Tornadoes and Hail in Georgia, March 3, 2019

A National Weather Service survey team determined that an EF0 tornado touched down along Lee Pope Road where large pine trees were uprooted. The tornado moved|east-northeast across Highway 341 to Greer Road, at which point winds increased into the EF2 range. A mobile home on Greer Road was flipped and demolished, and a vehicle was flipped and rolled, a woman inside the mobile home sustained a broken ankle. The tornado weakened then to EF1, downing trees as it crossed Walton Road, before reaching re-strengthening to EF2 briefly for a second time along Wesley Chapel Road. A home at this location had its roof completely removed and some exterior walls collapsed. A neighboring home sustained roof damage from the large amount of flying debris. The tornado again weakened to EF1 intensity as it crossed into Peach County along Mossy Creek. [03/03/19: Tornado #1, County #1/2, EF2, Crawford, Peach, 2019:006].

A National Weather Service survey team found that a tornado that began in Crawford County crossed into Peach County around Mossy Creek as it weakened back to EF1, downing or uprooting a number of trees along Taylors Mill Road. Pecan farming equipment was overturned and a farming shed was destroyed as the tornado crossed Vinson Road. The tornado lifted after downing pecan trees along Wesley Chapel Road. No injuries were reported in Peach County. [03/03/19: Tornado #1, County #2/2, EF1, Crawford, Peach, 2019:006].

An amateur radio operator reported golf ball size hail near around the intersection of Jordan Road and Boy Scout Road.

A National Weather Service survey found that the deadly EF4 tornado that crossed Macon and Lee Counties in Alabama moved across the Chattahoochee River into Muscogee County Georgia with an EF1 intensity. The tornado entered the county in the Standing Boy Creek State Park, moving east northeast along Winding Ridge Road, Old River Road and Biggers Road causing extensive damage in forested areas. Large swaths of softwood trees were uprooted or snapped near their bases. The tornado continued east northeast crossing Winding Ridge Road and I-185 southwest of Fortson. As the tornado crossed U.S. Highway 27 between Woodridge Road and Almond Road, it reached EF3 intensity, toppling a large cell tower along with a swath of pine trees with wind speeds estimated to be around 140 mph. Around a dozen metal guidewires attached to the tower, and measuring over one inch in diameter, were snapped. The tornado crossed into Harris County after crossing Highway 27. No injuries were reported along the Muscogee County portion of the tornado path. [03/03/19: Tornado #2, County #1/3, EF3, Muscogee, 2019:007].

The Bibb County Emergency Manager reported golf ball to lime size hail on the south side of Macon from around the intersection of Allen Road and Houston Road to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport.

A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF0 tornado with maximum winds of 85 mph and a maximum path width of 150 yards moved across portions of downtown Macon. The tornado touched down around the intersection of Oglethorpe and 1st Street and moved north-northeast along 1st Street. The tornado crossed Arch Street where a transformer was blown. A building at Hemlock Street and 1st Street had second story windows blown in. At the Medical Center along 1st Street and Hemlock Street, a large flag pole was bent 90 degrees approximately 3 feet from the base. In addition, 5 windows on the southeast side of the hospital were broken. The tornado continued along 1st street where various pieces of small to medium debris and limbs were tossed about. A building near Pine Street sustained minor damage to the shingles on its roof. The tornado crossed directly over the Macon-Bibb Emergency Operations Center where several Emergency Management Agency vehicles had their windows blown out. A weather station on the roof of the building recorded a 66 mph wind gust before the anemometer broke. Additional windows in buildings along 1st Street were blown out around the Poplar Street intersection along with the directional street sign. Large, heavy tables were lifted and tossed near this intersection. Trees were blown down around the intersections with Mulberry Street and Walnut Street. A 5th story window was blown out in a building along Mulberry St. The tornado lifted as it crossed Riverside Drive and approached the Ocmulgee River. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #3, County #1/1, EF0, Bibb, 2019:008].

A National Weather Service survey found an EF2 tornado moved out of Muscogee County into Harris County just north of Gray Rock Road west of Heiferhorn Creek, snapping hundreds of trees. The Tornado moved east northeast up Rip Shin Road to Highway 315 as it entered Ellerslie downing hundreds more trees. Minor roof damage was noted at several homes with shingles pulled off. One home had a portion of the attic and top floor removed. Further east northeast along highway 315 and Mount Airy Road, there were hundreds of softwood trees blown down, as well as a home with significant damage to the top floor. Several homes had missing shingles and a carport was destroyed. The tornado then continued across Ridgeway Road, just north of |Highway 315, where several dozen softwood trees were snapped near their bases. The short distance from Ridgeway Road to the Talbot County line saw numerous additional trees blown down along and north of Highway 315. No injuries were reported along the Harris County portion of the tornado path. [03/03/19: Tornado #2, County #2/3, EF2, Harris, 2019:007].

