Tornadoes · United States · Georgia · 2022
EF0 tornado, Nankin to Kinderlou, Georgia, April 6, 2022
From Nankin to Kinderlou, this EF0 tornado ran 11.1 miles across Brooks and Lowndes counties on April 6, 2022, touching down at 7:14 PM EDT and reaching 200 yards wide. It killed nobody.
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.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
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.
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.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
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.
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
- EF0
- Date
- April 6, 2022
- Touchdown
- 7:14 PM EDT (23:14 UTC)
- Lifted
- 7:40 PM EDT (23:40 UTC)
- On the ground
- 26 minutes
- Path length
- 11.1 miles (17.9 km)
- Path width
- 200 yards (183 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Counties
- Brooks and Lowndes counties
- Touchdown point
- 30.694, -83.506
- Lift-off point
- 30.761, -83.337
- Record number
- 2204061714-01
The damage survey
1 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS TAE, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 80 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
A slow moving cold front brought multiple rounds of severe weather to the tri-state region from April 5-7. Several tornadoes occurred along with numerous reports of wind damage and a few reports of large hail. None of the tornadoes were rated stronger than EF1.
This tornado was radar confirmed, touching down just west of Madison Highway in Brooks County and lifting before reaching I-75 in Lowndes County. Based on reports from emergency managers, only trees were uprooted or limbs snapped along the path of the tornado, with no structural damage reported.
This tornado was radar confirmed, touching down just west of Madison Highway in Brooks County and lifting before reaching I-75 in Lowndes County. Based on reports from emergency managers, only trees were uprooted or limbs snapped along the path of the tornado, with no structural damage reported.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, 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 tornado touched down at Apr 6, 2:56 PM EDT, 4 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 6, 2:56 PM EDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
256 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
.NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]...
Isolated storms have finally begun to tap into the
instability/moisture-rich environment with adequate shear in place.
Some convection has been quick to develop and grow vertically thanks
to the aid of daytime heating fostering strong CAPE and steep mid-
level lapse rates. In fact, a couple severe-warned cells from Clay
into Lee County have exhibited very impressive hail cores. Large
hail and damaging winds will remain the primary threats into the
evening, though a couple isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out. A
Tornado Watch is in effect along and north of an Early-Tift County
line until 10PM ET/9PM CT. Heavy rainfall is a secondary concern for
southwest GA where a Flood Watch remains in effect through tonight.
See the hydrology section below for more details.
A line of showers/storms moves with downstream scattered/lingering
showers through the Tri-state area tonight ahead of a cold front
poised to sweep through the region. Therefore, rain chances stay in
place overnight, but decrease from west to east by tomorrow morning.
Winds ahead of the front appear too strong for fog to develop,
though some sea fog may advect from Apalachee Bay into coastal
Franklin-Dixie County. Breezy winds abruptly shift out of the
northwest behind the front with drier air filtering in. Low
temperatures are forecast to range from upper 50s to upper 60s from
northwest to southeast. Fair weather returns on Thursday with high
temperatures in the 70s, but more comfortable humidities.
.SHORT TERM & LONG TERM[Thursday Through Next Wednesday]...
A somewhat extended dry period is expected from Thursday through
the weekend and into the early half of next week. This is mainly
due to the strong upper level trough that is moving into the
region late tonight, and is expected to remain quasi-stationary
through Sunday over the region. This will lead to slightly below
normal temperatures as well as windier than normal conditions
across the region through Saturday. A tight pressure gradient is
expected to develop over the southeast with an incoming surface
high pressure system that is in association with the
aforementioned upper level trough that is expected to move into
the Gulf of Mexico by Saturday. Once the surface high pressure
system makes its closest approach to the area on Saturday and
Sunday, winds will calm down, especially over the marine waters
where winds will likely be the strongest over the next several
days. With the deep upper level trough expected to remain overhead
for several days, temperatures will remain below normal for both
Friday and Saturday, with highs struggling to get into the 70s
both days, and lows overnight dropping into the upper 30s in SE
Alabama and Georgia, and low to mid 40s across portions of the
Florida Panhandle and Big Bend.
The previously mentioned surface high pressure system that will
settle into the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, is expected to
slide eastward across the Florida Peninsula, and off the east
coast of Florida. This will shift our winds back out of the
south/southeast, which will once again advect warm and moist air
over the area starting Sunday. Beyond Sunday, our temperatures
start to significantly increase back into the low to mid 80s for
highs, and low 60s for lows areawide.
&&
.AVIATION...
[Through 18Z Thursday]
Widespread cloudiness and scattered showers with isolated storms are
ongoing this afternoon. Activity should increase over the next
several hrs as cell clusters move NE. Some storms may be strong to
severe and capable of producing strong winds and large hail. Flight
conds are fcst to bounce between IFR and MVFR while gusty south
winds prevail. Lowering cigs are expected tonight as a cold front
sweeps thru with additional showers/storms. Rain ends from west to
east tmrw morning, but a sharp wind shift out of the NW follows.
