EF1 Tornado — Banks, Georgia

2020-04-13 · near Baldwin, Banks, Georgia

Event narrative

This survey/narrative was done by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg. This tornado touched down in extreme northeast Hall County and quickly crossed into Habersham County along Herring Mill Rd. The tornado moved east/northeast, crossing U.S.23 just west of Alto. The tornado began to move in more of an easterly direction as it moved across the south side of the city of Baldwin, taking it into Banks County, near the intersection of Park Ave and Old Orchard Rd. The tornado continued east from Baldwin, although damage indicators became more sporadic as it passed through a remote portion of the

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The tornado briefly crossed over the southeast corner of Habersham County again, before moving into Stephens County, apparently dissipating in the Old Cannon Rd/E Red Root Rd area. Damage along the entire path was largely limited to snapped and uprooted trees, although one mobile home received minor to moderate roof damage on Hamby Mountain Park Dr in Baldwin (Banks County). [04/13/20: Tornado #14, County #2/2, EF-1, Banks, 2020:020].

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 → (34.4846, -83.5535)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 893088. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.