Buckhead tornado confirmed by National Weather Service

by John Ruch December 1, 2016December 1, 2016

A tornado reported as touching down in Buckhead Nov. 30 was confirmed by the National Weather Service, based on fallen trees and other damage.

The National Weather Service’s Damage Survey Viewer map showing damage from the Buckhead tornado as colored triangles. Blue triangles indicate EF-0 damage and green triangles indicate EF-1 damage.

An NWS storm damage survey site shows the tornado tracked west to east for about 2 miles, from the area of Margaret Mitchell Drive and I-75 to the intersection of Habersham and West Paces Ferry roads, near the Governor’s Mansion.

Tornado damage is rated on the “EF-Scale,” with EF-0 being the least damaging and EF-5 the most damaging. The NWS rated the Buckhead tornado as rating from EF-0 to EF-1. That means that, based on the damage observed, the tornado had estimated wind gusts ranging from 65 to 110 mph.

The tornado was one of four confirmed around metro Atlanta that day. Many other areas were under a tornado warning, including Dunwoody, Brookhaven and Sandy Springs, but the NWS has not confirmed tornado touchdowns in those cities.

John Ruch

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