Just got word from the Hiker Hostel that a tornado was spotted near Springer. Lota of trees down, roads closed to Neels and Unicoi gap.
I’d be interested in hearing trail updates from hikers as I’m scheduled to start out on Saturday.
_stryker_ Could you please find out if Goose creek and the owner Kieth are alright and let us know please. Hearing this has me worried.
_tigger2345_ Unfortunately, according to examiner.com, both Springer Mountain Shelter & Blood Mountain were hit by tornadoes:
“I could see one of the tornadoes as it came over Blood Mountain around 11:30 PM. It was a massive ‘wedge’ type tornado,” Thornton said. The harrowing scene played out in front of his eyes as lightning bolts shot horizontally from the twister. “Very frankly it was something like out of a sci-fi horror movie . . . like some strange creature in outer space.”
“A shelter on Springer Mountain suffered a hit from a tornado and U.S. Forest Service rangers were combing the Appalachian Trail searching for campers.”
I hope & pray that everyone survived the night.
_freebird_ Here's an ominous NWS Severe Weather Statement from late last night:
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1133 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011
…A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1215 AM EDT FOR NORTHERN
LUMPKIN…TOWNS AND UNION COUNTIES…
AT 1130 PM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR GOOCH MOUNTAIN SHELTER…MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WOODS
HOLE SHELTER…BLOOD MOUNTAIN SHELTER…VOGEL STATE PARK…OWLTOWN…
BLAIRSVILLE…TRACK ROCK…BLUE MOUNTAIN SHELTER…BRASSTOWN BALD…
ALEXANDERS MILL…YOUNG HARRIS…MOUNTAIN SCENE…MACEDONIA…
HIAWASSEE…TITUS…PLUM ORCHARD GAP SHELTER AND TATE CITY.
Again, I hope everyone is OK.
_freebird_ There was a tornado in the area, about 10 miles north of Dahlonega. It knocked down trees and power lines, but all was well within hours. As for reports of shelters down, they are just plain false!!!
_Red Hat_ Great news Red Hat!
Looks like the examiner article was a mixed bad of accurate eyewitness reporting (the tornado over Blood mtn) & speculation about the shelter on Springer…
_freebird_ There has been a ban against camping in the Blood Mtn area since April 15th. If someone was camped up there, watching the tornado, as reported, he should be fined by the forest service.
_Red Hat_