Tornadoes · United States · Georgia · 2026
EF0 tornado, Calvary to Reno, Georgia, March 12, 2026
From Calvary to Reno, this EF0 tornado ran 1.8 miles across Grady County on March 12, 2026, touching down at 7:03 AM EDT and reaching 300 yards wide. It killed nobody.
Preliminary. This is NWS TAE's damage survey, filed in the Damage Assessment Toolkit. The rating, the path and the casualties are the survey's and can change while it is revised. The Storm Prediction Center compiles the official record of 2026 from these surveys and publishes it in the spring of 2027; this page moves to that tornado's permanent address when it does.
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 survey
- Rating, as surveyed
- EF0, preliminary
- Date
- March 12, 2026
- Touchdown
- 7:03 AM EDT (11:03 UTC)
- Lifted
- 7:05 AM EDT (11:05 UTC)
- On the ground
- 2 minutes
- Path length
- 1.8 miles (2.9 km)
- Path width
- 300 yards (274 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Grady County
- Touchdown point
- 30.756, -84.333
- Lift-off point
- 30.754, -84.303
- Highest wind the damage implies
- 80 mph
- Surveyed by
- NWS TAE
- Survey last edited
- March 13, 2026
- Record number
- None yet. SPC numbers 2026 in the spring of 2027.
What the survey found
A brief tornado touched down along Georgia Highway 111, downing a couple of trees. The tornado moved east, crossing Gainey Road, where a couple of additional trees were uprooted. The tornado dissipated before reaching Pine Hill Road. The damage was consistent with an EF-0 tornado with maximum winds of approximately 80 mph.
Written by NWS TAE in the NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit. A survey is revised as better evidence arrives.
The damage survey
4 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.
- Large branches and rotten trees
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 squall line swept through the tri-state area ahead of a cold front on March 12th. Numerous reports of severe weather were received.
A brief tornado touched down along Georgia Highway 111, downing a couple of trees. The tornado moved east, crossing Gainey Road, where a couple of additional trees were uprooted. The tornado dissipated before reaching Pine Hill Road. The damage was consistent with an EF-0 tornado with maximum winds of approximately 80 mph.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
15 minutes of warning. NWS TAE issued a tornado warning for this county at 10:48 UTC, 15 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 11:15 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 09:56 UTC and running to 12:19 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:56 UTC | 12:19 UTC | Tornado Watch | TAE |
| 10:30 UTC | 11:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TAE |
| 10:48 UTC | 11:15 UTC | Tornado Warning | TAE |
| 11:06 UTC | 11:19 UTC | Tornado Warning | TAE |
| 11:14 UTC | 11:29 UTC | Tornado Warning | TAE |
| 11:26 UTC | 12:03 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TAE |
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 Marginal Risk, with a 0.02 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 05:31 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.
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 Mar 12, 2:32 AM EDT, 4 hours 31 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Issued at 227 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
- A Tornado Watch is in effect until 8 AM ET / 7 AM CT for areas along and west of the Apalachicola and Flint Rivers. A squall line will move through the area with the threat of damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes. Some strong storms are possible east of the watch area later this morning. Have multiple ways to receive warnings.
- Small Craft Advisories are in effect for Thursday for open Gulf waters west of Apalachicola as well as St. Andrews Bay. Winds and seas will be hazardous to those operating smaller vessels.
- Chances of a late season frost/freeze remain low to medium for Monday and Tuesday nights. This will be particularly impactful for agricultural interests who have planted early.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 12, 2:32 AM EDT, 4 hours 31 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
232 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER, HYDROLOGY...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Issued at 227 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
- A Tornado Watch is in effect until 8 AM ET / 7 AM CT for areas
along and west of the Apalachicola and Flint Rivers. A squall
line will move through the area with the threat of damaging wind
gusts and a few tornadoes. Some strong storms are possible east
of the watch area later this morning. Have multiple ways to
receive warnings.
- Small Craft Advisories are in effect for Thursday for open Gulf
waters west of Apalachicola as well as St. Andrews Bay. Winds
and seas will be hazardous to those operating smaller vessels.
- Chances of a late season frost/freeze remain low to medium for
Monday and Tuesday nights. This will be particularly impactful
for agricultural interests who have planted early.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Today and Tonight)
Issued at 227 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
A squall line is currently approaching I-65 early this morning in
southwestern Alabama. This line of storms has a history of producing
damaging winds and possibly a few tornadoes. We expect the line of
storms to enter our westernmost counties by 2:30-3:30 AM CT.
