As a follow-up to a post earlier this week, here is some more information about our station in Byromville. The National Weather Service did a post-storm survey of the location and found that due to the wind speed of 129.3 mph measured on our station along with damage to grain bins near the site, this has been classified as an EF-2 tornado. We are thankful that no one was hurt in this storm! We will be putting in new instruments early next week to make sure our data record continues. Here is the storm report from the NWS:
.Byromville Tornado (Dooly County)... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 130 mph Path Length /statute/: 5.9 miles Path Width /maximum/: 300.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/05/2022 Start Time: 03:26 PM EDT Start Location: 2 ESE Byromville / Dooly County / GA Start Lat/Lon: 32.189 / -83.8806 End Date: 04/05/2022 End Time: 03:33 PM EDT End Location: 2 WNW Pinehurst / Dooly County / GA End Lat/Lon: 32.2094 / -83.7843 Survey Summary: A tornado rapidly developed and intensified near Pinehurst- Byromville Rd and Nelleville Rd east of Byromville destroying five large, strongly anchored grain bins. Most of the 4 foot long, 1 foot wide concrete anchors holding the bins in place were ripped out of the ground and a 6 inch steel beam that was still attached to another concrete anchor still in the ground was bent to a 20 degree angle. The bins were less than 5 years old and each bolted to concrete foundations, yet were ripped out of their foundations and thrown 20 to 30 yards away. Some of the steel paneling of the bins were thrown 1/2 mile east into trees in a nearby field. A semi- tractor trailer at this intersection was ripped from its rig and thrown 30 feet across Nelleville Rd. A University of Georgia Mesonet weather station also located at this intersection was damaged but continued to report wind and pressure data (the cup anemometer did not appear damaged), measuring a maximum gust of 129.3 mph. Based on the level of damage in the immediate surrounding area, it was determined the weather station`s wind gust measurement was accurate and total peak wind was estimated at 130 mph. The intensity of damage decreased as the tornado traveled east- northeast uprooting or snapping numerous trees and rolling over at least 6 irrigation towers along the path. Some barns and outbuilding were also destroyed. Towards the end of the almost 6 mile path, a home on Collins Rd east of Old National Highway received minor roof damage. The tornado lifted near Collins Rd west of Indian Boundary Rd, about 2 miles west of I-75. NWS Survey Team: Nelson/Baker && 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.
