EF2 tornado in Wilkinson County, Georgia

A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF2 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 115 MPH and a maximum path width of 200 yards developed southwest of the town of Gordon near the intersection of Highway 57 and Mission Farm Road. The tornado travelled northeast crossing Highway 18 as it entered the community of Gordon. The tornado turned east and quickly strengthened to EF2 strength as it moved

through the Gordon community. Several small business structures were severely damaged and large trees within a local community park area were uprooted as the tornado moved east along Paper Mill Road. The tornado lifted after moving through the local park. This thunderstorm would later produce an EF0 tornado several miles east as it moved north of McIntyre. No injuries were reported. [04/03/17: Tornado # 19, County #1/1, EF-2, Wilkinson, 2017:051].

A strong short wave and associated surface low swept through the southern and eastern U.S. and combined with moderate instability and strong shear resulted in widespread severe weather, including numerous tornadoes, across north and central Georgia from late morning through the afternoon.