EF1 tornado in Chatham County, Georgia

A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed that an EF-1 tornado impacted portions of Chatham County. The tornado began near Bartow Point Drive, just north of Island Expressway. The tornado then crossed over the Frank W. Spencer Boat Ramp and Fishing Pier area before crossing Island Expressway. The tornado continued southeast across Oatland Island where it was estimated to have snapped or uprooted over 100 large hardwood and softwood trees. It also removed the roof from a log cabin and partially damaged the roof to another structure in the Delk-Dawson Heritage Homestead on Oatland Island. The tornado continued southeast over Richardson Creek, entering the Grays subdivision on Whitemarsh Island. In this neighborhood, the tornado snapped and uprooted many large trees. The most significant damage surveyed in the Grays subdivision were large snapped and uprooted trees that had fallen onto approximately 50 homes. Several homes also had significant shingle damage. The tornado then crossed Highway 80, moving over Islands Christian Church before taking a narrow path along Dolphin Lane, Passing near Marsh Point Elementary School. The school sustained moderate damage to the roof near the main entry of the facility. Finally, the tornado moved southeast across Whitemarsh Island Drive before dissipating near Islands High School, where it toppled the metal bleachers and damaged some fencing near athletic fields. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 8 minutes.

A cluster of thunderstorms developed near the southeast Georgia coast in advance of a stationary front inland. As these thunderstorms moved to the south and southeast closer to the coast, they interacted with the sea breeze and moved into an environment conducive to the development rotating updrafts. A tornado developed quickly and impacted portions of Chatham County.