EF1 Tornado — Chatham, Georgia

2008-06-19 · near Sandfly, Chatham, Georgia

Event narrative

The National Weather Service Office in Charleston, South Carolina completed a damage survey in Chatham county Georgia and determined that an EF-1 Tornado occurred. The Tornado developed around 3:37 pm just north of the intersection of Montgomery Cross Road and the Harry Truman Parkway and traveled south-southwest just west of the Harry Truman Parkway for aproximately 3/4 of a mile before lifting. The maximum width of the Tornado was about 100 yards, and maximum sustained winds were estimated at 90 to 100 mph. This Tornado damaged a fire station and uprooted and snapped off numerous trees.

The vast majority of the damage was caused by at least 5 strong downbursts. In general, fairly widespread damage occurred from the Bacon Park Golf Course starting around 3:32 pm and ended near the intersection of Ferguson Avenue and Route 204 around 3:45 pm. South and southeast of this intersection and north of the Bacon Park Golf Course damage was much more sporadic. In this concentrated damage area, damage was up to 2.5 miles wide. Downburst winds knocked the steeple off a church and knocked down or snapped off thousands of trees. Tree limbs and large branches damaged 40 to 50 homes, with about a dozen of the homes sustaining major damage. Trees or large limbs fell on and destroyed about a dozen vehicles. The winds knocked down power poles and power lines, resulting in thousands of people without power. In addition, shingle and siding damage was also observed on the some of the homes.

One of the areas of most significant damage occurred in the Lake View Subdivision just west of Ferguson Avenue. In this area downburst winds snapped off or uprooted numerous trees. Trees or large branches fell on at least a dozen homes, several homes sustained shingle or minor roof damage. One of the homes was deemed uninhabitable after a tree fell through it. Wind speeds in this area were estimated to be 80 to 90 mph.

Another area of significant damage occurred at a Gun Club between Ferguson Avenue and Harry Truman Parkway. In this area, strong winds destroyed a building and tossed an outbuilding about 30 yards. In addition, numerous large trees were snapped off or uprooted, with one tree landing on and damaging another building. Wind speeds in this area were estimated to be 90 to 100 mph.

Wider weather episode

A weak trough of low pressure in combination with the sea breeze in a well sheared and highly unstable environment, resulted in numerous thunderstorms across southern South Carolina and southeast Georgia.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.9900, -81.0700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 118778. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.