&&
.MARINE...
A strong pressure gradient is expected to develop over the region
through the weekend as a strong high pressure moves into the Gulf.
This surface high pressure is in association with the deep upper
level trough that will be moving over the area late tonight. With
the above mentioned synoptic pattern over the region, advisory
level winds are expected to develop overnight tonight for our
marine zones west of the mouth of the Apalachicola. These winds
and seas are expected drop below advisory levels briefly Thursday,
but then increase again by Thursday nigh. Due to this, a small
craft advisory has been issued through Friday morning. Subsequent
extensions may be needed for the whole marine zone through
Saturday evening in future updates as winds seem to flip flop
around advisory levels through the weekend.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Showers and thunderstorms with strong south winds persist into the
evening. The strongest convection will be capable of frequent
lightning, heavy rainfall, strong winds, and large hail. The very
moist airmass and ongoing precipitation should preclude any fire
concerns today and tonight. Winds also appear too elevated for fog
to develop, except perhaps along the immediate Apalachee Bay coast.
A cold front is poised to cross the Tri-state area overnight and
exit the region by tomorrow morning. An abrupt wind shift out of the
northwest follows after frontal passage. Noticeably drier air also
filters in. The main concerns Thursday through at least Saturday are
very high dispersions.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Most areas across southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia received 1
to 2 inches of rain on Tuesday with isolated higher amounts. Amounts
were around an inch or less farther south into the Florida
panhandle and Big Bend. For today, the best chances for heavy
rainfall and flash flooding will remain across portions of
southwest Georgia where storms are expected once again today.
With yesterdays rainfall, the Aucilla River at Lamont is expected
to move into minor flooding tomorrow. A subsequent river flood
warning has been issued for that portion of the Aucilla river. The
Apalachicola river near blountstown is expected to move into minor
flood in a few days, especially if north and central Georgia see
heavy rainfall today. Although many rivers remain in action stage
across the area, no other rivers pose an immediate flood threat
with the expected rainfall for today, and the rainfall that fell
yesterday.
&&
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is not requested. However, spotters are always
encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they
occur (while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines) by
calling the office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee 83 62 76 49 72 / 60 70 10 0 0
Panama City 78 60 74 53 69 / 60 70 0 0 0
Dothan 83 56 72 45 68 / 80 70 0 0 0
Albany 83 60 73 47 68 / 80 70 0 0 0
Valdosta 83 64 75 48 70 / 60 70 10 0 0
Cross City 82 67 79 51 70 / 50 70 40 0 0
Apalachicola 77 62 74 53 69 / 60 60 10 0 0
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through late Friday night for Coastal Bay-
Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.
GA...Flood Watch through Thursday morning for Baker-Ben Hill-Berrien-
Brooks-Calhoun-Clay-Colquitt-Cook-Decatur-Dougherty-Early-
Grady-Irwin-Lanier-Lee-Lowndes-Miller-Mitchell-Quitman-
Randolph-Seminole-Terrell-Thomas-Tift-Turner-Worth.
AL...None.
GM...Dense Fog Advisory until 2 PM EDT this afternoon 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 FL out 20 NM.
Small Craft Advisory from 1 AM Thursday to 7 AM CDT Friday for
Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to Apalachicola FL out 20
NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton
County Line FL out 20 NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Mexico
Beach FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters from Mexico Beach to
Okaloosa Walton County Line FL from 20 to 60 NM.
&&
NEAR TERM...IG3
SHORT TERM...Bunker
LONG TERM...Bunker
AVIATION...IG3
MARINE...Bunker
FIRE WEATHER...IG3
HYDROLOGY...BunkerIn the hours before
Special weather statement, Apr 6, 3:34 PM EDT, 3 hours 40 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
334 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
GAZ124-126-062000-
Lee GA-Terrell GA-
334 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Lee and
northeastern Terrell Counties through 400 PM EDT...
At 333 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Dawson, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Dawson, Smithville, Bronwood, Scrutchins, Bridges Crossroad,
Oakville, Olivers Mill, Neyami and Yeomans.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for southwestern
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3187 8434 3192 8434 3191 8410 3181 8405
3175 8443 3189 8449 3193 8440
TIME...MOT...LOC 1933Z 249DEG 25KT 3184 8437
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
HanerSpecial weather statement, Apr 6, 3:39 PM EDT, 3 hours 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
339 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
GAZ127-128-062015-
Worth GA-Turner GA-
339 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Turner
and northwestern Worth Counties through 415 PM EDT...
At 339 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles southwest of Arabi, or 12 miles west of Ashburn, moving
northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Worth, Warwick, Amboy, Dakota, Sibley, Doles and Oakfield.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for south central
and southwestern Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3185 8348 3184 8348 3161 8387 3176 8400
3184 8391 3184 8386 3182 8385 3183 8384
3181 8383 3181 8381 3180 8361 3185 8361
TIME...MOT...LOC 1939Z 230DEG 28KT 3175 8386
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
HanerSpecial weather statement, Apr 6, 4:35 PM EDT, 2 hours 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
435 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
FLZ016-017-062100-
Gadsden FL-Leon FL-
435 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Gadsden and
northern Leon Counties through 500 PM EDT...
