: Decatur County, 1.38 mi N of Bethany
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 30.870, -84.730

A tree was blown down on Spring Creek Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Worth

When: February 24, 2:30 AM EST
Where: Worth County, 1.05 mi NNE of Sylvester
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 31.544, -83.824

The roof was partially blown off of Lighthouse Church near Sylvester. Damage was estimated.

Tornado, Grady

When: February 24, 2:45 AM EST to 3:02 AM EST
Where: Grady County, 1.59 mi SSE of Boydville to 0.84 mi S of Akridge
Rating: EF1
Path length: 12.81 mi
Path width: 400 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.860, -84.337

The tornado touched down southeast of Whigham and traveled northeast, crossing Highway 84 between Whigham and Cairo. The tornado lifted northeast of Cairo. The bulk of the damage was to trees and power lines with some minor damage to a few homes, mainly caused by falling trees. The strongest winds were likely along Providence Road where multiple trees were snapped at various levels. In addition, a partially strapped mobile home was moved from its foundation just north of Cairo. Six people were inside the mobile home, and nobody was injured. This tornado was rated EF1 with max winds estimated at 90 mph. Damage cost was estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Thomas

When: February 24, 3:26 AM EST
Where: Thomas County, 1.37 mi ENE of Homestead Park
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 30.850, -83.970

A power line was blown down near Thomasville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Thomas

When: February 24, 3:39 AM EST
Where: Thomas County, 1.75 mi WNW of Newark
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 30.827, -83.918

A tree was blown down onto a power line on Highway 84 east of Thomasville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Colquitt

When: February 24, 4:02 AM EST
Where: Colquitt County, 0.48 mi SSW of Moultrie
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 31.164, -83.784

A tree was blown down near the intersection of 3rd Street and 12th Ave.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lowndes

When: February 24, 4:55 AM EST
Where: Lowndes County, 2.25 mi NE of I-75 at Exit 22
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 30.910, -83.320

Trees were blown down along Val Del Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lowndes

When: February 24, 4:55 AM EST
Where: Lowndes County, I-75 at Exit 22
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 30.890, -83.350

A gas station awning was damaged along I-75 at exit 22.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lowndes

When: February 24, 4:55 AM EST
Where: Lowndes County, 1.19 mi WNW of Valdosta
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 30.836, -83.289

A tree was blown down on West Adair Street.

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.
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 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Georgia, 2016 Warnings in Georgia, February 2016

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: 613498, 618672, 618671, 613499, 618669, 618668, 618665, 618666, 618667, 613500, 618664, 618663, 618662, 613501, 618661, 618660, 618659, 618656, 618657, 618658.