EF1 Tornado — Pickens, Georgia

2023-07-20 · near Daniels, Pickens, Georgia

Event narrative

This particular tornado developed shortly after a large scale

straight line wind event unfolded across Pickens County. It should

be noted that while the tornado did considerable damage in the

span in which it was on the ground, the large scale straight line

wind damage across Pickens county southeastward was far more

considerable. The tornado formed on the north side a surge in the

winds along Long Swamp Church road very near the Bent Tree Lodge

and Vineyard and Angel on Horseback pavilion. Several trees were

snapped and uprooted in this area. The tornado continued eastward

through a wooded area crossing Dank road behind several homes on

the north side of Fitts Road. The tornado reached maximum

intensity as it crossed Fitts and Dank Roads where numerous trees

were snapped and uprooted, 1 home lost its roof, another home

sustained major roof damage and an outbuilding was destroyed. The

tornado continued southeast snapping and uprooting trees before

dissipating as it reached Skyline Drive. Peak winds were estimated around 95 mph (EF-1 tornado).

Wider weather episode

A large squall-line (Mesoscale Convective System) moved across mainly North and East-Central GA during the afternoon and early evening hours of July 20th. Conditions were very favorable for damaging winds along and ahead of well-developed cold pool, with high instability and elevated Downdraft-CAPE. Widespread damage occurred from far north Georgia to east-central GA (Warren County), with very intense winds (80-90+mph) estimated from damage across parts of Cherokee and Forsyth counties. A couple of brief embedded weak tornadoes occurred in Cherokee County from this system.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.4610, -84.3531)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1125533. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.