This picture was taken of a tornado in Southern TX in June 1995The wicked weather of this past weekend sent me scurrying in search of the details surrounding the tornado that hit Hall County in March of 1998, and I found the following statistics in a Storm/Damage Report issued by the National Weather Service in  Peachtree City, GA, at 4pm EST April 15, 1998:
  • 12 fatalities, 10 in Hall County, 2 in White County.
  • All were occupants of a mobile home or motor vehicle.
  • More than 80 people were treated at hospitals for injuries.
  • Damage to at least 2 schools, numerous homes, outbuildings, trees and vehicles.  Dollar amount in the millions.
  • Tornado strength rating was "F3".
  • Tornado touchdown around 6:30am, March 20, 1998, about 2 miles south of Murrayville in Hall County...travelled 11 to 11.5 miles northeast and crossed into White County north of Clermont.  Average width of damage path was 100 yards.  Storm's forward speed was 45 mph.
  • It was the first killer tornado to hit Georgia since May 2, 1997 (Walker County - 1 fatality)
  • Deadliest tornado to hit Georgia since the 1994 "Palm Sunday" event (outbreak of several killer tornadoes with 18 fatalities across northern Georgia.