2005 Tornado damage in Helen (Photo NWS)
(Sautee) -Local News Radio weather reporter Bill Kinsland reminds us that today (8/29) is a historical weather date in White County.
In 2005, in the early morning hours, Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Louisiana/Mississippi coast. As the center of Katrina moved inland, spiral bands began moving into north and central Georgia.
These spiral bands produced the most tornadoes in one day in north and central Georgia on record. A total of 16 confirmed tornadoes touched down in north and central Georgia during the late afternoon and evening hours.
From his book, “ Notes of Natural History of North Georgia” Bill writes, a spin-off from Hurricane Katrina damaged several buildings and trees in White County and especially in Helen about midnight.
This F-2 twister was part of a record-breaking outbreak spawned by Hurricane Katrina in the late evening of August 29, 2005, extending into the early-morning hours of August 30. Moving along a five-mile path from south to north, the tornado crossed the edge of Helen about 12:30 AM, damaged the EconoLodge motel, and moved further north into Unicoi State Park, grazing the Unicoi Lodge in the center of the park.
