Tornadoes · United States · Georgia · 2009

EF1 tornado, Chambliss, Georgia, April 10, 2009

This EF1 tornado ran 0.6 miles across Terrell County on April 10, 2009, touching down at 12:24 AM EDT and reaching 100 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $300,000 of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. EF065 to 85 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. EF2111 to 135 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. EF5over 200 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
EF1
Date
April 10, 2009
Touchdown
12:24 AM EDT (04:24 UTC)
Lifted
12:25 AM EDT (04:25 UTC)
On the ground
1 minutes
Path length
0.6 miles (1.0 km)
Path width
100 yards (91 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$300,000
County
Terrell County
Touchdown point
31.917, -84.554
Lift-off point
31.917, -84.543
Record number
0904102224-01

The damage survey

1 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS FFC, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 100 mph.

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

Just after midnight on the 11th, a supercell thunderstorm spawned a tornado just northwest of Parrott and caused wind damage near Lee.

An EF1 tornado touched down just west of County Line Road. It raced eastward across the road and lifted just before crossing State Road 520. Along its brief path, several mobile homes and barns were destroyed, a few frame homes were damaged, and many trees and power lines were down. A woman escaped injury when her mobile home was blown off its foundation.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

25 minutes of warning. NWS TAE issued a tornado warning for this county at 03:59 UTC, 25 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 04:45 UTC.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 03:11 UTC and running to 06:39 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
03:11 UTC06:39 UTCTornado WatchTAE
03:59 UTC04:45 UTCTornado WarningTAE
04:26 UTC05:01 UTCTornado WarningTAE

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 00:30 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), 12:00Z

7.6 hours after it, 162 km from the path. April 11, 2009.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2009-04-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 0 joules per kilogram, CIN -84211, lifted condensation level 896 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2009-04-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -137 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 48 knots.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-84211 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
896 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-137 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
89 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
2.5 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
01:46 UTCTORNADO 16 Nw CussetaChattahoochee, GATORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 2.5 MILES SOUTH OF OCHILLE TRACKED TO A POINT ABOUT 4 MILES TO THE SOUTHEAST. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 1/4 MILE AND MAXIMUM WINDS 100 MPH. TORNADO SPUNUP WITHIN A 2-MILE LONG AND TWO-MILE WIDE DOWNBURST PA
02:00 UTCTORNADO 0Ene CussetaChattahoochee, GAA SECOND TORNADO WAS SPAWNED FROM THE SAME THUNDERSTORM THAT EARLIER SPAWNED A TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF OCHILLE. THIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 2.5 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF CUSSETA AND TRACKED EAST-SOUTHEAST FOR APPROXIMATELY FOU
02:35 UTCHAIL 1EllavilleSchley, GA
03:00 UTCTORNADO 13 Ese MethvinsSumter, GAA TORNADO WITH EF-1 MAX INTENSITY TOUCHED DOWN 3 M ESE OF METHVINS IN FAR ERN SUMTER COUNTY AND TRAVELED ACROSS SRN DOOLY COUNTY BEFORE LIFTING IN FAR WRN WILCOX COUNTY ABOUT 5 MI N OF SEVILLE AROUND 1145 PM. TOTAL PATH
04:15 UTCTORNADO 1CobbSumter, GATORNADO BEGAN IN THE COBB COMMUNITY IN FAR SOUTHEAST SUMTER COUNTY AND CROSSED INTO CRISP COUNTY ACROSS LAKE BLACKSHEAR. TOTAL TORNADO PATH WAS 23 MILES THROUGH SUMTER AND CRISP COUNTIES. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH ESTIMATED TO
04:15 UTCTORNADO8 Se AmericusSumter, GAPOSSIBLE TORNADO
04:15 UTCTORNADOCobbSumter, GAPOSSIBLE TORNADO BLEW ROOFS OFF HOUSES AND KNOCKED DOWN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF TREES AND POWER LINES.
04:20 UTCTORNADO 15 Nw RainesCrisp, GATORNADO THAT BEGAN NEAR COBB IN SOUTHEAST SUMTER COUNTY CROSSED LAKE BLACKSHEAR AND INTO CRISP COUNTY AND CONTINUED ON A SPORADIC PATH ACROSS THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTY TO HATLEY...JUST SHY OF THE WILCOX COUNTY LINE.
04:23 UTCTORNADO2 Nw ParrottTerrell, GATORNADO TOUCHDOWN JUST NORTHWEST OF PARROT IN TERRELL COUNTY GEORGIA ALONG COUNTY LINE ROAD. SURVEYED BY THE METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ATLANTA GEORGIA.
04:25 UTCTORNADOParrottTerrell, GAPOSSIBLE TORNADO. REPORTS OF MOBILE HOMES BLOWN OVER WITH PEOPLE TRAPPED INSIDE.
04:30 UTCHAIL 1.75WestonWebster, GA
04:36 UTCTSTM WND DMGAndersonvilleSumter, GAMANY TREES DOWN
04:36 UTCTORNADO8 Se AmericusSumter, GAPOSSIBLE TORNADO
05:00 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Ene LeesburgLee, GAPOSSIBLE TORNADO. REPORTS OF TREES DOWN WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO STORAGE SHEDS.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2009 tornado in GeorgiaEvery tornado in Georgia since 1950Warnings in force in Georgia nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of April 10, 2009