There will be ample instability ahead of the line and deep layer
shear is quite high at 50-60 kt. The low-level jet should also
increase some over the next couple hours. Thus, a Tornado Watch
is now in effect until 8 AM ET/7 AM CT for areas generally along
and west of the Flint and Apalachicola Rivers. Strong, potentially
damaging winds of 40-60 mph and a few tornadoes are the primary
threats. Once it gets east of the rivers, shear starts to back
off, instability wanes a bit, and the shortwave starts to dampen
out. Thus, the line is expected to lose some potency and
organization as it moves farther east. The caveat may be across
south Georgia where the low-level jet remains the strongest early
Thursday morning ahead of the line. Therefore, we still can't
rule out some gusty winds and a brief tornado or two across south
central Georgia and the Florida Big Bend. We'll keep an eye on
things if we need to locally extend the watch in area and time.
Behind the front, winds will be quite gusty with frequent gusts of
25-35 mph expected. While not quite Wind Advisory level, some low-
end impacts such as small broken tree limbs and unsecured small
objects being blown around can't be ruled out. Also, if there are
any fires, the gusty winds could cause some control issues as we'll
quickly dry out behind the storms.
Temperatures will fall behind the front. Lows will be in the 40s
tonight.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Friday through Wednesday)
Issued at 227 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
High pressure moves across our area Friday then moves off the
Atlantic coast by Saturday. Friday will be rather pleasant with
highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s, except near 80 in the southeast
Big Bend. The flow quickly becomes more southeasterly and southerly
over the weekend with a return to warm and humid weather, though not
record warmth as highs rise back into the low 80s.
Chances for showers and storms increase again Sunday ahead of the
next system as a shortwave moves into the southeast. The larger
parent trough swings a strong cold front through the area late
Sunday into Monday. Right now, shear and instability ahead of this
system don't appear favorable for severe weather, but we'll keep
watching.
Much colder air arrives next week with a medium to high chance (30-
70%) of temperatures favorable for a late-season front (36 or lower)
Monday and Tuesday nights. Additionally, there is a low chance (30%
or less) for a light freeze away from the coast, especially Tuesday
night. This would be hazardous for agricultural interests if
planting has started early. Also, we'll have much drier air in
place, which could lead to elevated fire danger next week.
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 227 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
Conditions will deteriorate this morning as a strong to occasionally
severe squall line sweeps across the area through the morning hours.
Ahead of the line, expect widespread IFR cloud cover. Gusty non-
thunderstorm winds will also occur both ahead of the squall line and
behind the squall line as winds quickly shift northwest with frontal
passage. Some severe storms could contain 35 to 45 knot gusts,
especially at western terminals of ECP/DHN.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 227 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
A line of strong to potentially severe storms will move across the
marine area through early this afternoon. Strong wind gusts and
waterspouts will be possible. Behind the front, strong northerly
breezes are expected with a low chance (30% or less) of gale-force
gusts over our western waters. Small Craft Advisories will be in
effect for our waters through Friday morning, except through this
evening for St. Andrews Bay. Winds slacken heading into Friday with
moderate easterly breezes. Winds turn more southeasterly and
southerly Sunday ahead of the next cold front. Another round of
Small Craft Advisories will likely be needed Monday behind the
next cold front.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 227 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
A line of strong to severe storms will move across the area this
morning into early this afternoon. Strong, erratic winds are likely
with the stronger storms. Behind the storms, dispersions become high
as transport winds become northerly around 20-30 mph. Winds become
much lighter and more variable on Friday as high pressure moves
overhead with low dispersions likely. Transport winds become more
southeasterly Saturday and increase to 10 mph or so, leading to good
dispersions. Min RH values will remain above critical levels through
the weekend.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 227 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
The fast motion of the squall line will keep rainfall totals under
an inch in most places. A couple localized spots could see as much
as an inch and a half. The next system doesn't look to bring much in
the way of meaningful rainfall, only up to half an inch at most.
Thus, no flood concerns are expected. The only hydrologic concern
remains the severe to extreme drought ongoing across the area.
For more information on local drought impacts, visit
www.weather.gov/tae/DroughtInformationStatement.