A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of90 mph and a maximum path width of 300 yards in the small community of Huber. The tornado touched down very near the KaMin factory on Huber Road where a number of large trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado moved east across Huber Road and Huber Clay County Road where a large number of pine trees were snapped or uprooted. A number of other trees were snapped or uprooted near the Chance Hill Church on Cochran Short Route, or Highway 23. A pine tree fell on a house in this location as well before the tornado lifted shortly after crossing the highway. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #4, County #1/1, EF1, Twiggs, 2019:009].

An amateur radio operator reported trees blown down from Highway 1 south of Hamilton to Highway 85 southwest of Waverly Hall.

The Bibb County Emergency Manager reported a tree blown down onto a house on Morgan Drive.

A National Weather Service survey found an EF2 tornado moved out of Harris County into Talbot County increasing to EF3 intensity along Highway 315 where a small church and a mobile home were destroyed and dozens of trees were downed. Extensive damage occurred to a two-story home. The Humble Zion Church which was completely demolished with no walls left standing, was constructed of cinder blocks and mortar. The tornado continued east northeast along or just south of Highway 315, and weakened once again with EF1 wind damage found through forested areas in and around the highway as it crossed Callier Road, O'Neal Road, and Mitchell Road. Next, the tornado moved across the northern side of the city of Talbotton, causing extensive damage to trees and completely destroying numerous homes. Damage was observed along Adams Road on the Northwest side of town as wide swaths of trees were observed to be snapped. The tornado intensified again as it crossed Washington Avenue, the main north-south road through town, causing EF2 damage. A few manufactured homes were completely turned over, twisted, and destroyed. Contents of the homes were blown over a quarter mile into the woods behind them. One site-built, single family home was twisted at least 10 feet off of it's foundation and another |had its second story completely removed. Two apartment buildings were completely blown down with the foundation slabs laid bare. At least a dozen cars were destroyed by wind-blown debris. Several cars were blown several feet from where they were parked and one sedan was rolled up onto the top of a small pick-up truck. Several other manufactured homes lost portions of their roofing and some lost whole rooms to the winds. Seven injuries were reported in Talbotton. The tornado continued east northeast out of Talbotton, continuing to snap and uproot hundreds of trees along the path. Another manufactured home was found to have been displaced and torn apart, with another having its rear half collapsed from winds and falling trees. The storm continued moving to the east northeast between Highway 80 and Boot Kelly and Pobiddy Roads. On Poplar Cross Road, between Pobiddy Road and Highway 80, hundreds of softwood trees were snapped near their bases. The tornado dissipated just east of the intersection of George Smith Road and Carl Mathis Road. Seven injuries were reported along the Talbot County portion of the tornado path. [03/03/19: Tornado #2, County #3/3, EF3, Talbot, 2019:007].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 80 mph and a maximum path width of 150 yards occurred in Telfair County. The tornado touched down near the town of Workmore around the intersection of Workmore Milan Road and Macedonia Church Road where a porch was torn off of a home and tossed around 100 yards. Minor roof damage occurred to the home and a power pole was snapped nearby. The tornado travelled north northeast along Macedonia Church Road snapping or uprooting over a dozen trees before dissipating near the intersection with Big Horse Creek Road. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #5, County #1/1, EF0, Telfair, 2019:010].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 85 mph and a maximum path width of 100 yards occurred in Telfair County. The tornado touched down on the west side of Big Horse Creek Road northwest of the intersection with East River Road and travelled a short distance east, across Big Horse Creek Road, before dissipating. In this area, a chicken house was lifted and thrown 50 feet onto a shed and several trees were snapped or uprooted. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #6, County #1/1, EF0, Telfair, 2019:011].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 105 mph and a maximum path width of 630 yards occurred in Wilkinson County. The same supercell thunderstorm that produced tornadoes in Crawford, Peach and Twiggs Counties produced a third tornado that touched down south of Toomsboro just west of Highway 112 near the intersection with Camp Creek Road. The tornado quickly reached EF1 strength, downing and snapping trees as it crossed Highway 112. The tornado continued northeast, reaching its maximum width as it crossed Highway 57. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted in this area. The tornado moved northeast through a very rural wooded area and reached the Dixie Kaolin Mine where the Emergency Manager reported numerous trees snapped or uprooted with some damage to the roofs of buildings at the mine site. The tornado dissipated in the wooded area northeast of the mine. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #7, County #1/1, EF1, Wilkinson, 2019:012].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 70 mph and a maximum path width of 200 yards occurred in Taylor County. The tornado touched down just east of Highway 19 south of Rupert and east northeast crossing Prosperity Church Road snapping or uprooting several trees. The storm then moved across an uninhabited portion of Taylor County along Cedar Creek crossing County Road 194 where several trees were snapped at a residence and crossing Highway 90 before dissipating. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #8, County #1/1, EF0, Taylor, 2019:013].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 100 mph and a maximum path width of 900 yards occurred in Harris County. The tornado touched down just west of the intersection of Hopewell Church Road and Hamilton Pleasant Grove Road. The tornado traveled east northeast along Hopewell Church Road and then Highway 18 where it intensified, downing hundreds of trees, several falling on homes. As the tornado approached the city of Pine Mountain it reached its maximum intensity of 100 mph and moved across the south side of the city. A large tree fell onto an apartment on S. King Avenue destroying one of the rooms on the second floor. The tornado weakened as it continued east before lifting just west of the intersection of Davis Lake Road and Cold Springs Road. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #9, County #1/1, EF1, Harris, 2019:014].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 90 mph and a maximum path width of 200 yards occurred in Washington County. The tornado touched down in the small community of Oconee in Washington County near the confluence of Oconee Road and Kaolin Lane. The tornado moved east along Kaolin Road, downing and snapping a number of trees. Shingles were removed from the roof of a home on Kaolin Road where a shed was toppled and heavily damaged. A large tree fell onto a home near the intersection of Kaolin Road and Highway 272. Several trees were snapped or uprooted as the tornado continued east across Highway 272, dissipating just east of the highway. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #10, County #1/1, EF1, Washington, 2019:015].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 105 mph and a maximum path width of 290 yards occurred in Washington County. The tornado touched down south of Tennille near the intersection of Highway 68 and Hazard Road where a large number of trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado moved east northeast along Old Savannah Road, snapping and downing numerous additional trees before dissipating. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #11, County #1/1, EF1, Washington, 2019:016].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 80 mph and a maximum path width of 300 yards touched down east of Marshallville along Juice Plant Road. A few trees were snapped along Juice Plant Road as the storm moved east northeast south of the roadway. A few trees were downed along Finch Lane where one tree fell across the corner of a home and several other trees were snapped in the tree line behind the home. The tornado crossed Camp John Hope Road downing several more trees before crossing Big Indian Creek into Southern Peach County. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #12, County #1/2, EF0, Macon, 2019:017].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF0 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 80 mph and a maximum path width of 300 yards crossed Big Indian Creek from Macon County in to Peach County west of Norwood Springs Road. The tornado moved east, crossing Norwood Springs Road where several trees were snapped and a metal outbuilding was damaged. Sheets of metal siding and roofing from this outbuilding were lifted into the tops of nearby trees. Along Clopine Lake Road, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted as the tornado crossed the road and a mobile home sustained damage to the roof and skirting. A metal outbuilding had one of its 3 south-facing doors blown off and thrown onto a nearby building. A 30 foot section of wooden fencing was snapped off at the base of the posts. The tornado continued a short distance east past Clopine Lake Road but dissipated before reaching Valley Drive. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #12, County #2/2, EF0, Peach, 2019:017].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 95 mph and a maximum path width of 85 yards touched down east of Harrison Davisboro Road along Heards Bridge Road in eastern Washington County. The short-lived tornado crossed Heards Bridge Road damaging a farm outbuilding. An older, reinforced concrete silo collapsed bringing down power lines and leaving concrete debris scattered across a field. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #13, County #1/1, EF1, Washington, 2019:018].

