MANOR — Sunday evening storms and tornado warnings left damage across Ware County and into Bacon County, local emergency officials said.
A Solar Food convenience store located at 6349 Valdosta Highway here lost its roof in the Sunday evening storm forcing it to close. Some dirt roads and highways experienced downed trees and washouts that left them nearly or totally impassible as late as Monday afternoon.
Several tornado warnings were issued throughout Southeast Georgia Sunday evening, but only one confirmed tornado happened near Ware County. That came in Bacon County, according to Ware County Emergency Management Agency Director Jonathan Daniell.
“We had several warnings throughout our area, but we escaped any tornados,” Daniell said Monday. “We did receive some calls throughout the city (Waycross), Waresboro, Dixie Union and US 1 South about some trees blocking roads and power lines being down.”
Daniell said there was no need to worry about flooding near the Satilla River from the rain dropped by the storms.
“We received approximately two inches of rain Sunday, so our river levels are a little high, but there’s no flooding threat to any houses on or near the river,” he said.
The severe weather was the result of a cold front that collided with warmer air already in the region, the National Weather Service said.
The tornado warning was issued for Bacon County around 6 p.m., the NWS said.
The NWS indicated that a tornado was observed over Whippoorwill Road in Alma. Local radar showed strong areas of rotation visible with the storm, the NWS said.
According to the Alma Police Department, there were reports of trees and debris over roadways in the area. There also was a report of powerlines down.
The tornado warning was eventually extended into portions of Appling County until 7 p.m. when the storm weakened.
Weather Service personnel would visit the area on Monday to rate the tornado based on damage observed, it said.