At 435 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Midway, moving northeast at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Midway, Havana, Tallahassee, Quincy, Freemont, Macon Community Park,
Littman, Darsey, Florence, Scotland, Iamonia, Killearn Estates, Shady
Rest, Hinson, Forest Meadows Park, Pisgah Church, Lake Iamonia,
Concord, Orchard Pond and Maclay State Gardens.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for southwestern
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3039 8448 3054 8459 3069 8438 3067 8402
3065 8401 3061 8401
TIME...MOT...LOC 2035Z 237DEG 38KT 3051 8447
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
HanerSpecial weather statement, Apr 6, 5:58 PM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
558 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
GAZ159>161-062300-
Brooks GA-Lanier GA-Lowndes GA-
558 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Lanier,
Lowndes and southeastern Brooks Counties through 700 PM EDT...
At 557 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Quitman, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Lake Park, Quitman, Valdosta, I-75 At Exit 16, Moody Air Force Base,
Remerton, Dasher, Naylor, Greenwood, Twin Lakes, Valdosta Regional
Airport, Kinderlou, I-75 At Exit 5, Nankin, Empress, Clyattville,
Brooks Co A/p, Blue Springs, I-75 At Exit 22 and I-75 At Exit 11.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for south central
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3087 8297 3086 8300 3085 8301 3085 8309
3083 8309 3083 8310 3080 8310 3080 8312
3079 8313 3063 8314 3065 8354 3070 8361
3087 8360 3099 8297
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 263DEG 24KT 3075 8349
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
21-WDLocal storm report, Apr 6, 6:23 PM EDT, 51 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
623 PM EDT WED APR 6 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM FLOOD BRADFORDVILLE 30.57N 84.22W
04/06/2022 LEON FL PUBLIC
WATER OVER ROADWAYS IN NORTHEAST TALLAHASSEE
ALONG KINHEGA DRIVE. ROAD NEAR IMPASSABLE
DUE TO FLOODING. REPORT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
&&
WDSpecial weather statement, Apr 6, 6:25 PM EDT, 49 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
625 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
FLZ018-GAZ158-159-062300-
Inland Jefferson FL-Brooks GA-Thomas GA-
625 PM EDT Wed Apr 6 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern
Jefferson, southeastern Thomas and southwestern Brooks Counties
through 700 PM EDT...
At 625 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Monticello, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Monticello, Alma, Dills, Casa Blanco, Empress, Jarrott, Aucilla,
Montivilla, Lois, Ashville, Drifton and Grooverville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for south central
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3065 8361 3064 8360 3058 8360 3058 8362
3057 8362 3057 8364 3055 8364 3055 8367
3054 8367 3054 8370 3052 8371 3052 8372
3051 8374 3048 8373 3047 8391 3065 8395
3077 8357 3065 8354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 257DEG 21KT 3058 8385
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
HanerThe 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.
Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), 12:00Z
11.2 hours before the tornado, 92 km from the path. April 6, 2022.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1825 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -5 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 1672 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 485 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 46 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 121 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 144 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.0
- Supercell composite
- 4.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.8 K/km
The surface observations
Valdosta Regional (VLD), 15 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Moody AFB radar (KVAX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 23:14 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2022 tornado in GeorgiaEvery tornado in Georgia since 1950Warnings in force in Georgia nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 6, 2022
12 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 6 | 3:29 PM EDT | EF1 | Lee, GA | 3.4 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| April 6 | 5:23 PM EDT | EF0 | Palm Beach, FL | 0.6 | 100 | $153,000 | ||
| April 6 | 7:45 PM EDT | EF0 | Bleckley, GA | 3.6 | 100 | |||
| April 6 | 7:52 PM EDT | EF1 | Laurens, GA | 4.9 | 150 | |||
| April 6 | 7:53 PM EDT | EF1 | Laurens, GA | 16.4 | 200 | |||
| April 6 | 8:22 PM EDT | EF1 | Emanuel, GA | 15.8 | 500 | |||
| April 6 | 8:22 PM EDT | EF1 | Johnson, GA | 8.4 | 500 | |||
| April 6 | 8:39 PM EDT | EF1 | Bleckley, GA | 11.4 | 150 | |||
| April 6 | 9:12 PM EDT | EF1 | Thomas, GA | 7.9 | 300 | $60,000 | ||
| April 6 | 10:59 PM EDT | EF0 | Colleton, SC | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| April 6 | 11:17 PM EDT | Unrated | Colquitt, GA | 10.6 | 25 | |||
| April 6 | 11:36 PM EDT | EF1 | Thomas, GA | 1.6 | 200 | $100,000 |
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.