National Weather Service confirms EF2 tornado touched down in Walker County

Photo contributed by Walker County Government / Damage to a garage in Walker County from Sunday's storm.
Photo contributed by Walker County Government / Damage to a garage in Walker County from Sunday's storm.

After assessing the damage of Sunday's night's storm, the National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-2 tornado touched down in Walker County.

The tornado came from the west where an EF1 tornado was confirmed in Chattooga County. The weather service said winds reached up to 125 miles an hour and at its maximum strength, the tornado was 800 yards wide and traveled nearly 16 miles.

The tornado reportedly started at 8:15 p.m. on Sunday about 2 miles northwest of Summerville and ended nearly 20 minutes later more than 4 miles southeast of LaFayette in Walker County.

A 10,000-pound camper was overturned near Orchard Hill Road in Chattooga County, a trailer was destroyed near Back Penn Road and a corner of a barn was heavily damaged as the tornado moved east.

About a quarter mile up the hill from Highway 151 and Halls Valley Road, the second story of a house were completely blown off and a jeep was tossed more than 150 yards.

Large pine trees were snapped in half and more than two dozen homes were damaged in the Halls Valley Road and Beard Drive area where the tornado was at its strongest, the weather service reported.

Tree damage dropped off and ended near Smith Gap Road.

Elsewhere in North Georgia, an EF3 tornado swept through Murray County, killing seven people and injuring at least 23.

Contact Patrick Filbin at pfilbin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickFilbin.

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