F1 Tornado — Chattahoochee, Georgia

2006-11-15 · near Ft Benning, Chattahoochee, Georgia

Event narrative

A survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, GA concluded that an F1 tornado had touched down at the intersection of Sightseeing Road and Lavoy Road in the northern portion of Fort Benning and traveled north-northeast toward the Upatoi Creek and the Muscogee county line. The tornado crossed just across the border into Muscogee county before lifting. Moderate damage was observed within the Main Post area of Fort Benning along a 150-yard wide, 1.5-mile long path. The majority of the damage occurred along Wold Avenue, where about 10 World War II warehouses were heavily damage, and 18-wheel truck was flipped over, and two vehicles were damaged from debris. Several trees and power lines were also down in the area. Six homes were also damaged in the McDonald Manor Housing Area from large downed trees and limbs. Nine minor injuries were reported in this area as a result of flying or falling debris.

Wider weather episode

A very deep closed upper low moved through the mid and deep south resulting in a significant severe weather outbreak across the deep south and southeast. Georgia was on the eastern edge of this outbreak because much of north and central Georgia remained in a wedge of cooler air. However, a nose of warm, moist air from central and southern Alabama worked its way into the Columbus area of west central Georgia. Dewpoints in the Columbus area rose into the lower 60s helping to fuel the environment in that region for strong storms. A strong squall line of thunderstorms from central and southern Alabama worked its way into west central Georgia shortly after noon, spawning a tornado in the Fort Benning area. The line of thunderstorms weakened considerably as it moved further east into the cooler, more stable air. Thus, little severe weather was reported further east.

In addition to the severe weather, rainfall of two to four inches across much of north and west Georgia resulted in several street flooding incidents, especially in the Columbus area. Strong winds, particularly at the higher elevations in the north Georgia counties, resulted in a number of trees being blown down.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.3400, -84.9900)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5057. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.