EF1 tornado in Twiggs County, Georgia

A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 90 MPH and a maximum path width of 150 yards touched down along Highway 96 just south of Jeffersonville in far eastern Twiggs County. The tornado moved east directly across the Robins AFB WSR-88D radar location snapping a few softwood trees but not damaging to the radar tower. The tornado continued its track

east-southeast where it did its greatest amount of damage along US Highway 80. In this area there was roof damage to the Reece Funeral Home and several air conditioning units on the main roof were moved several feet. A few metal support cables on power poles were also broken. A nearby residence was damaged with the majority of shingles blown off the roof and part of a metal roof was blown off of a barn. Multiple large mature oak trees were uprooted on the property. The tornado continued east crossing Gallimore Mill Road and Buck creek before passing into Wilkinson County. No injuries were reported. [04/03/17: Tornado #20, County #1/2, EF-1, Twiggs, Wilkinson, 2017:052].

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.