Tornadoes · United States · Georgia · 2022
EF0 tornado, Sibbie, Georgia, January 2, 2022
This EF0 tornado ran 0.5 miles across Wilcox County on January 2, 2022, touching down at 5:27 PM EST and reaching 100 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
- January 2, 2022
- Touchdown
- 5:27 PM EST (22:27 UTC)
- Lifted
- 5:28 PM EST (22:28 UTC)
- On the ground
- 1 minutes
- Path length
- 0.5 miles (0.8 km)
- Path width
- 100 yards (91 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Wilcox County
- Touchdown point
- 31.866, -83.335
- Lift-off point
- 31.871, -83.328
- Record number
- 2201021627-01
The damage survey
2 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS FFC, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 81 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
Showers and thunderstorms affected much of the area ahead of a strong storm system and associated cold front. Some of the storms became severe with damaging winds and a few tornadoes, mainly on January 2nd. In the colder air behind the front, rain mixed with and eventually changed over to snow across parts of north Georgia (generally north of I-20/I-85) late on the 2nd and into January 3rd, with a dusting to up to 4 inches of snowfall (mainly across the higher elevations of far north GA). On the back side of this storm system, strong post-frontal winds of 30-50 mph occurred during the early morning hours of January 3rd. Numerous reports of downed trees and powerlines occurred with several injuries.
A very brief tornado touched down along GA Hwy 215 South and|Falcon Circle, about 8 miles south of Abbeville during the late|afternoon hours of Sunday, January 2nd. The tornado, which showed|a very weak debris signature from KJGX snapped and uprooted|several large pines on within the Falcon Circle area,|particularly near the south entrance/exit off 215. In addition to|tree damage, a medium-sized shed was destroyed along with some|tin from the roof of one of the homes being pulled off. No other|damage was seen beyond Falcon Circle which gets into a very rural|area with no road access to the northeast. [1/2/22: Tornado #1, County #1/1, EF-0, Wilcox, 2022:001].
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 Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Jan 2, 4:48 PM EST, 39 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 2, 4:48 PM EST, 39 minutes before
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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 2, 4:09 PM EST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 409 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-032115- Baldwin-Banks-Barrow-Bartow-Bibb-Bleckley-Butts-Carroll-Catoosa- Chattahoochee-Chattooga-Cherokee-Clarke-Clayton-Cobb-Coweta- Crawford-Crisp-Dade-Dawson-DeKalb-Dodge-Dooly-Douglas-Emanuel- Fannin-Fayette-Floyd-Forsyth-Gilmer-Glascock-Gordon-Greene- Gwinnett-Hall-Hancock-Haralson-Harris-Heard-Henry-Houston-Jackson- Jasper-Jefferson-Johnson-Jones-Lamar-Laurens-Lumpkin-Macon- Madison-Marion-Meriwether-Monroe-Montgomery-Morgan-Murray- Muscogee-Newton-North Fulton-Oconee-Oglethorpe-Paulding-Peach- Pickens-Pike-Polk-Pulaski-Putnam-Rockdale-Schley-South Fulton- Spalding-Stewart-Sumter-Talbot-Taliaferro-Taylor-Telfair-Toombs- Towns-Treutlen-Troup-Twiggs-Union-Upson-Walker-Walton-Warren- Washington-Webster-Wheeler-White-Whitfield-Wilcox-Wilkes- Wilkinson- 409 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon through Monday Morning... A Tornado Watch has been issued for portions of central Georgia until 9 PM EST where a broken line of showers and thunderstorms will be capable of producing scattered damaging wind gusts and a tornado or two. Tonight, a wintry mix of rain and snow is expected to begin after midnight for portions of northern Georgia through 9 AM EST. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for portions of north and northwest Georgia, mostly along and north of I-85 where snow accumulations could range from a dusting to 2 inches. In the higher elevations, mostly above 1500ft in far north Georgia, a Winter Storm Warning has been issued with snow accumulations between 1-4 inches possible. In addition, strong sustained winds from the northwest behind the cold front tonight into tomorrow morning has prompted a Wind Advisory with sustained winds from 15 to 25 mph with occasional gusts up to 40 mph expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday... Snow showers will be exiting the region Monday morning with strong winds expected through noon, especially in areas of high terrain in the north Georgia mountains. Please use caution when driving as roads Monday morning as they may become slick. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is requested for today across portions of north and central Georgia.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jan 2, 2:10 PM EST, 3 hours 17 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
210 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ108>110-021945-
Telfair GA-Wilcox GA-Dodge GA-
210 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Dodge,
northwestern Telfair and east central Wilcox Counties through 245 PM
EST...