&&
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is not requested. However, spotters are always
encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they
occur by calling the office or tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee 72 44 74 51 / 90 0 0 0
Panama City 70 47 71 53 / 80 0 0 0
Dothan 65 41 69 47 / 80 0 0 0
Albany 69 40 69 46 / 90 0 0 0
Valdosta 71 42 74 49 / 90 0 0 0
Cross City 74 47 80 55 / 80 0 0 0
Apalachicola 72 52 68 57 / 80 0 0 0
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through late tonight for FLZ108-112-114.
GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...Dense Fog Advisory until 10 AM EDT this morning for GMZ730-755-
765-775.
Small Craft Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 11 AM EDT
Friday for GMZ730-755-765-775.
Small Craft Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT this
evening for GMZ735.
Small Craft Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 10 AM CDT Friday
for GMZ751-752-770-772.
&&
SHORT TERM...Young
LONG TERM....Young
AVIATION...Dobbs
MARINE...Young
FIRE WEATHER...Young
HYDROLOGY...YoungIn the hours before
Local storm report, Mar 12, 6:25 AM EDT, 38 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
625 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0450 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Ozark 31.46N 85.64W
03/12/2026 Dale AL Law Enforcement
Tree down with power lines blocking CR 57.
&&
BASLocal storm report, Mar 12, 6:28 AM EDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
628 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0524 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSE Wilson Mill 31.13N 85.33W
03/12/2026 Houston AL Law Enforcement
Tree and powerlines down near Cottonwood Rd.
&&
BASLocal storm report, Mar 12, 6:35 AM EDT, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
635 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0504 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 W Sylvan Grove 31.35N 85.48W
03/12/2026 Dale AL Law Enforcement
Tree and powerlines down across CR 67.
&&
BASLocal storm report, Mar 12, 6:39 AM EDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
639 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0520 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SSW Dothan 31.21N 85.40W
03/12/2026 Houston AL Law Enforcement
Downed powerline near intersection of Floyd
and South Lena.
&&
BASLocal storm report, Mar 12, 6:43 AM EDT, 20 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
643 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0454 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 ENE Ozark 31.46N 85.64W
03/12/2026 Dale AL Law Enforcement
Tree down on East College Street.
&&
BASLocal storm report, Mar 12, 6:46 AM EDT, 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
646 AM EDT Thu Mar 12 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0507 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 WNW Kelly Springs 31.28N 85.48W
03/12/2026 Houston AL Law Enforcement
Multiple trees down blocking lanes along
Brannon Stand Road and State Highway 52.
&&
BASThe surface observations
Quincy (2J9), 29 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:15 UTC | 71.6 | 71.6 | 210° 8 kt | 1013.5 | ||
| 09:35 UTC | 73.4 | 71.6 | 210° 6 kt | 16 | 1013.5 | |
| 09:55 UTC | 73.4 | 71.6 | 210° 10 kt | 1013.5 | ||
| 10:15 UTC | 71.6 | 71.6 | 220° 8 kt | 18 | 1013.5 | |
| 10:35 UTC | 73.4 | 71.6 | 220° 7 kt | 13 | 1013.9 | |
| 10:55 UTC | 73.4 | 71.6 | 230° 9 kt | 15 | 1013.9 | |
| 11:15 UTC | 66.2 | 62.6 | 320° 12 kt | 29 | 1015.6 | -RA |
| 11:35 UTC | 64.4 | 62.6 | 5 kt | 13 | 1015.9 | -RA |
| 11:55 UTC | 64.4 | 62.6 | 330° 4 kt | 1015.9 | -DZ | |
| 12:15 UTC | 64.4 | 64.4 | 320° 5 kt | 1015.9 | ||
| 12:35 UTC | 64.4 | 64.4 | 310° 4 kt | 1016.3 | ||
| 12:55 UTC | 64.4 | 64.4 | 320° 5 kt | 1016.3 | -RA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 11:03 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.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Sw Lela | Seminole, GA | Seminole County dispatch reports power lines down and blocking Hebrew Hwy between Parker Ln and 9 Hole Rd. |
