A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
 Tornado (shadow at left), after going through downtown Atlanta | |
| Type | Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Duration | March 14–15, 2008 |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 46 confirmed |
| Max. rating1 | EF3 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 24 hours, 7 minutes |
| Fatalities | 3 fatalities (1 in Atlanta), 53 injuries |
| Damage | >$250 million |
| Areas affected | Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina |
Part of tornado outbreaks of 2008 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
The 2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak was a destructive and deadly tornado outbreak that affected the Southeastern United States on March 14–15, 2008. The most infamous tornado of the outbreak occurred on March 14 when an isolated but strong EF2 tornado caused widespread damage across Downtown Atlanta, Georgia, including to the CNN Center and to the Georgia Dome, which was hosting the 2008 SEC men's basketball tournament. Other buildings that were damaged include the Georgia World Congress Center, Philips Arena (now State Farm Arena) during an Atlanta Hawks game, and the Omni Hotel, which was evacuated after many windows were blown out. The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel suffered major window damage. The image of the building with all its windows blown out became famous and for a time was a symbol of the tornado. Centennial Olympic Park, SunTrust Plaza (now Truist Plaza) and historic Oakland Cemetery were also damaged.[1]
One man was killed near Downtown Atlanta and 30 others were injured.[2] Two other deaths took place on March 15, in the northern Atlanta suburbs, from a second, larger round of severe weather and tornadoes. In total, 46 tornadoes were confirmed over the 24-hour period, from eastern Alabama to the Carolina coast, with most of the activity concentrated in the Metropolitan Atlanta area, the Central Savannah River Area and the Midlands of South Carolina.
Meteorological synopsis
Atlanta tornado event
In their 9:00 pm EDT outlook, the Storm Prediction Center issued a slight risk of severe weather across portions of the southern United States from Oklahoma to Georgia, with a 2% risk area for tornadoes for the Atlanta area.[3] A tornado warning was issued for Atlanta at 9:26 pm when the thunderstorm that caused the tornado was 6 miles (10 km) northwest of the downtown area, although no watches were in effect for the area due to the low probability and unusual isolated nature. The tornado moved to the southeast, which is unusual as most supercells have a strong northward component along (or ahead of) a cold front. It also was unusual because it was not associated with such a squall line at all, but was an independent supercell well ahead of the main storm system.[citation needed]
March 15 tornado event
Another tornado outbreak struck the southeast the following day. A moderate risk for severe storms was issued early in the morning, and maintained through the afternoon.[4] However, by mid afternoon, areas of east-central Georgia and central South Carolina were upgraded to a high risk of severe storms due to the tornado threat.[5][6]
Confirmed tornadoes
| EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 46 |
March 14 event
| EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Damage[note 2] | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF2 | N of Warren | Cleveland | AR | 33°43′12″N 92°09′48″W / 33.7201°N 92.1632°W | 0842–0855 | 9.4 mi (15.1 km) | 350 yd (320 m) | $1,000,000 | An old, unoccupied house was destroyed. Several houses sustained roof and shingle damage, including two that had most of their roofs blown off. Several chicken houses were destroyed, and a number of barns and outbuildings were damaged. Hundreds of trees were downed; one destroyed a house trailer.[7] |
| EF2 | Atlanta | Fulton, DeKalb | GA | 33°45′54″N 84°25′48″W / 33.765°N 84.43°W | 0138–0150 | 6.25 mi (10.06 km) | 200 yd (180 m) | $25,050,000 | 1 death – See section on this tornado – 30 people were injured.[8][9] |
March 15 event
| EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Damage[note 2] | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF2 | SE of Oneonta | Blount | AL | 33°52′18″N 86°26′45″W / 33.8716°N 86.4459°W | 1447–1457 | 6.04 mi (9.72 km) | 675 yd (617 m) | $960,000 | The Appalachian School property sustained damage, several hundred trees were snapped or uprooted, and many chicken houses were damaged or destroyed. Many garages, sheds, and outbuildings were destroyed. At least 25 homes sustained major damage while dozens more sustained lesser damage. A mobile home was destroyed and several others were damaged, a few feed silos were tipped over and rolled, and hundreds of livestock were killed by flying debris.[10] |
