The tornado track was approximately 10.25 miles in length with a maximum width of about 150 yards. On the Fujita classification scheme, this tornado was rated an F1 with wind speeds estimated in the range from 73 to 113 mph. No deaths occurred with the tornado and only one injury, a broken arm, had been reported. The tornado dissipated approximately one mile into Harris County. The tornado produced a nearly continuous path (map of damage path) of damage from the southside of Columbus diagonally across the city on a northeasterly track crossing the northeast side of Columbus and the J. The photographer was looking east-southeast toward the tornado as it moved northeast from the airport. The picture was taken by Richard Thomason, Ledger-Enquirer. The photo (left) is of the Columbus, GA, tornado, March 13, 1997. Note: to view a larger image of the pictures contained on this page, just click on the image. Additional surveying done late Friday, revealed additional damage in the Pierce Chapel Road area and slightly into Harris County. The original survey, done Friday March, 14th, has been updated by new information. National Weather Service meteorologists had an opportunity to survey the damage caused by the tornado that struck Columbus, GA, on the afternoon of March 13, 1997.

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