63 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 101:27 AM CDTEF1Richland Parish, LA4.4100$10,000
April 105:38 AM CDTEF0Marshall, AL2.0200$16,000
April 1010:41 AM CDTEF1Benton, TN4.075$500,000
April 1010:50 AM CDTEF0Humphreys, TN1.025$10,000
April 1010:59 AM CDTEF1Humphreys, TN12.0300$200,000
April 1011:16 AM CDTEF0Calloway, KY0.375$200,000
April 1011:45 AM CDTEF1Lyon, KY0.3501$70,000
April 1011:47 AM CDTEF0Christian, KY1.650$14,000
April 1011:54 AM CDTEF3Hopkins, KY2.0752$152,000
April 1012:19 PM CDTEF4Murfreesboro tornado, TN23.3750258$100 million
April 1012:49 PM CDTEF1Sumner, TN0.650$200,000
April 1012:58 PM CDTEF0Rutherford, TN0.225$5,000
April 101:01 PM CDTEF1Rutherford, TN3.7100$60,000
April 101:19 PM CDTEF0Cannon, TN0.875$10,000
April 101:59 PM CDTEF0Limestone, AL0.210$20,000
April 103:13 PM EDTEF1Lincoln, KY7.5100$140,000
April 102:18 PM CDTEF0Coffee, TN0.325
April 102:22 PM CDTEF1Putnam, TN6.0100$100,000
April 103:02 PM CDTEF2Sequatchie, TN5.0175$100,000
April 103:02 PM CDTEF3Marshall, AL32.54405
April 103:05 PM CDTEF1Sequatchie, TN0.240$15,000
April 104:23 PM EDTEF1Hamilton, TN0.530$50,000
April 105:00 PM EDTEF2Chattooga, GA0.3200$900,000
April 106:04 PM EDTEF1Pickens, GA3.4440$25,000
April 106:30 PM EDTEF0Oconee, SC0.130
April 106:53 PM EDTEF2Franklin, GA9.5200
April 106:57 PM EDTEF1Forsyth, GA0.2200$200,000
April 107:23 PM EDTEF1Anderson, SC2.8400$300,000
April 107:50 PM EDTEF0Anderson, SC1.6100
April 107:12 PM CDTEF1Tallapoosa, AL10.1250$52,000
April 108:23 PM EDTEF1Abbeville, SC1.2200$50,000
April 108:28 PM EDTEF2Abbeville, SC6.73002$1.0 million
April 107:30 PM CDTEF1Lee, AL5.5300$150,000
April 108:32 PM EDTEF1Union, SC3.9350$400,000
April 108:41 PM EDTEF1Greenwood, SC4.6200$200,000
April 108:43 PM EDTEF1Greenwood, SC2.6200$300,000
April 107:51 PM CDTEF1Lee, AL2.2100$30,000
April 108:04 PM CDTEF1Russell, AL5.9150$10,000
April 108:19 PM CDTEF1Russell, AL1.0502$120,000
April 108:26 PM CDTEF1Macon, AL25.5440$210,000
April 109:46 PM EDTEF1Chattahoochee, GA3.7440$100,000
April 108:48 PM CDTEF1Montgomery, AL26.1440$366,000
April 109:53 PM EDTEF0McDuffie, GA0.440$72,000
April 1010:00 PM EDTEF1Chattahoochee, GA3.7100$150,000
April 1010:19 PM EDTEF0Hancock, GA1.133$10,000
April 109:20 PM CDTEF1Russell, AL0.51501$50,000
April 1010:23 PM EDTEF0Hancock, GA0.333$7,000
April 1010:28 PM EDTEF3Hancock, GA6.88801$500,000
April 1010:30 PM EDTEF3Columbia, GA17.788012$6.0 million
April 1010:56 PM EDTEF0Glascock, GA0.3150$4,000
April 1010:57 PM EDTEF3Aiken, SC14.688014$5.0 million
April 1011:00 PM EDTEF1Sumter, GA25.1250$380,000
April 1011:20 PM EDTEF0Dooly, GA5.5100$50,000
April 1011:34 PM EDTEF3Burke, GA26.38804$3.0 million
April 1011:40 PM EDTEF1Sumter, GA1.2200$5,000
April 1012:02 AM EDTEF1Glascock, GA4.6200$102,000
April 1012:15 AM EDTEF1Sumter, GA2.9200$1.0 million
April 1012:17 AM EDTEF0Barnwell, SC0.1100
April 1012:23 AM EDTEF1Crisp, GA25.3200$700,000
April 1012:26 AM EDTEF1Allendale, SC1.2300$1.0 million

All 64 of them

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.