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NWS: EF-1 tornado confirmed in Jackson County

The areas south and southwest of the city of Jefferson sustained some moderate to severe storm damage. 

The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Jefferson, Ga. early Thursday.

According to preliminary data from the NWS, the tornado occurred around 3:50 a.m. and lasted until 4 a.m. It had peak winds of about 105 mph. It was on the ground for 3.4 miles and was about 250 yards wide. It damaged about 30 structures.

The damage path began just north of Highway 129 and Winder Highway. The tornado then moved east-southeast to the intersection of MLK Jr Drive and Magnolia Avenue, where it uprooted several trees and overturned a small storage shed at Paradise AME Church, according to the NWS. It then brought down more trees and damaged several homes in the area along Georgia Bell Drive and Dixie Red Avenue. It continued uprooting trees at the end of Meadow Lane and along Jefferson River Road before it dissipated just to the northwest of Jefferson River Road and River Meadows Drive.

According to Fire Chief Mark Duke, more than 25 homes had moderate to severe damage but no injuries were reported.

PHOTOS: Storm damage in Jackson County

According to Chief Duke, surrounding agencies are working along with the Jefferson City Fire Dept. on about a mile stretch of damage; roughly between Leaf Street and Damon Gause Bypass.

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