Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 133, NWS Atlanta, GA

July 19, 1989Gwinnett County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 19, 1989, 7:29 PM EDT for Gwinnett County, Georgia. It was in force for 46 min. 1 report 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
Jul 19, 1989, 7:29 PM EDT (23:29 UTC)
Expired
Jul 19, 1989, 8:15 PM EDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

County Gwinnett 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 19, 8:00 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Gwinnett, 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

Athens Municipal, GA (KAHN), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 67 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 12:00Z on 1989-07-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 12:00Z on 1989-07-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 69 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
NaN m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
69 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
61 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 KATL 192331
SVRATL
GAC135-200015-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
729 PM EDT WED JUL 19 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ATLANTA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  815 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
          ...GWINNETT
 
RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF
LAWRENCEVILLE MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.
 
 
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, Jul 19, 4:50 PM EDT, 2 hours 39 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
450 PM EDT WED JUL 19 1989

AT 445 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND A SEVERAL
THUNDERSTORMS IN AN AREA BETWEEN LUMPKIN...ELLAVILLE...AND DAWSON. THESE
STORMS WERE LIKELY PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS.
MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 25 MPH.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A STURDY
BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DO NOT USE THE PHONE UNLESS YOU HAVE
TO. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST THROUGH TOMORROW AS A SUMMER
COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE STATE FROM THE NORTHWEST. ABUNDANT HEAT AND
MOISTURE IS ALREADY AVAILABLE FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVER GEORGIA
...BUT THE ADDED INSTABILITY PROVIDED BY THE FRONT WILL CAUSE THE
THUNDERSTORMS TO BE MORE NUMEROUS WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. SOME OF
THE STORMS MAY EVEN HAVE SOME STRONG WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. GUSTY
WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL COULD OCCUR.
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO TO REMAIN UP-TO-DATE ON GEORGIAS WEATHER.
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 5:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 3 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
525 PM EDT WED JUL 19 1989

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO NORTHWEST GEORGIA AGAIN...
MAINLY IN THE LINDALE TO ROME TO SUMMERVILLE AREAS AT 520 PM EDT. RADAR
INDICATED THE STORMS MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

THE STORMS ARE PRODUCING BRIEF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. RESIDENTS ARE
ADVISED TO WATCH FOR THE COLLECTION OF WATER OVER LOW AREAS IN ROADS.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS STANDING OR RUNNING WATER OVER ROADS AND
HIGHWAYS. DURING HEAVY RAIN...MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO SLOW ENOUGH TO
AVOID HYDROPLANING AND REAR-ENDING SLOWER CARS AHEAD.

GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL ALSO OCCUR WITH THE STORMS.

THUNDOERSTORMS COULD ALSO DEVELOP QUICKLY OVER OTHER AREAS OF NORTHWEST
GEORGIA DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

LISTEN TO THIS STATION FOR FURTHER WEATHER UPDATES.
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:10 PM EDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
610 PM EDT WED JUL 19 1989

AT 605 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SHOWERS WITH
A SCATTERED LINE OF EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA...
MOVING INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA. THE SCATTERED LINE WAS FROM JUST NORTHEAST
OF MACON TO 5 MILES EAST OF MARSHALLVILLE TO NEAR LESLIE. THE MOST
NOTEABLE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE LINE WERE IN HOUSTON COUNTY. OTHER
SCATTERED EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS THAT WERE NOTE-WORTHY WERE BETWEEN
ELLAVILLE AND OGLETHORPE AND 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF AMERICUS. MOVEMENT
WAS EAST NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE PRODUCING SMALL HAIL...VERY HEAVY
DOWNPOURS...AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. GUSTY WINDS MAY BE
EXPERIENCED WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS AS WELL. PEOPLE SHOULD REMAIN
ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER THROUGH THE NIGHT. BE PREPARED TO TAKE
ACTION IF THE THUNDERSTORMS STRENGTHEN AND A WARNING MUST BE ISSUEDz.
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:11 PM EDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
610 PM EDT TUE JUL 18 1989

    ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA...

