69° and Partly Cloudy
Milledgeville spared from the most potent parts of "potent storm"
Fortunately, the much-hyped "potent storm" that began Monday night ultimately wasn't as potent as previously predicted.
Conditions were ripe for a tornado, but Baldwin County never experienced any tornado-like winds, according to Emergency Management Agency Director Wayne Johnson. However, the winds were strong enough to down enough trees to cause prolonged power outages. Roughly 3,000 local customers were without power at various points of the day, according to Johnson.
Creeks rose following heavy rain. Three floodgates opened at the dam. Several Baldwin2k reported receiving three inches of rain, while two readers counted closer to five inches in their respective rain gauges.
There have been three confirmed torandoes in Baldwin County in the last seven years, including the one that barrelled along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Barrows Ferry Road last April. Last spring's seven-mile-long tornado, according to the National Weather Service, began in the Wray Homes/West End projects before widening out and barreling past the new health department and Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin. The tornado, which was roughly 250 yards wide at its widest point, then followed along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and over North Jefferson Street. After battering parts of the Graham Homes/Boddie projects and Barrows Ferry Road, the tornado crossed the river and across Lake Laurel Road and Black Springs Road. The National Weather Service classified the tornado as an EF-1, which equals wind speeds between 86-110 miles per hour. An EF-1 is the second-lowest category behind EF-0. The scale goes from 0-5, with an EF-5 tornado equalling wind speeds of 200-322 miles per hour.
A piece of sheet metal hangs from a telephone poll in front of CVS at the corner of North Jefferson and MLK following last April's tornado.
The restaurant sign in front of Ms. Stella's took a topple in the storm following last April's tornado.
A home on West Mitchell Street took a hit from a hardwood tree following last April's tornado.
One of the gas pumps at the convenience store across from Goodie Gallery was completely uprooted following last April's tornado.
Multiple roofs at the Northside Baptist Church property were compromised following last April's tornado.
