Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 52, NWS Atlanta, GA

August 25, 1987Bibb County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 25, 1987, 9:16 PM EDT for Bibb County, Georgia. It was in force for 44 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 25, 1987, 9:16 PM EDT (01:16 UTC)
Expired
Aug 25, 1987, 10:00 PM EDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

County Bibb County, GA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Athens Municipal, GA (KAHN), launched 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 132 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Athens Municipal, GA at 00:00Z on 1987-08-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2017 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Athens Municipal, GA at 00:00Z on 1987-08-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -4 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
2017 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1167 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
22 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KMCN 260116
SVRMCN
GAC021-260200-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
916 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 1987
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM EDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN CENTRAL GEORGIA
          ...BIBB
 
AT 915 PM RADAR SHOWED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM JUST WEST OF MACON...
DRIFTING SLOWLY EAST.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 25, 7:12 PM EDT, 2 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
630 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 1987

...THUNDERSTORMS OVER HEARD...CARROLL....DOUGLAS...COWETTA...
FULTON COUNTIES....

AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM ABOUT 25 MILES
NORTH OF LAGRANGE TO NEAR FAIRBURN IN SOUTHWEST FULTON COUNTY.

THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DRIFTING SLOWLY EAST. DUE TO THEIR
SLOW MOVEMENT THEY MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL ALSO MAY ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.

PERSONS NEAR THESE STORMS SHOULD BE ON ALERT AND SEEK SHELTER WHEN ONE
OCCURS. STAY INDOORS AND DO NOT USE ELECTRIAL APPLIANCES DURING THESE
STORMS. DRIVERS SHOULD WATCH FOR LOCAL FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS.

THESE STORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO DIMINISH AFTER 8 PM AS THE SUN SETS.
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 7:14 PM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRRECTION TO TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
715 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 1987

...THUNDERSTORMS OVER HEARD...CARROLL....DOUGLAS...COWETTA...
FULTON COUNTIES....

AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM ABOUT 25 MILES
NORTH OF LAGRANGE TO NEAR FAIRBURN IN SOUTHWEST FULTON COUNTY.

THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE DRIFTING SLOWLY EAST. DUE TO THEIR
SLOW MOVEMENT THEY MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. FREQUENT
LIGHTNING AND SMALL HAIL ALSO MAY ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.

PERSONS NEAR THESE STORMS SHOULD BE ON ALERT AND SEEK SHELTER WHEN ONE
OCCURS. STAY INDOORS AND DO NOT USE ELECTRIAL APPLIANCES DURING THESE
STORMS. DRIVERS SHOULD WATCH FOR LOCAL FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS.

THESE STORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO DIMINISH AFTER 8 PM AS THE SUN SETS.
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 7:14 PM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
713 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 1987

...STRONG THUNDRSTORMS OVER EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL
GEORGIA...

AT 708 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL SCATTERED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA.
THE STRONGEST STORM WAS NEAR PHENIX CITY IN RUSSELL COUNTY IN ALABAMA.
LITTLE MOVEMENT WAS INDICATED.

PERSONS ACROSS EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA SHOULD BE
ALERT FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS UNTIL THESE STORMS PASS. SINCE THESE STORMS
WERE THE PRODUCT OF THE INTENSE HEAT AND ADDED MOISTURE EXPERIENCED
TODAY...THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WILL END SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET.

WHEN A THUNDERSTORM THREATENS...GET INSIDE A HOME OR LARGE STURDY
BUILDING. DO NOT USE TELEPHONES EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCIES.
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 7:38 PM EDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
736 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 1987

...A CLUSTER OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS OVER DOUGHERTY COUNTY...

AT 730 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF INTENSE
THUNDERSTORMS OVER DOUGHERTY COUNTY OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA. MOVEMENT WAS
NOW A SLOW DRIFT TO THE EAST.

RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF ALBANY...AS WELL AS OTHER RESIDENTS ACROSS
DOUGHERTY COUNTY...SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR GUSTY WINDS...DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL. THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE REPORTED EARLIER
TODAY IN RANDOLPH AND CALHOUN COUNTIES WHERE LARGE HAIL AND POWER
OUTAGES WERE EXPERIENCED.

0ALSO...SINCE THESE ARE SLOW MOVING STORMS PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...
LOCAL FLOODING OF STREETS AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS MAY OCCUR. DO NOT
DRIVE THROUGH PONDED WATER ON ROADWAYS. FOR THE MOST ACCURATE
INFORMATION...LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 8:40 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
839 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 1987

...VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER PARTS OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA...

AT 835 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS
OVER PARTS OF CALHOUN...DOUGHERTY...AND BAKER COUNTIES. THE STRONGEST
STORM WAS 5 MILES NORTH OF THE TOWN OF NEWTON IN BAKER COUNTY. MOVEMENT
WAS EAST AT 5 MPH.

PERSONS LIVING IN CALHOUN...DOUGHERTY...AND BAKER COUNTIES SHOULD
REMAIN ON THE ALERT UNTIL THESE STORMS PASS. STRONG GUSTY WINDS...
FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...AND SMALL HAIL ARE ALL
POSSIBLE WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

LIGHTNING HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE KILLER IN GEORGIA OFn ALL WEATHER
RELATED DEATHS. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING MAY STRIKE SOME MILES FROM THE
PARENT CLOUD. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN EVEN THOUGH A THUNDERSTORM IS
NOT DIRECTLY OVERHEAD. BE SMART AND FIND SAFE SHELTER IF A THUNDERSTORM
DEVELOPS NEAR YOU.
Special weather statement, Aug 25, 9:06 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
905 PM EDT TUE AUG 25 1987

...SPECTACULAR LIGHTNING DISPLAY ACROSS MUSCOGEE COUNTY...

AT 9PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PERSONNEL WERE OBSERVING A
SPECTACULAR DISPLAY OF LIGHTNING OVER MUSCOGEE COUNTY. THE LIGHTNING
WAS A PRODUCT OF A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EXTREME EAST MUSCOGEE COUNTY.
IT WAS DRIFTING VERY SLOWLY EAST.

ALTHOUGH THIS LIGHTNING WAS PRODUCING A FANTASTIC SHOW...RESIDENTS OF
MUSCOGEE COUNTY NEED TO REMAIN AWARE OF THE HAZARDS OF LIGHTNING.

LIGHTNING HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE KILLER IN GEORGIA OF ALL WEATHER
RELATED DEATHS. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING MAY STRIKE SOME MILES FROM THE
PARENT CLOUD. PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN EVEN THOUGH A THUNDERSTORM IS
NOT DIRECTLY OVERHEAD.
Q

The office that day

Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 26, 6:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBleckley50 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 1987Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1987

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.