EF1 tornado in Walton County, Georgia

A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 88 MPH and a maximum path width of 350 yards moved east out of far northern Newton County into Walton County along Wapakoneta Trail. Multiple softwood trees were snapped and uprooted with one causing damage to a vehicle. The tornado continued eastward snapping or uprooting trees as it crossed Hightower Trail, Highway 81 and Old Highway 81 before ending around the intersection of Harris Rockmore Loop and Harris Rockmore Road. No injuries were reported. [04/05/17: Tornado #2, County #2/2, EF-1, Newton, Walton, 2017:061].

Another strong short wave, the second in three days, rotated through a large and deep upper-level trough over the eastern U.S. A deep surface low and strong cold front moved through the state combining with moderate instability and strong low-level shear to produce another round of widespread severe weather across north and central Georgia, including several tornadoes.