Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 80, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 24, 1988, 5:50 PM EDT for Ben Hill County, Irwin County, Georgia. It was in force for 55 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 24, 1988, 5:50 PM EDT (21:50 UTC)
- Expired
- May 24, 1988, 6:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 55 min
- Issued by
- NWS Atlanta, GA
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Ben Hill County, GA, Irwin County, GA
The radar
The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 6:00 PM EDT | Hail 1.75 | Ben Hill, GA | |
| May 24, 6:20 PM EDT | Hail 1 | Ben Hill, GA | |
| May 24, 6:20 PM EDT | Hail 2.5 | Irwin, GA |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.
The nearest sounding before it
Jacksonville, FL (KAYS), launched 12:00Z, 9.8 hours before the alert went out and 197 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 123 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -301 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1782 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 45 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 33 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 80 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KMCN 242151
SVRMCN
GAC017-155-242245-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
550 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MACON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 645 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
...BEN HILL...IRWIN
AT 545 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AND PUBLIC REPORTS INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN NORTH TIFT COUNTY MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH. HAM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED GOLFBALL SIZE TO BASEBALL SIZE HAIL
IN TIFT COUNTY. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE ACROSS IRWIN COUNTY
AND INTO THE FITZGERALD AREA OF BEN HILL COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT 30
MINbUTES.
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.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, May 24, 3:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA 325 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ..TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 170 IS IN EFFECT ACROSS CENTRAL AND A PORTION OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING.. NUMEROUS VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTROMS WERE INDICATED ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND EXTENDED INTO SOUTH CAROLINA. THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN LINES FROM CHESTER SOUTH CAROLINA TO CRAWFORDVILLE GEORGIA AND FROM NEAR WATKINSVILLE GEORGIA TO THOMASTON GEORGIA. OTHERWISE RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND NORTHWEST SOUTH CAROLINA. LINE MOVEMENT WAS TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR WHILE CELLS MOVED TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, May 24, 3:30 PM EDT, 2 hours 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA 330 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 170 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR MUCH OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA... AT 325 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA. THE STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS WERE 10 MILES SOUTHWEST AND NORTHWEST OF HURTSBORO ALABAMA... AND IN SOUTHWEST STEWART COUNTY IN GEORGIA. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. RESIDENTS OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA NEED TO BE ALERT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING TO HAZARDOUS WEATHER. MANY REPORTS OF SMALL HAIL HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTED AS WELL AS VERY GUSTY WINDS. PERSONS INVOLVED IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD SEEK A PLACE OF SAFETY IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES. BOATERS SHOULD MOVE OFF LAKES TO NEARBY SHELTER. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.
Special weather statement, May 24, 4:29 PM EDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA 428 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 170 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR MUCH OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA... AT 425 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN SOUTH AN EAST ALABAMA AND IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE NEAR EUFAULA ALABAMA AND IN STEWART COUNTY GEORGIA. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. PEOPLE IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ON THE LOOKOUT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING UNTIL THIS SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION PASSES. ANY THUNDERSTORM IN THE AREA MAY PRODUCE AT LEAST SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAINFALL...AND GUSTY WINDS. YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS OF LIGHTNING. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...DO NOT STAND UNDERNEATH A TALL ISOLATED TREE OR TELEPHONE POLE. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT.
Special weather statement, May 24, 4:32 PM EDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA 428 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 170 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR MUCH OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA... AT 425 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED IN SOUTH AND EAST ALABAMA AND IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE NEAR EUFAULA ALABAMA AND IN STEWART COUNTY GEORGIA. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. PEOPLE IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ON THE LOOKOUT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING UNTIL THIS SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION PASSES. ANY THUNDERSTORM IN THE AREA MAY PRODUCE AT LEAST SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAINFALL...AND GUSTY WINDS. YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS OF LIGHTNING. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...DO NOT STAND UNDERNEATH A TALL ISOLATED TREE OR TELEPHONE POLE. REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADIC DEVELOPMENT.
Special weather statement, May 24, 4:37 PM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA 436 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 170 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA...CLAYTON...HENRY...ROCKDALE... FAYETTE...COWETA...TROUP...MERIWETHER...SPAULDING...BUTTS... PINE...LAMAR AND UPSON... THE TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES TO BE IN EFFECT FOR SECTIONS OF GEORGIA UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING. PARTS OF SOUTHERN ALABAMA AND THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA PANHANDLE ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE WATCH. AT 420 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR WASHINGTON TO MACON TO 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF COLUMBUS. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THESE STORMS HAVE PRODUCED VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM PENNIES TO GOLFBALLS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. PERSONS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTH GEORGIA SHOULD CONTINUE TO REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE POSSIBLITY OF SEVERE WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS. STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS THEY BECOME NECESSARY.
Special weather statement, May 24, 4:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA 440 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ..TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 170 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA.. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA..BUT TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 170 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING. AT 435 PM EDT A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM CLARK HILL RESERVOIR TO NEAR MACON..AND SOUTH'WEST TO NEAR DOTHAN ALABAMA. THIS LINE WAS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR. LIGHT RAIN AND A FEW SHOWERS CONTINUED OVER NORTH GEORGIA MOSTLY SOUTH OF A LINE FROM ATLANTA TO TOCCOA.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 3:05 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Butts | 40 min |
| May 24, 3:33 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bibb, Jones | 42 min |
| May 24, 4:03 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Houston, Peach | 57 min |
| May 24, 4:36 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Twiggs | 69 min |
| May 24, 4:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Pulaski | 66 min |
| May 24, 5:08 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Richmond | 52 min |
| May 24, 6:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Turner | 69 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 1988Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1988
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.