| 10:13 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Colquitt | Miller, GA | Miller/Baker county dispatch reports numerous trees and power lines down across Miller county. |
| 10:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nnw Jinks | Decatur, GA | Broken pole on Booster Club Road. |
| 10:39 UTC | TSTM WND GST 62 | 1 Wsw Bainbridge | Decatur, GA | |
| 10:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Nw Vada | Mitchell, GA | Tree down near GA Hwy 311. |
| 10:44 UTC | TSTM WND GST 43 | 3 E Bainbridge | Decatur, GA | Weatherstem station measured wind gust of 43 mph at Bainbridge Campus. |
| 10:45 UTC | TSTM WND GST 47 | 4 Se Newton | Mitchell, GA | UGA09 station measured wind gust of 47.11 mph. |
| 10:58 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Peoples Still | Grady, GA | Tree down near Bethel Church. |
| 10:58 UTC | TSTM WND GST 45 | Decatur Co A/P | Decatur, GA | Station ID: TT665 Mesonet station in Bainbridge, GA measured wind gust of 45 mph. |
| 11:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 S Nickleville | Grady, GA | Oak tree down blocking both lanes of Old 179 south. |
| 11:05 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Ssw Reno | Grady, GA | EF0 tornado confirmed by storm survey. Lasted from 7:03 am EDT to 7:05 am EDT. |
| 11:06 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wsw Cairo | Grady, GA | Broken pole on Wight Road. |
| 11:07 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wsw Capel | Grady, GA | Shed and roof damage reported. |
| 11:09 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wnw Reno | Grady, GA | Broken pole on Sherman Road. |
| 11:14 UTC | TSTM WND GST 48 | Cairo | Grady, GA | Weatherstem station measured wind gust of 48 mph at the Cairo Fire Department. |
| 11:15 UTC | TSTM WND GST 60 | 2 Sw Cairo | Grady, GA | Mesonet station UGA23 Cairo. |
| 11:43 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Ssw Five Points | Thomas, GA | Broken pole on M and M Road. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2026 tornado in GeorgiaEvery tornado in Georgia since 1950Warnings in force in Georgia nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of March 12, 2026
23 more have been surveyed in the United States that day, so far.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12 | 3:03 AM CDT | EF0 | Pike, AL | 0.3 | 100 | |||
| March 12 | 3:36 AM CDT | EF0 | Barbour, AL | 0.5 | 150 | |||
| March 12 | 3:46 AM CDT | EF0 | Russell, AL | 1.5 | 100 | |||
| March 12 | 4:07 AM CDT | EF1 | Henry, AL | 1.8 | 200 | |||
| March 12 | 4:09 AM CDT | EF1 | Henry, AL | 2.0 | 387 | |||
| March 12 | 4:18 AM CDT | EF1 | Houston, AL | 7.1 | 200 | |||
| March 12 | 5:43 AM EDT | EF1 | Early, GA | 6.5 | 0 | |||
| March 12 | 6:20 AM EDT | EF1 | Monroe, GA | 1.4 | 300 | |||
| March 12 | 6:40 AM EDT | EF2 | Macon, GA | 4.8 | 600 | 2 | ||
| March 12 | 6:46 AM EDT | EF1 | Bibb, GA | 3.4 | 200 | |||
| March 12 | 6:56 AM EDT | EF1 | Peach, GA | 3.3 | 350 | |||
| March 12 | 7:00 AM EDT | EF0 | Dooly, GA | 2.4 | 100 | |||
| March 12 | 7:25 AM EDT | EF1 | Twiggs, GA | 3.2 | 400 | |||
| March 12 | 7:25 AM EDT | EF0 | Baldwin, GA | 3.6 | 100 | |||
| March 12 | 8:00 AM EDT | EF1 | Laurens, GA | 0.8 | 250 | |||
| March 12 | 8:01 AM EDT | EF0 | Laurens, GA | 2.6 | 350 | |||
| March 12 | 9:18 AM EDT | EF0 | Saluda, SC | 0.5 | 100 | |||
| March 12 | 9:44 AM EDT | EF0 | Allendale, SC | 3.8 | 30 | |||
| March 12 | 9:52 AM EDT | EF0 | Richland, SC | 2.1 | 100 | |||
| March 12 | 9:53 AM EDT | Unrated | Lexington, SC | 1.2 | 0 | |||
| March 12 | 10:24 AM EDT | EF0 | Bamberg, SC | 0.2 | 25 | |||
| March 12 | 2:16 PM EDT | EF0 | Onslow, NC | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| March 12 | 2:26 PM EDT | EF1 | Onslow, NC | 0.2 | 50 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. A survey can be revised, so the rating, the path and the casualties can all still change.
Sources
NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit, the record the survey teams file from the damage, and NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports. Neither is the official database for 2026, which SPC publishes in the spring of 2027.