At 209 PM EST, a strong thunderstorm was near Rhine, or 9 miles east
of Abbeville, moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Up to 40 mph wind, frequent cloud to ground lightning and
heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.
Locations impacted include...
McRae, Abbeville, Helena, Milan, Rhine, Chauncey, Jay Bird Springs,
Temperance, Achord and Workmore.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
&&
LAT...LON 3187 8322 3199 8330 3216 8300 3215 8299
3216 8297 3193 8285
TIME...MOT...LOC 1909Z 243DEG 49KT 3197 8315
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial weather statement, Jan 2, 2:59 PM EST, 2 hours 28 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
259 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ108-109-022030-
Wilcox GA-Dodge GA-
259 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Dodge
and southern Wilcox Counties through 330 PM EST...
At 259 PM EST, a strong thunderstorm was over Owensboro, or 11 miles
southwest of Abbeville, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...40 mph wind and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.
Locations impacted include...
Abbeville, Rochelle, Pitts, Browning, Double Run, Antioch Church and
Owensboro.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Motorists should
slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EST for central
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3185 8338 3185 8356 3194 8360 3206 8327
3191 8319 3190 8321 3187 8318 3185 8318
3185 8321 3184 8321
TIME...MOT...LOC 1959Z 253DEG 24KT 3189 8346
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial weather statement, Jan 2, 3:04 PM EST, 2 hours 23 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
304 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ112-113-022030-
Toombs GA-Montgomery GA-
304 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Toombs and
east central Montgomery Counties through 330 PM EST...
At 301 PM EST, a strong thunderstorm was near Alston, or 7 miles east
of Mount Vernon, moving east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...40 mph wind and heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects. Heavy rain may cause temporary
street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.
Locations impacted include...
Lyons, Vidalia, Higgston, Santa Claus, Alston, South Thompson,
Center, Ohoopee and Ponderosa.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Motorists should
slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EST for central,
southeastern and east central Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3214 8220 3212 8220 3207 8249 3219 8254
3230 8230 3229 8228 3232 8224 3226 8222
3224 8221 3223 8221 3218 8219 3216 8218
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 248DEG 28KT 3214 8248
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPHSpecial weather statement, Jan 2, 3:41 PM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
341 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
GAZ105>108-022115-
Crisp GA-Dooly GA-Wilcox GA-Pulaski GA-
341 PM EST Sun Jan 2 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southern Pulaski,
western Wilcox, southeastern Dooly and Crisp Counties through 415 PM
EST...
At 340 PM EST, a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Browndale to near Oakfield, and moving northeast
at 55 mph.
HAZARD...40 to 50 mph wind, pea sized hail and frequent cloud to
ground lightning.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect minor damage to tree limbs and blowing around of
light, unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Cordele, Hawkinsville, Rochelle, Arabi, Pineview, Pitts, East Crisp,
Mock Springs, Pope City, Seville, Finleyson, Hatley, Wallace,
Pleasant View, Tippettville, Double Run, Tremont and Wenona.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EST for central
Georgia.
&&
LAT...LON 3181 8383 3183 8384 3182 8385 3184 8386
3184 8388 3228 8363 3225 8337 3223 8336
3185 8349 3185 8361 3180 8361 3180 8380
TIME...MOT...LOC 2040Z 231DEG 52KT 3227 8364 3174 8394
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPHSpecial weather statement, Jan 2, 4:45 PM EST, 42 minutes before
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</html>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.
Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), 12:00Z
10.5 hours before the tornado, 187 km from the path. January 2, 2022.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 104 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -212 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 418 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 691 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 57 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 32 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 215 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 218 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.7
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.6 K/km
Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), 00:00Z
1.5 hours after it, 187 km from the path. January 3, 2022.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 950 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -6 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 1552 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 649 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 68 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 31 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 217 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 207 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.3
- Supercell composite
- 6.6
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.8 K/km
The surface observations
Fitzgerald (FZG), 21 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 Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:29 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 January 2, 2022
2 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
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.