| EF2 | N of Piedmont | Cherokee | AL | 33°59′01″N 85°37′46″W / 33.9835°N 85.6295°W | 1550–1554 | 3.61 mi (5.81 km) | 50 yd (46 m) | $75,000 | Metal roofing panels were torn from a barn, and half the roof was torn from a brick house. Two other homes and a barn also sustained structural damage. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.[11] |
| EF3 | NW of Aragon to W of Emerson | Polk, Floyd, Bartow | GA | 34°05′N 85°07′W / 34.09°N 85.11°W | 1625–1645 | 16.93 mi (27.25 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | $7,500,000 | 2 deaths – A significant tornado began in Polk County, affecting 16 houses; 4 were destroyed (killing an occupant), 2 sustained major damage, 5 sustained minor damage, and 5 sustained even lesser damage. Several county outbuildings, barns, shops, vehicles, a motor home, a travel trailer, a dog kennel business, and several fences were heavily damaged. Hundreds of trees and power lines were downed, including several high tension power line support structures that were heavily impacted. Another 20 homes were impacted in Floyd County, with 10 destroyed (killing an occupant) and 10 affected insignificantly. Approximately 55 homes were affected in Bartow County, of which 6 were destroyed and 30 sustained minor damage. Taylorsville Elementary and Woodland High School sustained major damage, and some Georgia Power high transmission towers were toppled.[12][13][14] |
| EF0 | S of Royston | Franklin, Hart | GA | 34°16′23″N 83°10′34″W / 34.273°N 83.176°W | 1844–1851 | 3.24 mi (5.21 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | $0 | Trees and power lines were downed; a tree fell on a home.[15][16] |
| EF0 | NE of Abbeville | Abbeville | SC | 34°14′29″N 82°18′21″W / 34.2414°N 82.3058°W | 1943 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 20 yd (18 m) | $0 | Trees and power lines were downed.[17] |
| EF1 | NE of Winnsboro to SE of Kershaw | Fairfield, Kershaw | SC | 34°27′N 80°58′W / 34.45°N 80.97°W | 2010–2039 | 24.22 mi (38.98 km) | 80 yd (73 m) | $0 | A long-tracked tornado snapped or uprooted numerous trees onto secondary roadways.[18][19] |
| EF2 | SSW of Calhoun Falls | Elbert | GA | 34°00′27″N 82°44′03″W / 34.0074°N 82.7341°W | 2019–2030 | 8.04 mi (12.94 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $100,000 | Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, two homes sustained heavy roof damage, a boat dock was tossed 25 ft (8.3 yd), and power lines were downed.[20] |
| EF3 | Silverstreet to Prosperity to N of Chapin | Newberry, Richland | SC | 34°14′N 81°46′W / 34.23°N 81.76°W | 2025–2047 | 27.51 mi (44.27 km) | 1,320 yd (1,210 m) | $10,000 | Many residences were heavily damaged, a few mobile homes sustained moderate damage, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, and power lines were downed. Two people were injured.[21][22] |
| EF1 | SE of Calhoun Falls | Lincoln, McCormick | GA, SC | 33°57′36″N 82°35′35″W / 33.96°N 82.593°W | 2028–2047 | 12.62 mi (20.31 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | Unknown | Several mobile homes sustained minor to moderate damage, and numerous trees were downed.[23][24] |
| EF2 | W of Camden to NW of Bethune | Kershaw | SC | 34°16′N 80°43′W / 34.27°N 80.72°W | 2030–2050 | 23.04 mi (37.08 km) | 660 yd (600 m) | Unknown | Several homes and mobiles homes sustained moderate damage, mainly in the form of partially torn off roofs. A building on a poultry farm had its entire roof ripped off as well.[25] |
| EF1 | N of McBee | Chesterfield | SC | 34°32′42″N 80°18′00″W / 34.545°N 80.3°W | 2047–2100 | 6.97 mi (11.22 km) | 110 yd (100 m) | $25,000 | A few mobile homes and a water tower sustained minor damage, while many trees and power lines were downed.[26] |
| EF2 | ENE of McCormick to SW of Monetta | McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda | SC | 33°57′N 82°11′W / 33.95°N 82.19°W | 2102–2130 | 32.67 mi (52.58 km) | 660 yd (600 m) | Unknown | Numerous trees and power lines were downed. One house and one mobile home were severely damaged, a second mobile home was split in two by a fallen tree, and several other houses and mobile homes sustained minor damage.[27][28][29] |
| EF2 | Elgin | Kershaw | SC | 34°11′N 80°50′W / 34.18°N 80.83°W | 2122–2131 | 6.89 mi (11.09 km) | 1,230 yd (1,120 m) | Unknown | Many houses had portions of its their roofs ripped off, four mobile homes were destroyed, and numerous trees and power lines were downed. Two people were injured.[30] |
