MACON, Ga. — The Storm Prediction Center has issued the highest possible severe weather risk for Oklahoma and southern Kansas on Monday.
This Level 5 — or high risk — comes just a week after tornadoes devastated the Midwest and southern Plains.
Within this Level 5 risk area, large and violent tornadoes, softball-sized hail and damaging wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour are possible.
It marks the first time in 5 years that Oklahoma has seen such a severe weather threat, the last time being in May of 2019.
So we got to thinking: have we ever seen a Level 5 risk issued here in Central Georgia?
In fact we have, just 7 years ago back in April of 2017.
This tornado outbreak sprouted 38 confirmed tornadoes, from Missouri all the way to southern Florida.
In total, sixteen EF-0 tornadoes, sixteen more EF-1 tornadoes, and six EF-2 tornadoes touched down across the eastern United States.
Here in Central Georgia, three confirmed tornadoes were produced by the same supercell.
The first touched down in Dooly County to the west of Vienna. This was confirmed to have produced EF-1 damage before dissipating while passing over I-75.
The storm gained rotation again further eastward and sprouted another EF-1 tornado that struck northern Dodge County.
After some brief disorganization, the tornado then began its longest track in southern Laurens County, east of Cadwell, all the way into Treutlen county just shy of Soperton. This final path created EF-2 damage and the tornado was on the ground for over 20 miles.
Ultimately, days where significant severe weather risks are issued — like in Oklahoma today — serve as great reminders to stay weather aware when they are issued and to ensure your severe weather safety plan is in place. You can find out more about that in our Weathering the Seasons weather special.