National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce


The Surprise Douglas County Tornado
March 7, 2008
Rainshower produces EF1 tornado near Douglasville...

[ map of tornado track ]

On the evening of March 7, 2008, although conditions were less than optimum for tornadoes or thunderstorms, a few small "mini-supercells" developed over portions of west Georgia. These "mini-supercells" were low-topped convective showers that developed rotation due to winds just above the surface blowing in differing direction at increasing height. There was little or no lightning/thunder observed. The mini-supercells that acquired the strongest rotation moved through Carroll and Douglas counties. The one over Douglas County produced a tornado, while the one in Carroll County did not. A storm damage survey team from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City found that the tornado touched down at 725 pm EDT and produced winds as high as 110 mph. The intensity rating was EF1. At least 50 homes were damaged...but there were no confirmed reports of injuries.



Samples of Damage Seen in Douglas County ( click images to enlarge )
Photos taken during post storm survey conducted by the NWS in Peachtree City, GA
[ Home in Brookmont subdivision. ]
Home in Brookmont subdivision
[ Damage to back of home in Brookmont subdivision. ]
Damage to back of home in Brookmont subdivision.
 [ 5 people in this mobile home survived without injury. ]
5 people in this mobile home survived without injury.
[ Air conditioning unit off the roof of a Kroger store. ]
Air conditioning unit off the roof of a Kroger store.
[ Damage to home in Ashland subdivision. ]
Damage to home in Ashland subdivision.
[ More damage in the Ashland subdivision. ]
More damage in the Ashland subdivision.