Weekend storm brings over 3 inches of rain, damaging winds (Pictures)

Windy weather caused a number of trees to fall onto roads in Early County, GA on Sunday, April 17.
Windy weather caused a number of trees to fall onto roads in Early County, GA on Sunday, April 17.

An hours-long storm system brought heavy rainfall and windy weather to Southwest Georgia, Northwest Florida and Southeast Alabama on Sunday, April 19.

High speed winds that could have either been a possible tornado, a downburst or straight-line winds caused damage around Blakely, Ga., according to Early County Emergency Management Agency Director Ray Jarrett.

The windy weather knocked down trees across roadways and also blew down power lines, Jarrett said.

“It must have been a fairly large electrical line damaged, because we had reports of power outages across Early County on Sunday,” Jarrett said.

After the storm cleared late Sunday afternoon, crews got to work removing trees from the roadways, which were about 95 percent cleared by dusk Sunday, according to Jarrett. Power crews in Early County were still working on a couple of downed power lines as of Monday morning.

“The school buses were able to run OK this morning, so Early County is back and up and running today,” Jarrett said.

Neither the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office or Bainbridge Public Safety responded to any specific weather-related incidents, other than responding to calls about water over roadways.

Most of Southwest Georgia was under a Tornado Watch through 3 p.m. Sunday. The U.S. Geological Service reported the following rainfall totals for Bainbridge:

USGS – Flint River near Bainbridge

Friday, April 17 – 1.36 inches
Saturday, April 18 – 0.22 inches
Sunday, April 19 – 1.28 inches
Weekend Total – 2.86 inches
April Total – 9.47 inches

According to the Decatur County Road Department, which keeps a rain gauge in West Bainbridge, 2.90 inches of rain fell over the weekend of April 17-19. At least one citizen rain gauge in Bainbridge recorded 3.25 inches from Friday through Sunday.

It’s been a rainy month of April. Approximately 9.55 inches were recorded at the Decatur County Road Department between April 11-April 19. The rainy weather in March and April has affected local sporting and entertainment events, as well as farmers.

There were also reports of possible tornado activity near Eufaula, Ala., and near Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga.

High winds blew over five train cars at a pulp mill in Abbeville, Ala.

Bainbridge resident Ryan Shirley took this picture of a tree apparently struck by lightning on Sunday:
lightning_tree

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