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF2 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 125 mph and a maximum path width of 860 yards moved into Stewart County from Quitman County along Bladen Creek west of Bethel Church Road. The tornado crossed mainly forested areas with numerous large trees snapped or uprooted. The tornado moved east crossing Foreman Branch and Hodchodkee Creek before reaching Wesley Chapel Road, downing numerous trees along its path. As the tornado approached the intersection of John Logan Road and Philadelphia Road, it reached EF2 intensity destroying multiple large metal-framed barns and moving several large pieces of farming equipment, including a cotton picker. In addition, a single-family home had its entire roof and most exterior walls pulled apart. Inside, a family of two with 3 dogs survived the tornado in their hallway with no major injuries reported. Just east of John Logan Road, several campers were flipped over and destroyed. There were no reports of injuries with the campers. The tornado continued moving east crossing Highway 27 uprooting or snapping numerous trees. To the east, along County Road 145, hundreds of large trees were uprooted or snapped. As the tornado continued eastward, it began to weaken but still damaged numerous trees between County Road 148 and Goodwins |Pond Road as it approached the Webster County line. [03/03/19: Tornado #14, County #1/2, EF2, Stewart, 2019:019].

A National Weather Service survey found that the EF2 tornado that moved across Stewart County weakened to EF0 by the time it moved into Webster County along the Ichawaynochaway Creek west of Highway 41. The tornado moved only a short distance into the county before dissipating near the intersection of Highway 41 and Goodwin Cutoff Road. Despite weakening, the tornado still managed to snap large tree branches and overturn a large agricultural irrigation system around this intersection. No injuries were reported. [03/03/19: Tornado #14, County #2/2, EF0, WSebster, 2019:019].