TIFTON, Ga. (WTXL) -- National Weather Service meteorologists concluded Monday that damage caused in two areas of Tift County Sunday was caused by separate tornado touchdowns.
A survey of the damage zones was conducted following severe thunderstorms that marched through most of interior south Georgia. Damage was reported near Omega and near Brookfield.
In the preliminary report released Monday evening, the NWS survey team observed pockets of damage that were consistent with an EF-1 ranked twister. The tornado touched land for only about a minute and traveled less than half a mile, with highest wind gust speed estimated at 95 mph. Damage was limited to a porch, a roof, and a few snapped trees.
In the Brookfield tornado, also rated EF-1, gusts topped 100 mph as it tracked just over one mile and stayed on land for about four minutes. Pine trees over two feet in diameter were downed. The winds from the tornado caused several instances of damage to a church's steeple, shingles, and doors.
Radar data showed the two tornadoes formed from the same thunderstorm cell, part of a larger, strong line of thunderstorms that accompanied an advancing cold front.
The Tift County deputy emergency manager also participated in the storm damage survey.
