EF3 Tornado — Upson, Georgia

2020-04-13 · near Lincoln Park, Upson, Georgia

Event narrative

A National Weather Service survey found that an EF3 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 140 mph and a maximum path width of 1200 yards developed south of Thomaston in Upson County near Gordon School Road east of Old Talbotton Road. The tornado moved northeast narrowly missing the densely populated Lincoln Park area but hitting the Southern Crescent Technical College and Raintree Golf and Country Club on Highway 19 with winds of 70 to 85 mph. The tornado intensified as it passed Triune Mill Road on a path parallel to and just south of Yatesville Highway, where homes and cars were damaged from falling trees. As the tornado reached Trice Cemetery Road, it broadened to over 2/3 of a mile wide. An unoccupied mobile home was rotated 90 degrees and rolled on its side. The tornado reached its maximum intensity as reached Trinity road where a single story frame home had most of its roof blown off and every tree within a 1/8 mile radius was snapped. One house was lifted off of its foundation and deposited several yards away in the roadway on Highway 74. The tornado slowly began to weaken as it continued northeast through the northeastern corner of Upson County and into far southeastern Lamar County. In total, 159 structures were affected. thirty eight homes had minor damage, 20 major damage and 7 were destroyed. [04/12/20: Tornado #11, County #1/2, EF-3, Upson, 2020:017].

Wider weather episode

A powerful Spring storm system resulted in a Severe Weather / Tornado outbreak across much of the Southeast region, including north and central Georgia, beginning on Easter Sunday (April 12th) and lingering into the morning hours of April 13th. From the Storm Prediction Center (Day 1) convective outlook, just about the entire area was under an ENHANCED risk for severe weather with a MODERATE risk extending from the ArkLaMiss into western Georgia.

In addition, enhanced rainfall occurred over far north Georgia and in portions of central Georgia, with rainfall amounts ranging from 3 to 8 inches through the event. Significant flooding was in portions of the area with numerous reports of washouts and several reports of rescues.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.8496, -84.3335)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 889325. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.