March 25-26, 2021 Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Overview

Survey Info

SPC Outlooks & Storm Reports

Forecast Maps

A late-March severe weather outbreak was caused by a strong storm system that lifted northeast from the Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee Valley on March 25-26, 2021. The combination of strong shear and instability led to favorable conditions for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes from the afternoon of Thursday, March 25th into the early morning of Friday, March 26th.

The most significant event was a long-track tornado that intensified to EF-4 intensity as it moved into Newnan in Coweta County shortly after midnight on March 26th. This tornado was the first EF-4 tornado in Georgia since 2011 and was spawned by a supercell thunderstorm that had tracked across Alabama before reaching the Georgia border. In addition, 2 other EF-1 tornadoes touched down in Bartow County, and a strong downburst with winds over 100 mph impacted Polk County. Scattered strong wind and hail as well as flash flooding affected other portions of the area.

Preliminary Survey Information:

(click Location for Detailed Survey)

Location of Tornado / Downburst

EF-Scale Rating/

Maximum Wind Speed

Fatalities/ Injuries

Damage Path Length/Max Width

Start Point/ Time

End Point/ Time

Heard, Coweta, and Fayette Counties

EF-4

170 mph