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At approximately 3 p.m. on Wednesday, December 29, a F0 or weak F1 tornado touched down in Bainbridge.

According to EMA Director Charlie McCann, the tornado was completely unexpected.

“The National Weather Service out of Tallahassee never sent out a warning or an email telling us anything other than rain would be expected,” he said.

McCann said he became aware of the tornado shortly after it happened.

“The National Weather Service called and asked what type of damage we received, but I knew nothing about it,” McCann said.

He then called Bainbridge Public Safety Fire Chief Doyle Welch, who said he believed it was minimal damage caused by straight line winds.

McCann said he called back the NWS to report his findings, but they confirmed after looking at videos that it was a tornado and had formed a funnel.

Through reexamination of weather footage, McCann said he was able to see a slight rotation in the clouds.

McCann said the NWS will be sending a preliminary crew to Bainbridge on Thursday afternoon to assess the damage and label the tornado a F0 or weak F1.