Power Outage in Jackson, GA

Radar data, areal surveys and ground surveys confirm that a long track EF2 tornado occurred beginning a few miles east of Griffin GA through Butts, Newton and into Jasper counties. The tornado was part of a larger mesocyclone which can be traced west all the way back to the Selma Alabama tornado which spawned numerous tornadoes during its lifecycle. This particular tornado first touched down in an area around Crouch road and Wild Plum Road snapping and uprooting trees. The tornado struck a Rinai building causing damage to the roof, windows and outside walls. The tornado continued northeast snapping and uprooting trees quickly intensifying as it crossed hwy 19 becoming and EF2. Widespread tree damage was noted along S. McDonough Road and Walnut Grove Road north of Hwy 16. A well built home sustained significant roof and structure damage consistent with high end EF2 winds. The tornado continued northeast crossing High Falls Road, N. Walkers Mill Road, Yamacraw road snapping and uprooting trees consistent with EF1 damage. As the tornado continued northeast, it became the dominant circulation within the larger mesocyclone as the previous Griffin tornado began to occlude within the large circulation. The tornado crossed Jackson road and paralleled Jenkinsburg road before crossing I75 near Jenkinsburg Road. Snapped and uprooted trees were noted along both sides of I75 where the tornado crossed. As the storm became the dominant circulation within the mesocyclone, the wind field expanded and the damage became fairly consistent with high end EF1 to low EF2 thereafter. The tornado crossed Locust Road, Dean Patrick Road and England Chapel Road were numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Some home damage was noted in the area as well, particularly as it approached Shiloah Road. Several homes were damaged along Plaza Dr and Smith Dr. The tornado continued NE crossing Hwy 23 striking a large warehouse. Severe roof and exterior wall damage was noted as debris was spread across the highway and to the NE of the hwy. As the tornado crossed the highway it struck a train on the tracks and overturned 3 rail cars just west Walter Moore Rd. The storm continued northeast crossing Wolf Creek Road snapping and uprooting trees near several homes consistent with EF1 wind damage. The tornado continued northeast crossing Rising Star Church road and Brown road snapping and uprooting trees. As the storm continued northeast beyond this point, the remnant circulation which last produced damage near Locust Grove regenerated a new tornado a little over a mile to the northwest along Fincherville Road. The two tornadoes would continue to the NE nearly parallel through the Jackson Lake area. This particular tornado continued northeast and would intensify to EF2 as it crossed Hwy 36 north of Keys Ferry Road and Haley Road. The fatality and critical injury directly associated with this tornado occurred along Haley Road when a tree fell onto a vehicle injuring the driver and fatally wounding a passenger. EF2 damage was noted East of hwy36 along Haley Road, Pocahontas St. Chickasaw lane and several neighborhoods along the lake. The tornado crossed into Southern Newton County causing severe damage along Parker Road, Ray Road, Malcom Rd, Quarry Ct, Pebble Ridge Dr, Hunters Trace, Campbell Rd and Hwy 212 as it entered Jasper County near the Franks Restaurant. EF1 to low end EF2 damage was intermittent along Yancy Rd, Dallas Tr, Gem Lane, Lee���s Cove, Alcovy N. Dr, Rainbow Dr and County Line Road. The Bear Creek Marian was destroyed and several campers were destroyed. The storm continued NE crossing Henderson Mill Road snapping and uprooting trees, County line Trail and Hwy 11 before weakening and lifting as it approached Margery Lake. A second fatality was resulted the following day when a lineman was knocked out of a bucket truck in Jasper County after being struck by a large tree branch while attempting to restore powerlines. The fatality, is considered indirect but will be tied to this particular tornado. Widespread wind damage can be seen via areal survey and ground survey throughout northern Butts, Southern Newton and Western Jasper counties and surveying this particular storm was a challenge to discern where the tornado actually ended and where the severe wind damage started. The path width is an approximation based on the most severe damage swaths which were surveyed however, strong inflow winds occurred for much of the lifecycle of this tornado making a very wide swath of damage along its 30+ mile long path.

Reports were received from amateur radio operators and the local media of trees and power lines blown down from near the Highway 16 and I-75 interchange to north of Jackson along Old Bethel Road near Rising Star Church Road.

Reports were received from amateur radio operators and the local media of trees and power lines blown down from near the Highway 16 and I-75 interchange to north of Jackson along Old Bethel Road near Rising Star Church Road.

A National Weather Service survey consisting of an analysis of measured wind data, along with reports from Emergency Managers and various other local, state and federal officials, found that tropical storm conditions occurred in the county. There were numerous reports of trees and power lines blown down. Wind speeds were estimated between 35 and 40 mph.

The Butts County Emergency Manager reported dozens of trees and power lines blown down across the county. A roof was partially blown off of a house in Jackson and at least two multi-car accidents were blamed on the weather conditions. No injuries were reported. Radar estimates indicate between 2 and 4 inches of rain fell across the county with 3.31 inches recorded at Lloyd Shoals Dam. No injuries were reported.

The Butts County 911 center reported a tree blown down onto power lines along Southern Shores Road.

The Butts County Emergency Manager reported trees blown down in Jackson, one onto power lines.

A significant winter storm impacted north and portions of central Georgia on Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th. For areas south of the Atlanta Metropolitan area and into central Georgia, the event began Wednesday morning the 12th. Rain mixed with and changed over to freezing rain through the morning hours, resulting in catastrophic ice accretions of a half to one inch of ice, with localized higher amounts, especially along the Interstate 20 corridor. Thousands of trees were downed and widespread power outages were reported, with some customers without power for days. The event ended as a round of light snow Wednesday evening.

The Butts County Emergency Manager reported at least 14 trees down on roadways north of Jackson. Power lines were down as well.

The Butts County Emergency Manager reported that numerous trees and power lines were blown down county wide. Tree damage was especially heavy near Flovilla.

The Butts County Emergency Manager reported that numerous trees and power lines were blown down county wide. Tree damage was especially heavy near Flovilla.

FOX 5 Television of Atlanta relayed a report of strong thunderstorm downburst winds that caused damage in the Lake Jackson area in the far eastern part of Butts county along the Jasper county line. Several large trees and power lines were down with at least one tree on the home with roof damage.

The Butts County Emergency Management Director reported that a couple of power lines were down within the city of Jackson.

The Butts County Emergency Management Director reported that an apparent thunderstorm downburst or microburst caused extensive damage to trees, power lines, and property in the northeastern part of the county from the Henry county line, just northwest of Fincherville to the south side of Lake Jackson along the Butts/Jasper county line. At least 40 trees were down along this path. Some of the most significant damage occurred near the intersection of Georgia Highway 36 and Barnetts Bridge Road, where a number of trees and power lines were down and one home in the area suffered major damage. A total of six homes sustained damage, two of which were severely damaged and four others sustained moderate damage.

The Butts County Emergency Management Director reported that an apparent thunderstorm downburst or microburst caused extensive damage to trees, power lines, and property in the northeastern part of the county from the Henry county line, just northwest of Fincherville to the south side of Lake Jackson along the Butts/Jasper county line. At least 40 trees were down along this path. Some of the most significant damage occurred near the intersection of Georgia Highway 36 and Barnetts Bridge Road, where a number of trees and power lines were down and one home in the area suffered major damage. A total of six homes sustained damage, two of which were severely damaged and four others sustained moderate damage.

The maximum snowfall reported was 4.0 inches. A few trees and power lines were down in the county.

The Butts county 911 center reported that numerous trees and several power lines had been blown down.

The Butts county 911 center reported 2 trees down, one on a power line.