EF1 Tornado — Muscogee, Georgia

2009-04-19 · near Columbus, Muscogee, Georgia

Event narrative

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that an EF1 tornado, which initially touched down in Phenix City - Russell County, Alabama as an EF2 tornado at the intersection of Dillingham and Broad Streets, continued into Muscogee county, Georgia and the city of Columbus. The total tornado path was determined to be approximately four miles in length, two of which fell within Muscogee county, Georgia. The maximum path width was determined to be 250 yards with maximum winds estimated at 105 mph. Damage within Georgia was first observed at Columbus State University. Significant damage was observed to buildings and trees on the campus. The Old Rankin Building, an older building which had been converted to dormitories, suffered substantial damage. From this point, spotty tree, roof, and window damage was observed along the path of the tornado and it continued moving eastward. At the intersection of 13th Street and 13th Avenue, a small utility truck used at a nursery had been picked up and moved at least 25 feet and through a neighboring fence. Minor damage to displays, trees, and plants was also observed in the adjacent nursery. From here to where the tornado lifted near the intersection of Macon Road and Preston Drive in Columbus, hundreds of large mature oak trees were either snapped or uprooted through Lake Bottom Park and Hilton Avenue and Harding Drive. Extensive damage was observed to homes throughout this area, largely a result of the downed trees. Many power lines were down along the path of the tornado as well. Over 100 structures, including homes and businesses, suffered minor to moderate damage.

Wider weather episode

Yet another deep upper trough was translating across the south central and southeast United States accompanied by a strong Pacific cold front. Although instability was marginal for the time of year, the upper atmosphere was highly sheared with a strong low-level jet. Showers and a few thunderstorms moved across the area during the day, but it was during the late evening hours when the front moved into the area from the west that strong to severe thunderstorms developed across eastern Alabama and moved into western Georgia. The activity took on the form of a squall line with distinct bowing segments. Two EF1 tornadoes were spawned within this line of thunderstorms causing considerable damage to homes and businesses in the Columbus and Woodstock areas. The activity quickly dissipated shortly after midnight as it moved further east into central and northeast Georgia.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.4700, -84.9900)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 167134. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.