EF1 tornado in Macon County, Georgia

A National Weather Service assessment team determined that an EF-1 tornado occurred in southeast Macon County. The tornado initially touched down as EF-0 with winds around 75 MPH along Highway 128 just north of Oglethorpe. The tornado then strengthened to an EF-1 with maximum winds near 110 MPH along Highway 49 near Four Points where a house was destroyed and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado continued east-southeast, causing significant damage along Mennonite School Road just north of Highway 26 where two large chicken houses were completely destroyed and another was significantly damaged. The tornado lifted as an EF-0 near Five Points along Highway 26. Overall, an estimated 25 trees were downed or snapped, approximately five houses received roof damage, one house lost its porch and another house was completely destroyed. Three large chicken houses were damaged or destroyed and one barn roof was lifted off.

[01/21/12: Tornado #2, County #1-1, EF1, Macon, 2012:002].

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.