EF3 Tornado — Troup, Georgia

2023-03-26 · near West Pt, Troup, Georgia

Event narrative

The long track tornado first touched down just inside the Alabama-Georgia state line just west of the Chattahoochee River along State Line road where several trees were snapped and noted as EF0 damage. In the course of the next 1.25 miles, the tornado

would rapidly intensify to EF3 as it moved into North West Point. West Point Road or Hwy 29, sustained the most significant damage with several homes completely leveled and many sustaining major damage. Of the 4 homes completely leveled, it was noted that the anchoring of the walls to the concrete slab was through the use of nails. As a result, the destroyed homes would have failed at lower wind speeds than EF4 thus a rating of EF3 was determined. Other homes with major damage nearby also suggested a mid range EF3 within the core of the strongest winds. The area of most

significant damage was located between West Point Road, 1st Ave and Samples Rd. Significant damage was also noted along Ann Murphy Rd to the west of Hwy 29. The tornado continued east across mostly wooded area until it reached Kia Pkwy and I85 where a large swath of trees were snapped and uprooted. It should be noted that the tornado passed 0.75 miles south of the Kia Manufacturing plant along Kia Pkwy. The tornado continued east along Lower Lovelace Rd crossing Johns Road and Billings road

causing up to EF2 damage to several structures and many trees. 3 homes were nearly destroyed along Shoemaker Road as the tornado passed through. The tornado crossed Adams road and Jarrell Hogg Rd causing EF1 damage to several homes and outbuildings as well as snapping and uprooting many trees. The tornado crossed Whitesville Road near the intersection of Ely Callaway Road causing EF1 and EF2 damage to several homes and snapping and uprooting many trees. The storm continued east crossing Bright Star Church road, Salem Farm Road, and Flat Shoals Church road snapping and uprooting many trees and causing mostly EF0 to EF1 damage to homes along each of those roads. The tornado continued east snapping trees along White Road before crossing I185 snapping trees along both sides of the Interstate. As it crossed Oak Grove Road, EF1 to EF2 damage was noted to both trees and most notably the Pine Mountain Wild Animal Safari where several tigers had escaped as a result of the tornado. The tornado continued east crossing Hamilton Road (Hwy 27) and Old Chipley road snapping and uprooting many trees noted as mostly EF1 damage. As the tornado crossed into the Cherokee Resort club near the Troup County Line, more than 40+ cabins sustained damage with several cabins destroyed. The tornado damage in some

sections of the resort was rated as EF2. The tornado continued into Meriwether county crossing Dallas Mill road where it began to weaken rapidly. The last location of damage was located along Robert Williams Road where a couple snapped trees were found.

According to Troup County EMA, 146 total homes were affected, 23 were destroyed, 26 sustained major damage and 41 sustained minor damage.

Wider weather episode

A prolonged, active weather pattern persisted across Georgia through late March, culminating in a series of disturbances that impacted the region March 25th through March 28th. In addition to numerous reports of damaging winds, hail and a few tornadoes, extreme rainfall amounts caused flash flooding over portions of the state. A swath of 4 or more inches of rain stretched from LaGrange, to Forsyth, to Augusta, with isolated amounts above 10 inches.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.8984, -85.1856)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1091665. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.