A sharp and deep negatively tilted full-latitude upper trough was sweeping through the eastern half of the United States.  An unseasonably warm, moist air mass was present in advance of the front, as was the case with many events during the 2011 - 2012 winter season.  In addition, a strong low-level jet contributed highly to a high shear/high helicity environment and the development of rotating cells within a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) that tracked from west central to east central Georgia during the afternoon.  An EF2 tornado tracked from Lee county in east central Alabama into Harris county in west central Georgia.  In addition, there were several reports of quarter-sized hail and thunderstorm wind damage, primarily across central Georgia during this event.

Thunderstorm Wind in FORSYTH, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 13:40:00 to 16-NOV-11 13:41:00 (EST-5)
Location: DREW
Magnitude: 43.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Forsyth County Emergency Management Director reported that a tree fell on a sport utility vehicle (SUV) killing a 51-year old male inside the vehicle.  The incident took place on Brookwood Drive near McGinnis Ferry Road in the Johns Creek portion of far southern Forsyth county.  The person inside the vehicle was killed instantly.  One other tree was down in the northern part of the county as well.

Thunderstorm Wind in WILKINSON, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 15:41:00 to 16-NOV-11 15:51:00 (EST-5)
Location: GORDON
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Wilkinson County 911 Center reported that approximately five trees were down from the Twiggs county line west of McIntyre into the McIntyre and Irwinton areas.

Hail in WASHINGTON, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 16:04:00 to 16-NOV-11 16:23:00 (EST-5)
Location: HEBRON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public observed nickel to quarter-sized hail across the central part of the county near Sandersville.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 16:18:00 to 16-NOV-11 16:23:00 (EST-5)
Location: STAPLETON
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 7.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Jefferson County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees and power lines were down in the far northern part of the county, generally between Stapleton and Wrens.

Thunderstorm Wind in COBB, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 13:26:00 to 16-NOV-11 13:34:00 (EST-5)
Location: MABLETON
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 4.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Cobb County 911 Center reported that several trees, at least six, were down across the east central part of the county near Smyrna and Marietta.  Power outages were also noted in the Powder Springs area in the southwest part of the county.

Hail in CHEROKEE, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 13:14:00 to 16-NOV-11 13:23:00 (EST-5)
Location: WOODSTOCK
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director relayed a report of penny-sized hail from the far southern part of the county, southwest of Woodstock.

Thunderstorm Wind in TWIGGS, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 15:21:00 to 16-NOV-11 15:28:00 (EST-5)
Location: HUBER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Twiggs County 911 Center reported that at least six trees were down in the northwest part of the county near Huber.  Several of the trees were down on Interstate-16 and two trees were down on U.S. Highway 129.  Power outages were observed in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind in MURRAY, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 13:30:00 to 16-NOV-11 13:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: ETON
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 6.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Murray County 911 Center reported that 15 to 20 trees were down across the northern part of Chatsworth, mostly near Old Federal Road North.  No structural damage was reported.

Hail in JOHNSON, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 17:06:00 to 16-NOV-11 17:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: WRIGHTSVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Johnson County Emergency Management Director reported hail the size of quarters, possibly a little larger, in the Wrightsville area.  The hail continued from west to east across mainly the northern sections of the county.

Hail in EMANUEL, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 17:30:00 to 16-NOV-11 17:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: SUMMERTOWN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Amateur radio operators relayed a report of quarter-sized hail from the far northern part of the county, just south of the Jefferson county line.

Thunderstorm Wind in EMANUEL, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 17:30:00 to 16-NOV-11 17:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLUNDALE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Amateur radio operators reported that several trees were down across the far northern part of the county near the Jefferson county line.  Portions of McGarrs Mill Pond Road were blocked from downed trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in TOOMBS, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 19:30:00 to 16-NOV-11 19:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: VIDALIA
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Toombs County 911 Center reported that three trees were down near Lyons, one of which was down on a power line.

