National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

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An upper level disturbance moved across the southern Ohio and northern Tennessee Valley during the evening Sunday, April 19, 2009, The cold front associated with this disturbance pushed through Georgia during the late evening and overnight hours. Ahead of this front - warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico spread northward during the afternoon and evening hours; afternoon temperatures climbed into the mid upper 70s. Southerly winds at the surface and strong westerly winds aloft combined in this unstable airmass to produce several supercell thunderstorms which moved across portions of north central Georgia during the late evening and overnight hours Sunday night and Monday (April 20th) morning. Surveys conducted by meteorologists from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, confirmed that 2 tornadoes occurred across north and central Georgia. So far, no fatalities or injuries have been reported with these storms.

The images below show some of the damage caused by the Cherokee county tornado. The Cherokee County areas were surveyed by meteorologist from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City as well as the Emergency Manager of Cherokee county.

The tornado touched down four miles east of Woodstock in southeast Cherokee county, then continued north-northeast for 1 and a half miles lifting just south of the intersection of Windcrest Court and River Chase Drive. 120 homes were damaged in the Dial Drive and Highway 92 area - 12 of which sustained either heavy damage or were destroyed. The majority of the damage was the result of large trees falling on homes. Two residents were injured. This EF1 tornado had a path length of 1.5 miles, a width of one-half mile with a maximum wind speed of 90 MPH and caused 2 injuries along its path.

Other photos...

• Muscogee County photos

Samples of Damage Seen During NWS Survey...

In Cherokee County... ( click images to enlarge )
Downed trees knocked out power	Tree on a home.
Tree on a van.	Snapped power poles.
Damage to a home.	Trees down on a home.