Emergency officials documenting possible tornado activity

Rarely, if ever, have so many people in Baldwin County looked down at their phones at the exact same time.

The National Weather Service issued a TORNADO WARNING at 4:05 p.m. on Tuesday, causing cell phones to shake and vibrate and buzz. The Marcus Lillard murder trial was impacted, with everyone in the courtroom ushered to the courthouse basement. 

The worst of the storm was over after roughly 15 minutes, and the wind largely cleared out, but not before taking down roughly 40 trees off of Avery Store Road, closer to the Old Monticello Road side of things as opposed to the Ga. 212 side.

EMA Director Wayne Johnson drove to the area after the storm to take photos (two of which are in this article) and send them along to the National Weather Service, which then will document the pics and assess the possibility of a tornado. Although most likely just severe straight line winds, the NWS should make an announcement within the next few days.