Episode narrative: A line of strong thunderstorms moved into north and central Georgia during the afternoon through the evening on Thursday, January 12th and spawned numerous tornadoes, including several that were long track and significant. Ahead of this line, a few supercells also spawned tornadoes in portions of central and eastern Georgia.  Upon further examination of radar data and high resolution areal imagery, it was found that several tornadoes rotated around and within a larger vortex and caused the widespread damage in the area near Griffin GA, over 2 miles wide in some cases.   The result was that as many as 4 tornadoes were on the ground simultaneously in SW Spalding County, which were rotating around the larger circulation, merging together in several cases and crossing paths. The presence of 3 mergers was identified in the reanalysis. Additional analysis revealed that wind speeds in the EF3 storm reached as high as 155mph or high end EF3.  This confirmed a total of 14 tornadoes, including 10 which resulted from the same storm/larger mesocyclone.

Tornado event in PIKE County, GEORGIA
Start: 12-JAN-23 16:17:00
End: 12-JAN-23 16:20:00
Direct deaths: 0
Event narrative: New high resolution areal imagery in concert with a reanalysis of radar data, areal surveys and ground surveys it has been determined that there were multiple tornadoes on the ground simultaneously in southwest Spalding and Northwestern Pike Counties as well as crossing tornado paths. This particular EF1 tornado formed on the southern extent of the larger mesocyclone in close proximity to the EF2 tornado to the north. This tornado formed in and around the Nunnally Road and Dunbar School Road area snapping and uprooting trees. It would continue ENE crossing Hutchinson Rd and Bethany Road snapping and uprooting trees. EF1 damage to several storage buildings and homes occurred as the tornado crossed W. Williamson Road just to the south of the Rock Quarry along Rover Zetella Road. This tornado would continue east and pass to the south of the Rock Quarry snapping and uprooting trees before crossing Rover Zetella Road near the intersection of N. Rover Road. A small barn was destroyed and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. It was near this point the tornado would begin a more north to northeastward path as it became more wrapped up into the larger mesocyclone and more dominate tornado developing and occurring to the north near Hwy16. This EF1 would cross Emanuel Way, Wilder Way, Maloy Road and Delray Cir causing damage to numerous homes and uprooting trees. 2 large storage bins just east of Wilder Way and Saint Luke Dr were completely destroyed. Trees were snapped and uprooted as the tornado continued north into the larger circulation where it would merge just south of HWY16 to the NE of Princess Circle. Areal satellite imagery and radar data confirms the northward moving tornado into the more dominate Griffin EF3 tornado with trees snapped and uprooted to the north and an area of trees snapped and uprooted to the east. Exact width is an estimate due to the challenges of determining where one tornado damage swath ended and where another one started. The one thing that can be certain is that the vorticies/tornadoes did merge near or just after the EF3 damage occurred.

Tornado event in SPALDING County, GEORGIA
Start: 12-JAN-23 16:20:00
End: 12-JAN-23 16:24:00
Direct deaths: 0
Event narrative: New high resolution areal imagery in concert with a reanalysis of radar data, areal surveys and ground surveys it has been determined that there were multiple tornadoes on the ground simultaneously in southwest Spalding and Northwestern Pike Counties as well as crossing tornado paths. This particular EF1 tornado formed on the southern extent of the larger mesocyclone in close proximity to the EF2 tornado to the north. This tornado formed in and around the Nunnally Road and Dunbar School Road area snapping and uprooting trees. It would continue ENE crossing Hutchinson Rd and Bethany Road snapping and uprooting trees. EF1 damage to several storage buildings and homes occurred as the tornado crossed W. Williamson Road just to the south of the Rock Quarry along Rover Zetella Road. This tornado would continue east and pass to the south of the Rock Quarry snapping and uprooting trees before crossing Rover Zetella Road near the intersection of N. Rover Road. A small barn was destroyed and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. It was near this point the tornado would begin a more north to northeastward path as it became more wrapped up into the larger mesocyclone and more dominate tornado developing and occurring to the north near Hwy16. This EF1 would cross Emanuel Way, Wilder Way, Maloy Road and Delray Cir causing damage to numerous homes and uprooting trees. 2 large storage bins just east of Wilder Way and Saint Luke Dr were completely destroyed. Trees were snapped and uprooted as the tornado continued north into the larger circulation where it would merge just south of HWY16 to the NE of Princess Circle. Areal satellite imagery and radar data confirms the northward moving tornado into the more dominate Griffin EF3 tornado with trees snapped and uprooted to the north and an area of trees snapped and uprooted to the east. Exact width is an estimate due to the challenges of determining where one tornado damage swath ended and where another one started. The one thing that can be certain is that the vorticies/tornadoes did merge near or just after the EF3 damage occurred.