Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Atlanta, GA
Issued by NWS Atlanta, GA
324 NOUS42 KFFC 041901 PNSFFC GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-050715- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 301 PM EDT Thu Apr 4 2024 ...NWS Damage Survey for 04/02/24 to 04/03/24 Tornado Event... .Overview... During the late evening and overnight hours of April 2-3, 2024, strong to severe thunderstorms impacted parts of north and central Georgia. This was part of a larger storm system that affected a good portion of the eastern United States. The storms were able to evolve in an environment that become increasingly favorable for tornadoes Tuesday night (April 2nd) into early Wednesday morning (April 3rd). One such storm rapidly intensified as it moved into Rockdale County, about 18 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta. The storm produced an EF-2 tornado. Additional tornadoes occurred in central Georgia overnight, along with pockets of straight-line wind damage. .Conyers Tornado (Rockdale County)... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 115 mph Path Length /statute/: 9.47 miles Path Width /maximum/: 800 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 2 Start Date: 04/02/2024 Start Time: 11:49 PM EDT Start Location: 2 ESE Arabia Mountain / Rockdale County / GA Start Lat/Lon: 33.6554 / -84.0903 End Date: 04/03/2024 End Time: 12:06 AM EDT End Location: 2 NNW Georgia International Horse Park / Rockdale County / GA End Lat/Lon: 33.7031 / -83.9436 Survey Summary: An EF2 tornado with max winds of 110-115 mph touched down around 11:49 PM EDT Tuesday, April 2, near the 3200 block of Klondike Rd southwest of Conyers and traveled east-northeast about 9.5 miles downing thousands of trees, some landing on homes, businesses and vehicles. The tornado quickly evolved and spun up just inside the Dekalb/Rockdale county line along Klondike Road SW near Stone Bridge lane where a few trees were snapped causing mostly EF0 damage. The storm continued NE along Klondike Road quickly increasing into a low end EF1 as it reached HoneyCreek and Kings Point Way south of Hurst Road where numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado continued increasing in intensity to a mid range EF1 as it crossed Hurst Road near Fire station #6 where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. As the storm crossed Adrian Circle, many of the trees were snapped between the subdivision and McDaniel Rd in addition to many of the homes either having trees on them or sustaining EF1 type roof damage. The tornado crossed through a heavily wooded area west of McDaniel road snapping hundreds to thousands of trees before crossing McDaniel Road near the intersection of Briarwood Circle It was in this region the tornado reached maximum intensity of EF2 ripping approximately 2/3 of a roof off of a well built home in addition to snapping and uprooting trees all around. The tornado crossed into the Briarwood Subdivision snapping numerous trees onto homes as it crossed through. While the tornado winds were estimated to be 100-110mph in the neighborhood, many of the homes were heavily damaged or destroyed by the trees which fell. The tornado began to take a hard turn to the east as it crossed Jefferson Drive and Smyrna road where trees were snapped and uprooted, some onto homes, and eventually across Interstate 20 through a warehouse area north of I-20. The storm continued east parallel to Old Covington hwy snapping a few trees, but had weakened to an EF0 at this point. As the storm approached the north side of old town Conyers, it re-intensified to an EF1 crossing North Main St NW, Park Cir, College Ave, Milstead Ave, McCalla St NE and Woodland Road where numerous trees were snapped onto homes, cars and across the roads. The tornado continued ENE passing south of the Rockdale Medical center snapping and uprooting a few trees but began to weaken down to EF0, crossing North Rd, Hwy 20 and Boar Tusk Road snapping a few trees onto the roadway. The tornado began the dissipation phase as it continued northeast with only minor EF0 damage observed along River Club Road, Denard Road and finally lifting around 12:06 AM EDT Wednesday, April 3 along Hwy 138 near N. Tower Way. The maximum path width was approximately 800 yards in the McDaniel Road area. .Centerville Tornado (Houston County)... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 70 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.24 miles Path Width /maximum/: 150 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/03/2024 Start Time: 03:44 AM EDT Start Location: 2 SW Centerville / Houston County / GA Start Lat/Lon: 32.6107 / -83.7144 End Date: 04/03/2024 End Time: 03:46 AM EDT End Location: 1 S Centerville / Houston County / GA End Lat/Lon: 32.6165 / -83.6945 Survey Summary: A very brief tornado touched down in a field of trees just southwest of the Hwy 41 and 247-C (Watson Blvd) intersection. A brief Tornado Debris Signature (TDS) from KJGX radar does show up right along Watson Blvd (just east of Hwy 41), confirming the brief tornado. A few trees were seen snapped near this intersection that took out powerlines/poles. About 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile east of this location along Watson Blvd. a few retail signs were blown out as well. No notable structural damage occurred aside from that. .Lake Blackshear Tornado (Crisp County)... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 5.55 miles Path Width /maximum/: 300 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/03/2024 Start Time: 04:49 AM EDT Start Location: 3 S Georgia Veterans Memorial St Pk / Crisp County / GA Start Lat/Lon: 31.9113 / -83.922 End Date: 04/03/2024 End Time: 04:56 AM EDT End Location: 3 NNE Raines / Crisp County / GA End Lat/Lon: 31.9346 / -83.8334 Survey Summary: A tornado touched down over Lake Blackshear with damage quickly occurring where Scenic Route meets North Cedar Creek Road. Numerous trees, some large pines, where snapped near the base and uprooted as the tornado tracked along North Cedar Creek Road toward South Coney Road. Several homes sustained significant damage due to falling trees, and there were a few additional homes that sustained roof damage (mainly tin roofs getting peeled off from the frame). In this area along North Cedar Creek Road (before the bend), max winds estimated near 100 mph occurred due to the extent of the tree/structural damage. At its maximum intensity, the tornado was briefly an EF-1. The tornado continued to track east-northeast across a field but as it crossed South Coney Road, near the Lake Blackshear Baptist Church, additional smaller trees were snapped or uprooted. Across South Coney Road, a farm pivot irrigation system was flipped upside down. At this point, the tornado was weakening and appeared up and down for the next few minutes. A few trees were snapped along McKinney Road and just north along GA Hwy 300 (Old Albany Road). Another farm pivot was flipped between GA Hwy 300 and Pateville Road with a few tops of the trees seen snapped (from aerial survey). It is in this area, the tornado lifted. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$