A National Weather Service Damage Assessment Team has surveyed the storm damage in Russell County. It has been determined the damage was the result of a tornado. The tornado has been rated an EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Damage estimates were consistent with winds around 115 mph.
A tornado touched down near the intersection of 22nd Ave and 17th St in Phenix City and traveled for 4 miles to the northeast through the south end of Phenix City, and crossed the Chattahoochee River before lifting in the City of Columbus, GA. Damage along the path included 5 businesses sustaining major damage, seven homes with roof damage ranging from minor to major and between 100 and 200 trees snapped or uprooted. At its widest point, the tornado was 250 yards wide.
A special thanks go out to the Russell County Emergency Management Agency for help in the survey and for providing some pictures and the National Weather Service in Atlanta for help with the aerial survey and pictures.
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