EF0 tornado in Dooly County, Georgia

A National Weather Service assessment team determined than an EF-0 tornado occurred in north Dooly County. The weak EF-0 tornado initially touched down around 415 PM with winds around 80 MPH along Old National Road northwest of Pinehurst where several trees were downed. The weak tornado lifted and briefly touched down again along Highway 41 near Taylor Road where several trees were uprooted. Near Rocky Ford Road, three outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Sheets of tin were torn off a barn, the roof was blown off a hay shelter, and another hay shelter collapsed. The damage path was sporadic as the weak tornado would quickly lift after only brief touchdowns along the path. The final tree damage noted was along 3rd District Road just north of Highway 27 where several trees were downed.

[01/21/12: Tornado #3, County #1-1, EF0, Dooly, 2012:003].

An area of low pressure over the Southern Plains moved quickly east and toward the Southern Appalachians during the day. Moisture and instability increased across the Southeast as a warm front lifted north of the region. Thunderstorms developed in the warm sector ahead of the approaching cold front, and many became severe. Three tornadoes touched down with this system, along with multiple reports of hail and wind damage. Flash flooding was also reported in the Atlanta Metropolitan area as a result of heavy rainfall.