National Weather Service Raw Text Product

902 
NOUS42 KCAE 192153
PNSCAE
GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035-037-038-041-115-
116-135>137-201000-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
453 PM EST Thu Jan 19 2023


...NWS Damage Survey for 01/12/23 Tornado Event...

...Update...

NWS Atlanta continued the survey on the tornado in Warren/McDuffie 
Counties in Georgia finding that the tornado began further west, 
extending the path from 5.17 miles to 16.4 miles. This PNS updates
the information from their findings. Special thanks to Georgia 
State Patrol Aviation Division for assisting with the storm survey
by providing tornado track and damage information by using one of
their helicopters to fly along the path of the tornado. 

&&

..Warren/McDuffie County Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    110 mph
Path Length /statute/:  16.4 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   150 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             01/12/2023
Start Time:             04:15 PM EST
Start Location:         Mayfield / Warren County / GA
Start Lat/Lon:          33.3622 / -82.8032

End Date:               01/12/2023
End Time:               04:39 PM EST
End Location:           2 NNE Mesena / McDuffie County / GA
End Lat/Lon:            33.4897 / -82.565

Survey Summary:
A National Weather Service survey team confirmed an EF-1 tornado
with peak winds of 110 mph that tracked from the border of Warren
and Hancock county traveling just to the north and west of
Warrenton. The tornado passed to the south of Camak in eastern
Warren County and to the west of Thomson in western McDuffie
County. The total tornado path was 16.42 miles, with about 14.40
miles in Warren County and 2.02 miles in McDuffie County. The
tornado started near the intersection of Mayfield Rd and Riverview
Farms Rd. It tracked ENE uprooting trees and picked up strength as
it approached Atlanta HWY where a grove of large pines were
snapped or uprooted with EF-1 intensity. The tornado crossed Old
Camek Rd near the intersection of Lithonia Church Rd snapping and
uprooting a number of large pine trees before causing minor 
structural damage as it approached the intersection of Washington 
HWY and Calvin Dr. The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Aviation 
Division used a helicopter to pick up the trail near Camak, just 
east of Church Street, and moved toward the northeast. EF-0 damage
to trees was seen from the helicopter extending from Camak Rd to 
the intersection of Wire Road and Otis Jones Road. A second NWS 
survey team determined the tornado strengthened again to EF-1 
intensity as it approached Mesena Road and continued northeast 
across the county line to Foster Sprouse Road. In this area, a 
couple of homes had roof and fascia damage, a metal work shed and 
outdoor kitchen were destroyed, and a swath of large and healthy 
pine trees were snapped and uprooted. As the tornado crossed 
Foster Sprouse Road, it continued to snap and uproot trees, one of
which fell on a house. The tornado then weakened as it crossed 
Union Church Road and dissipated before reaching West Bypass. 

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in
NWS Storm Data.



$$