Thunderstorm Wind in Toombs County, Georgia

A National Weather Service storm survey determined that straight-line winds from a bow echo resulted in scattered wind damage across southern Toombs County from Greys Landing Road to Charlie Hart Road. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped in sporadic intervals in several locations along the roughly 11-mile path. Damage to livestock buildings and a center pivot irrigation system occurred. An unanchored single-wide mobile home was rolled and destroyed. Wind gusts were estimated to be around 70 MPH.

The Advance Progress newspaper of Vidalia reported that extensive damage was caused by thunderstorm winds to homes and businesses in the city. A canopy was ripped off a food store in town and carried some 100 feet in the air before landing on a Jeep Cherokee at a car sales lot causing considerable damage to the vehicle. Roof and other structural damage was reported to a number of homes and businesses in the downtown area. One brick building lost its roof and the walls caved in. The Toombs county 911 center reported that trees and power lines were down across the county.

The Toombs County Emergency Management Director reported that an apparent microburst or downburst caused considerable damage to trees and structures in a small area approximately three miles southeast of Normantown. The majority of the damage occurred along Geren Williams Road, just west of U.S. Highway 1 and just south of the Emanuel county line. A roof was blown off a double-wide mobile home with minor to moderate damage noted to the adjacent 1000 square foot site-built home. Another 200 to 250 yards further downstream, the roof was blown off a barn and one 18-20 foot cedar tree was snapped off four feet above the ground. A little further downstream, a large oak tree was uprooted causing an adjacent burial vault to be unearthed. All together three to four large trees were uprooted or broken off during the event.