EF1 Tornado — Bacon, Georgia

2009-12-02 · near Sessoms Station, Bacon, Georgia

Event narrative

A weak tornado touched down briefly in an open field and tracked northeast, striking a set of chicken houses. Damage was estimated at nearly $3 million to the chicken houses. The structure was primarily made of wood and tin, and amount of damage, mainly to roof of one section, and total collapse of a 2-story section, suggests EF1 damage. Significant damage to trees was also noted along track.

Wider weather episode

Strong mid and upper low initially over Texas was moving east-northeast while the upper level trough it was embedded in became negatively tilted. This led to a broad diffluent pattern over most of the southeastern states. As the system approached the right rear quadrant of upper jet moved into the forecast area coincident with a low-level jet of, at least, 60 knots. This created atmospheric dynamics favorable for severe weather, with the only limiting factor being modest instability. A warm front over the area during the morning moved rapidly north in response to increasing southerly flow allowing a gradual increase in low level instability. By afternoon several severe weather events and three tornadoes occurred over portions of southeast Georgia.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.6230, -82.5810)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 199120. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.