EF1 Tornado — Wilcox, Georgia

2017-05-23 · near Double Run, Wilcox, Georgia

Event narrative

A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 100 MPH and a maximum path width of 50 yards began in a pecan orchard south of Bowen Road and east of Worley Road where it quickly intensified with wind speeds of 100 mph. At least 100 pecan trees were snapped and shredded along a narrow, 30 yard wide, path with no damage on either side. The tornado traveled east-northeast and weakened slightly snapping several more trees. A 400ft section of a large chicken house was destroyed west of Highway 159 and a few more trees were blown down before the tornado lifted just east of the intersection of Bowen Road and Highway 159. No injuries were reported. [05/23/17: Tornado #3, County #1/1, EF-1, Wilcox, 2017:074].

Wider weather episode

A surface cold front and mid-level short wave associated with a large, deep upper-level trough over the central U.S. swept through the region. Moderate instability combined with strong deep-layer shear to produce scattered severe thunderstorms and isolated tornadoes across north and central Georgia. Deep, rich moisture resulted in very heavy rainfall as well, producing isolated reports of flash flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.8956, -83.5756)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 704030. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.