Thunderstorm Wind in WASHINGTON, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 16:04:00 to 16-NOV-11 16:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: OCONEE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Washington County 911 Center reported that several trees and power lines were down throughout the county.

Hail in HOUSTON, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 15:46:00 to 16-NOV-11 15:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: KATHLEEN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

An amateur radio operator observed quarter-sized hail near the Houston county courthouse.

Thunderstorm Wind in MONROE, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 15:00:00 to 16-NOV-11 15:09:00 (EST-5)
Location: SOCRATES
Magnitude: 39.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Monroe County 911 Center reported that a few trees were down in the west central part of the county between the county line just east of Johnstonville and the city of Forsyth.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAURENS, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 16:32:00 to 16-NOV-11 16:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: MONTROSE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

The Laurens County 911 Center reported that several trees were down across the far northern part of the county.  Amateur radio operators reported that the roof was torn off a barn and a grain elevator was flipped over between Dublin and the Wilkinson/Johnson county line as well.

Thunderstorm Wind in JOHNSON, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 17:04:00 to 16-NOV-11 17:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: WRIGHTSVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 225.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Johnson County Emergency Management Director reported that thunderstorm winds had caused significant damage across Johnson county.  A total of six homes sustained damage, mostly minor to moderate.  However, one home suffered significant damage when a large pine tree fell through the structure.  An adjacent car was also heavily damaged.  A portion of a carport was also blown up on the roof of the home.  Several pump houses being built were blown several feet away from their original location.  A total of 16 large trees were down across the county.

Tornado in TALBOT, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 14:08:00 to 16-NOV-11 14:12:00 (EST-5)
Location: TAX
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that the EF1 to EF2 tornado, that first touched down in Macon county Alabama and tracked across all of Harris county, continued into extreme northwest Talbot county before lifting.  The tornado tracked on the ground over 33 miles within Alabama, 26 miles within Harris county, and approximately two miles within Talbot county for a total path length of nearly 61 miles.  The tornado decreased to an EF1 before it entered Talbot county and the path width decreased to less than 1/2 mile.  Damage within Talbot county was confined to several downed trees and power lines in the far northwest part of the county along Old Shiloh Road.
[11/16/11:  Tornado #1, County #2-2, EF2, Harris-Talbot, 2011:026].

Tornado in HARRIS, GEORGIA
From 16-NOV-11 13:35:00 to 16-NOV-11 14:08:00 (EST-5)
Location: BARTLETTS FERRY LAKE
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 5.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that an EF2 tornado caused extensive damage across Harris county.  The tornado first touched down as an EF1 in Macon county, Alabama before moving east into Lee county, Alabama and then into Harris county, Georgia.  The tornado had already caused considerable damage to the town of Auburn, Alabama as an EF1 before it continued into Harris county, Georgia.  As the tornado approached the county seat of Hamilton, it strengthened to an EF2. The tornado entered Harris county from Alabama at the north end of Lake Harding and tracked across the central part of the county, then moved into extreme northwest Talbot county before lifting, approximately two miles east-northeast of the town of Shiloh on the Harris/Talbot county line.  The tornado had already carved out a path over 33 miles in length across eastern Alabama before it moved into Georgia.  Within Harris county, the tornado path length was approximately 26 miles.  The maximum path width was determined to be 1/2 mile with maximum winds of 125 mph.  The tornado caused considerable damage across Harris county, especially around the county seat of Hamilton.  Two homes were completely destroyed, with 68 other structures suffering minor to moderate damage, including 22 county buildings.  County buildings damaged included the Harris County School Complex, the Harris County 911 Center, the Harris County Animal Shelter, and the agricultural center.  One of the structures heavily damaged was a mobile home, where a man and his wife sustained minor injuries.  Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted along the path of the tornado.
[11/16/11:  Tornado #1, County #1-2, EF2, Harris-Talbot, 2011:026].