The 1998 Hurricane Georges tornado outbreak was a six-day tornado outbreak associated with the passage of Hurricane Georges in the Southeast United States. Most of the tornadoes produced by the storm formed in the outer bands of the storm and were relatively weak; however, one F2 tornado touched down in Florida. The outbreak produced 47 tornadoes—20 in Alabama, 17 in Florida and 10 in Georgia—and was the most extensive tornado event in Florida history, with touchdowns reported the entire length of the state.
Meteorological synopsis
On September 22, as Hurricane Georges was still over Hispaniola, the National Hurricane Center warned that there was the possibility of isolated tornadoes in the outer bands of the storm. The first tornado, rated F0 touched down in Miami-Dade County around 8:08 am EDT on September 24. A second F0 touched down roughly an hour later in the county. The first tornado watch associated with the hurricane was issued at 6:00 am EDT on September 25 for south-central Florida and remained in effect for 24 hours. Over the following three days, a tornado watch was constantly in effect for some part of Florida as Georges slowly moved parallel to the state. During the afternoon of September 25, a new watch was issued to encompass Sarasota and Manatee counties. By September 26, nearly every county south Marion County had been placed under a tornado watch.
As Georges was not forecast to impact the coastline of Georgia, the National Hurricane Center did not issue any tropical storm watches or warnings; however after weakening to a tropical storm, the system tracked through the state, prompting the National Weather Service to issue tornado watches and tornado Warnings for parts of the region. Due to the slow motion of the storm, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) issued flash flood watches for central and southwestern portions of the state on September 29. The first tornado watch in the state associated with Georges was issued for the same areas. The next day, the flash flood watch was expanded to include all areas of the state except the northwest region.
Confirmed tornadoes
September 24 event
List of reported tornadoes - Thursday, September 24, 1998 F# Location County Coord. Time (EDT) Path length DamageFlorida F0Key Biscayne to Cutler RidgeMiami-Dade0808The first tornado associated with Hurricane Georges in the United States formed as a waterspout along the eastern coast of Florida near Key Biscayne. The waterspout moved onshore several minutes after touching down; the NEXRAD doppler weather radar indicated winds up to around 8:13 am EDT. The tornado crossed bodies of water several times along its . Damage from the tornado was mostly confined to downed trees and power lines; however, some homes were damaged by the fallen trees. Damages from the tornado amounted to $50,000. F0Miami Lakes areaMiami-Dade0910Roughly an hour after the first tornado, another touched down near Miami Lakes, downing trees and power lines before lifting ten minutes later. The tornado remained nearly stationary for its whole life. Damages from the tornado, caused by fallen trees, amounted to $30,000.
September 25 event
List of reported tornadoes - Friday, September 25, 1998 F# Location County Coord. Time (EDT) Path length DamageFlorida F0S of Winter HavenPolk1000A small rope tornado touched down in a mainly wooded area of Polk County. Along its path, a few buildings sustained minor damage, such as losing awnings or being struck by fallen tree limbs. Damages from the tornado amounted to $5,000. F0NW of LakelandPolk1030The second tornado to touch down in Polk County was another short-lived tornado. Along its path, two barns were damaged, a trailer was blown off its foundation and several trees were downed. Damages from the tornado amounted to $40,000. F1Sebastian areaIndian River1050A waterspout moved onshore near Sebastian, downing several trees before reaching F1 intensity and severely damaging a factory. Damages from the tornado amounted to $700,000, mainly from the factory. F0NW of TampaHillsborough1105A small tornado touched down on a road before lifting seconds later. F0Hudson areaPasco1132A brief tornado downed several trees in Hudson before lifting. Damages from the tornado amounted to $1,000. F0E of Punta GordaCharlotte1325A rope tornado sporadically touched down along a path through Charlotte County. A few large trees were toppled and damaged from the tornado amounted to $1,000. F0SSE of ArcadiaDeSoto1350A small tornado downed several trees along its path, leaving $5,000 in damages.