| EF0 | Lugoff | Kershaw | SC | 34°13′N 80°40′W / 34.22°N 80.67°W | 2133 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | Unknown | Several homes sustained minor damage, and trees were downed.[31] |
| EF0 | SE of Monetta | Aiken | SC | 33°49′06″N 81°34′52″W / 33.8183°N 81.581°W | 2137–2138 | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $0 | Trees were downed.[32] |
| EF2 | WNW of Pelion | Lexington | SC | 33°48′00″N 81°23′06″W / 33.8°N 81.385°W | 2141–2154 | 8.33 mi (13.41 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | Unknown | A mobile home was severely damaged, farm irrigation equipment was rolled and twisted, and numerous trees and power lines were downed. Several other mobile homes sustained lesser damage.[33] |
| EF1 | SE of Blythewood | Richland | SC | 34°10′N 80°56′W / 34.17°N 80.93°W | 2143–2150 | 3.7 mi (6.0 km) | 660 yd (600 m) | Unknown | A few homes had their roofs torn off while others only had portions removed. Numerous trees and power lines were downed.[34] |
| EF0 | S of Latta | Dillon | SC | 34°19′44″N 79°26′12″W / 34.3288°N 79.4366°W | 2148–2150 | 1.36 mi (2.19 km) | 75 yd (69 m) | $50,000 | A large tree fell on a home; other trees were downed or damaged. Six homes sustained minor damage, and one trailer sustained major damage.[35] |
| EF1 | NE of Thomson | McDuffie, Columbia | GA | 33°36′N 82°29′W / 33.6°N 82.49°W | 2148–2203 | 9.9 mi (15.9 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | $140,000 | One mobile home was destroyed and several others sustained moderate damage. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Two people were injured.[36][37] |
| EF2 | NW of Woodford to St. Matthews to N of Elloree | Calhoun | SC | 33°42′18″N 81°01′01″W / 33.705°N 81.017°W | 2210–2238 | 24.39 mi (39.25 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | Unknown | Several mobile homes sustained severe damage while other houses had their roofs ripped off. Several outbuildings were damaged, a few barns collapsed, and numerous trees were downed.[38] |
| EF0 | NE of Evans | Edgefield | SC | 33°34′N 82°02′W / 33.57°N 82.04°W | 2211–2213 | 3.74 mi (6.02 km) | 220 yd (200 m) | $0 | Several trees were downed.[39] |
| EF0 | SW of Jackson | Butts | GA | 33°14′49″N 84°03′25″W / 33.247°N 84.057°W | 2215–2219 | 4.42 mi (7.11 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $150,000 | A total of 136 homes sustained minor damage, a barn was destroyed, and many trees were downed.[40] |
| EF2 | Wrens to Matthews to N of Waynesboro | Jefferson, Burke | GA | 33°12′37″N 82°23′32″W / 33.2102°N 82.3922°W | 2215–2245 | 22.07 mi (35.52 km) | 880 yd (800 m) | $500,000 | Several mobile homes were destroyed. Two businesses and a church were destroyed. Several other businesses, another church, and numerous homes were damaged. Numerous trees and power lines were downed.[41][42] |
| EF0 | Fair Bluff | Columbus | NC | 34°18′26″N 79°02′14″W / 34.3073°N 79.0373°W | 2216–2217 | 0.02 mi (0.032 km) | 10 yd (9.1 m) | Unknown | Several trees were snapped.[43] |
| EF2 | E of Augusta to W of Williston | Aiken, Barnwell | SC | 33°29′N 81°54′W / 33.49°N 81.9°W | 2218–2248 | 25.51 mi (41.05 km) | 1,760 yd (1,610 m) | Unknown | Many homes sustained extensive damage to their roofs and structures. A water tower had its top ripped off and deposited several hundred yards away.[44][45] |
| EF1 | S of Timmonsville | Florence | SC | 34°04′52″N 80°00′39″W / 34.0811°N 80.0108°W | 2225–2240 | 13.45 mi (21.65 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $605,000 | One house was destroyed while four others sustained major damage and seventy six others sustained minor damage. Nine mobile homes were completely destroyed, five mobile homes sustained major damage, and eight mobile homes sustained minor damage. Two businesses sustained major damage, thirteen barns and outbuildings were destroyed (and 3 others sustained major damage), and three people were injured.[46] |
| EF2 | N of Mayesville | Lee | SC | 34°07′30″N 80°19′12″W / 34.125°N 80.32°W | 2252–2305 | 14.08 mi (22.66 km) | 440 yd (400 m) | Unknown | Several houses, mobile homes, and a church sustained moderate to major damage. Numerous trees and power lines were downed.[47] |
| EF0 | E of Elko | Barnwell | SC | 33°22′44″N 81°21′36″W / 33.379°N 81.36°W | 2254–2255 | 0.58 mi (0.93 km) | 100 yd (91 m) | $0 | Trees were downed in a convergent pattern.[48] |
| EF1 | Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=2008_Atlanta_tornado