Author's Note: The following report has not been subjected to the scientific peer review process.

1.  Evolution of the Event

A mesoscale convective system (MCS) traveled rapidly northeast across 
Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and extreme southern North Carolina 
during the late morning and early afternoon hours of January 19th, 2001.  
While the line itself was not particularly intense, one segment of the 
line produced recurrent damage from north central Alabama, to just west 
of Charlotte, North Carolina.  At least two tornadoes were produced by 
this line segment, one of F2 intensity across the southern suburbs of the 
Atlanta metro area.  The most likely cause of the recurrent damage was a 
mesoscale area of low pressure which traveled quickly along a cold front 
over the region.  Figure 1 is a surface map, composed about 30 minutes 
before the damage occurred in Hart County, Georgia.  Note that there are 
two areas of low pressure.  One is over the Georgia/Alabama border, and 
one further east near Athens.  The low near Athens is a mesoscale low 
which was responsible for most of the damage with the event.

Figure 1.  Surface map showing observations, sea level pressure, and fronts 
at 18Z on 19 January 2001.  Click on image to enlarge.

There was no signature indicative of a tornado with this event.  In fact, 
the weak bowing segments had not produced damage as they moved across 
northeast Georgia.  Thus, there was little reason to suspect that damage 
would occur in Hart County, Georgia.  In retrospect, the bowing segment 
was one of the stronger ones observed with the event.  However, as the 
line moved further northeast, no additional damage occurred, even though 
later images revealed that the bow over Hart County evolved into a well-
defined comma-head echo.  Most likely the low moved over the shallow surface 
cold pool across the northern part of Upstate South Carolina, and strong 
winds could not translate to the ground.  A good thing to, as the comma 
head moved directly across the Greenville-Spartanburg metro area.

Figure 2.  Base reflectivity from the KGSP radar on the 0.5 degree elevation 
scan at 1840Z on 19 January 2001.  Click on image to enlarge.

2.  Damage Survey

The next day, a National Weather Service survey team visited the area where 
damage had been reported.  Most of the damage turned out to be confined to 
a small part of southwest Hart County, Georgia, near the town of Vanna.  The 
accompanying pictures will detail some of the damage and the team's assessment 
of the event.  Figure 3 shows the first damage found from the event.  This 
was on the southwest side of State Highway 17.

Figure 3.  The initial damage occurred on the southwest side of State 
Highway 17, where part of the roof was torn off from two chicken houses.  
Click on image to enlarge.

The rest of the damage was on the northeast side of State Highway 17, just 
a little north of the town of Vanna.  Figure 4 shows debris from one of two 
new chicken houses that were completely destroyed by strong straight line 
winds.  The straight line winds occurred a little east of the tornado track. 
The wind speed here was estimated at around 70 mph.  The winds and tornado 
damage affected a small area covering two ridge tops and a shallow valley.

Figure 4.  Chicken house destroyed by strong straight line winds.  Click 
on image to enlarge.

Atop the second hill affected by the microburst, another chicken house and 
several sheds were damaged or destroyed by the winds.  Figure 5 shows a 
larger perspective on the damage atop the second ridge top.  Figure 6 is 
close-up of some of the damage to the second chicken house.  Figure 7 shows 
one of several sheds, barns and small utility structures that were damaged 
or destroyed on the second ridge top.  This particular barn was immediately 
behind the location from which the preceding two pictures were taken.

Figure 5.  Second destroyed chicken house (middle distance) as well as a 
large area strewn with debris on the second ridge top.  Click on image 
to enlarge.

Figure 6.  Close-up of the destroyed chicken house.  Click on image 
to enlarge.

Figure 7.  Small Barn destroyed by 70 mph straight line winds.  Click on 
image to enlarge.

About 100-200 yards west of the straight line wind damage was an area of 
damage that appeared to be caused by a tornado estimated at the low end of
F1 intensity.  Though the pictures do not fully illustrate, the row of 
trees in Figure 8, located in the shallow valley, was blown over facing 
almost directly north.  Other debris in this area was also blown to the 
north.  There appeared to be convergent damage in this area as there was 
additional debris blown from southwest to northeast just west of this area. 
Thus it appears that a tornado, with damage estimated at the low end of
F1 intensity, occurred on the northwest side of a strong microburst.  
Further evidence is lent by Figure 9.  A well-constructed brick home was 
heavily damaged by the tornado.  The roof was nearly blown off and one wall 
fell over.  About 200 yards to the east, on the same hill top, is where the 
straight line wind damage occurred.

Figure 8.  Tree damage from the F1 tornado on 19 January 2001.  Click on 
image to enlarge.

Figure 9.  Brick house heavily damaged by the F1 tornado.  Click on 
image to enlarge.

Acknowledgements

Pat Moore converted the case to the standard web page format.