September 26 event On September 26, Hurricane Georges produced no known tornadoes as it moved away from the Florida coastline and into the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
September 27 event
List of reported tornadoes - Sunday, September 27, 1998 F# Location County Coord. Time (EDT) Path length DamageAlabama F0N of LoxleyBaldwin1755A brief tornado, the first in Alabama in relation to Georges, touched down near Interstate 10, downing trees and power lines before lifting. Damages from the tornado amounted to $3,000.Florida F1Shalimar areaOkaloosa2110A brief F1 tornado caused significant damage to several homes in Shalimar before lifting. A parking garage collapsed due to the tornado, destroying 10 cars. No one was injured during the event and losses amounted to $300,000.
September 28 event
List of reported tornadoes - Monday, September 28, 1998 F# Location County Coord. Time (EDT) Path length DamageAlabama F0SW of OppCovington0805A brief tornado downed trees and power lines, causing $5,000 in damages. F0Antioch areaCovington0845A brief tornado touched down in the Antioch community. Three homes sustained damage before the tornado dissipated. Damages from the tornado amounted to $25,000. F1SW of TroyPike, Crenshaw1357A short-lived tornado tracked through Pike and Crenshaw Counties, causing moderate damage, mainly to trees and power lines. A trailer was destroyed in Crenshaw County. Damages from the tornado amounted to $80,000. F1Patsburg areaCrenshaw1405A brief tornado touched down in the town of Patsburg, destroying a business and severely damaging two homes. Several horses were injured and damages from the tornado amounted to $100,000. F0SE of TroyPike1406An F0 tornado touched down in southeastern Pike County and downed several trees. Damages from the tornado amounted to $6,000. F1Luverne areaCrenshaw1410A brief tornado touched down in Luverne and destroyed a barn. Several brick homes also sustained damage before the tornado dissipated. Damages from the tornado amounted to $50,000. F1Petrey areaCrenshaw1410A brief tornado touched down in the community of Petrey, causing severe damage to three homes. Damages from the tornado amounted to $50,000. F0ESE of TroyPike1418An F0 tornado tracked for across eastern Pike County, uprooting several trees. Damages from the tornado amounted to $7,000. F0Letohatchee areaLowndes1447A northwestward moving tornado touched down near Letohatchee, destroying a mobile home and damaging several others. Damages from the tornado amounted to $50,000. F0SSW of Union SpringsBullock1453An F0 tornado touched down near Hall's Crossroads and destroyed a church. Several homes were damaged and numerous trees were uprooted. Damages from the tornado amounted to $80,000. F0S of Union SpringsBullock1544A short-lived tornado caused minor damage to an egg farm and downed several trees and power lines. Damages from the tornado amounted to $19,000. F0Ozark areaDale1630A brief tornado touched down in Ozark, uprooting several trees and power lines. Damages from the tornado amounted to $25,000. F0NE of WetumpkaElmore1719A short-lived tornado touched down near Wetumpka and caused minor damage, mainly to trees and power lines and one business was damaged. Damages from the tornado amounted to $18,000. F0W of Phenix CityRussell, Lee1726A brief tornado touched down near the Russell-Lee County border. The tornado tracked for a total of through the two counties, causing $2,000 in damages. F0Newville areaHenry2000A brief F0 tornado touched down in Newville, damaging a barn and home before lifting. Damages from the tornado amounted to $75,000. F0Echo areaDale2035A tornado briefly touched down near the Dale-Henry County line before lifting. A pump house was destroyed, leaving $125,000 in damages.Florida F0DeFuniak Springs areaWalton0845A brief tornado touched down in DeFuniak Springs. A home had its roof torn off as well as a nearby shed. A pump house also sustained significant damage. Damages from the tornado amounted to $50,000. F1Panama City areaBay1245Just off the coast of Panama City, a waterspout formed and moved onshore in the Bid A Wee subdivision. The F1 tornado tracked for before dissipating. Throughout its path, five homes were destroyed and 18 others were damaged. Losses from the tornado reached $250,000. F0Fort Walton Beach areaOkaloosa2110A short-lived tornado made several touchdowns along a path through Okaloosa County causing roof and tree damage. Damages from the tornado amounted to $10,000.
September 29 event