A 605 PM RADAR IN MACON SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA. THIS LINE WAS TEN MILES WIDE AND EXTENDED
FROM SPARTA GEORGIA IN HANCOCK COUNTY SOUTHWEST TO JEFFERSONVILLE
IN TWIGGS COUNTY TO VIENNA GEORGIA IN DOOLY COUNTY. MOVEMENT WAS
EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

AS THESE STORMS MOVED THROUGH THE MACON-WARNER ROBINS AREA THEY
PRODUCED HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN..DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING AND MARBLE SIZE HAIL.

SOME FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IS
POSSIBLE DUE TO THE HEAVY RAINS A|SSOCIATED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.

PERSONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD MOVE INDOORS.
MOTORIST SHOULD DRIVE WITH CAUTION ON RAIN SLICK HIGHWAYS AND NOT
ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED STREETS.
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:13 PM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
613 PM EDT WED JUL 19 1989

BOATERS AND FISHERMEN ON BLUE RIDGE LAKE...CARTERS LAKE AND ESPECIALLY
LAKE ALLATOONA NEED TO TAKE COVER FOR APPROACHING THUNDERSTORMS.

A LARGE CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHWEST GEORGIA CONTINUES TO
EXPAND AND GROW STRONGER. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
KINGSTON GEORGIA AT 605 PM MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. BARTOW
COUNTY IS UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING UNTIL 645 PM EDT.

THE STORMS ARE PRODUCING BRIEF VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. RESIDENTS ARE
ADVISED TO WATCH FOR THE COLLECTION OF WATER OVER LOW AREAS IN ROADS.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS STANDING OR RUNNING WATER OVER ROADS AND
HIGHWAYS. DURING HEAVY RAIN...MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO SLOW ENOUGH TO
AVOID HYDROPLANING AND REAR-ENDING SLOWER CARS AHEAD.

GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING WILL ALSO OCCUR WITH THE STORMS.
<
THUNDERSTORMS COULD ALSO DEVELOP QUICKLY OVER OTHER PORTIONS OF
NORTHWEST GEORGIA THIS EVENING.

LISTEN TO THIS STATION FOR FURTHER WEATHER UPDATES.
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 7:00 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
659 PM EDT WED JUL 19 1989

THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP SOUTH AND MOVE EAST INTO NORTHWEST
GEORGIA THIS EVENING. RESIDENTS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE BOATING AND FISHING
ON CARTERS LAKE AND LAKE ALLATOONA NEED TO TAKE COVER FOR APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORMS.

RADAR AT 650 PM EDT SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR BLUE RIDGE
TO CALHOUN TO CARTERSVILLE TO DALLAS TO WEST OF CARROLLTON MOVING EAST
AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

RAINFALL WAS ESPECIALLY HEAVY AND POSSIBLY MIXED WITH HAIL EAST OF
CALHOUN...NEAR CARTERSVILLE AND ACWORTH AND NEAR BREMAN NORTH OF
CARROLLTON.

MOTORISTS ARE URGED NOT TO ATTEMPT TO CROSS STANDING OR RUNNING WATER ON
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. DURING HEAVY RAIN...MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO SLOW TO
AVOID HYDROPLANING OR REAR-ENDING SLOWER CARS AHEAD.
THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING INTO NORTHWEST COBB COUNTY WITH SOME
TREES DOWNED ACROSS ROADS NEAR ACWORTH. MARBLE SIZE HAIL COVERED THE
GROUND IN SEVERAL PLACES BETWEEN KENNESAW AND WOODSTOCK.

LISTEN TO THIS STATION FOR FURTHER WEATHER UPDATES.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 19, 5:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow51 min
Jul 19, 6:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCLaurens66 min
Jul 19, 7:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCobb, Douglas, Fulton45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 1989Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1989

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.