Georgia sees second EF4 in as many years

On April 5, a slew of supercells slammed Georgia as part of a significant tornado outbreak. A widely viewed tornado struck the Pembroke area. After extensive investigation by the NWS, it has been rated the second EF4 “violent” tornado of the year, with the first happening March 5 in Iowa.

The Pembroke EF4 killed one person and caused 12 injuries. Its maximum wind speed estimate of 185 mph is the highest so far in 2022. Along its nearly 13-mile path length, the tornado reached a maximum width around 3/4 of a mile.

As it passed the Park Place subdivision and Black Creek Golf Course, the tornado reached peak intensity.

The NWS wrote: “Across this area the violent tornado extensively damaged most of the homes, structures and trees. Some homes and structures were completely destroyed. Several injuries, some serious, occurred in this area as well.”

The tornado was one of more than 80 that touched down from Texas to South Carolina during the three-day event. Georgia and South Carolina saw tornado threats in the same general area both April 5 and 6, compounding cleanup efforts.

Violent tornadoes are relatively unusual in Georgia, although one struck near the western border at Newnan during March 2021. Prior to that, the most recent violent tornado was an EF4 during the Super Outbreak of 2011.