Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 17, NWS Atlanta, GA

April 4, 1989Chattooga County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Apr 4, 1989, 1:06 PM EDT for Chattooga County, Georgia. It was in force for 54 min. 2 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
Apr 4, 1989, 1:06 PM EDT (17:06 UTC)
Expired
Apr 4, 1989, 2:00 PM EDT
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

County Chattooga 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
Apr 4, 1:25 PM EDTHail 1.5Chattooga, GA
Apr 4, 1:45 PM EDTHail 1.25Chattooga, 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, 5.1 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Athens Municipal, GA at 12:00Z on 1989-04-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 30 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 12:00Z on 1989-04-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 141 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
30 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-310 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
670 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
141 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
67 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 041707
SVRATL
GAC055-041800-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
106 PM EDT TUE APR 4 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ATLANTA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  200 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
          ...CHATTOOGA
 
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY RADAR NEAR THE ALABAMA GEORGIA
STATE LINE WEST OF SUMMERVILLE. LARGE HAIL WAS REPORTED WITH THIS
STORM.
 
MOVEMENT IS TO THE EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM SHOULD MOVE
ACROSS NORTHERN CHATTOOGA COUNTY NEAR MENLO AND TRION.
 
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
XSEVERE 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, Apr 4, 9:19 AM EDT, 3 hours 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
915AM TUE APRIL 4, 1989

 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 86 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON
TODAY FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND PARTS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA.

AT 915AM EDT THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO BARROW AND JACKSON COUNTIES
FROM THE WEST.

THESE STORMS LIKELY TO PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS...
AND SEVERE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGTNING...

STORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO MADISON AND CLARKE COUNTIES DURING THE
NEXT HOUR.

PERSONS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AS ANY OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME
SEVERE IN A SHORT PERIOD.

AREA MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH WHILE ELEMENTS MOVE EAST AT 50 MPH.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 9:29 AM EDT, 3 hours 37 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
930AM TUE APRIL 4, 1989

 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 86 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON
TODAY FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND PARTS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH BARROW AND JACKSON COUNTIES
AT THIS TIME WILL MOVE INTO CLARKE AND MADISON COUNTIES WITHIN
THE NEXT 30 MINUTES.
THESE STORMS LIKELY TO PRODUCE HEAVY DOWNPOURS...GUSTY WINDS...
AND SEVERE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGTNING...

PERSONS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AS ANY OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME
SEVERE IN A SHORT PERIOD.

AREA MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 25 MPH WHILE ELEMENTS MOVE EAST AT 50 MPH.

IN GENERAL AREA OF RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS NORTH OF A
LINE FROM ANDERSON SOUTH CAROLINA TO NEAR ATHENS TO NEAR LAGRANGE.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 10:20 AM EDT, 2 hours 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
1018 AM EDT TUE APR 4 1989

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MOST OF NORTH GEORGIA AND A PART
OF CENTRAL GEORGIA HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ISSUED EARLIER THIS MORNING FOR PARTS
OF CENTRAL AND NORTH GEORGIA HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

HOWEVER...AT 1015 AM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF RAIN
WITH A FEW HEAVY THUNDERSHOWERS EXTENDING ACROSS GEORGIA FROM NEAR
LAGRANGE IN WESTCENTRAL GEORGIA TO NEAR ELBERTON IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA.

THIS AREA OF RAIN AND THUNDERSHOWERS WAS MOVING INTO THE CENTRAL
GEORGIA COUNTIES OF MONROE...JASPER...JONES...AND PUTNAM AND WILL
MOVE ACROSS TKHE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL GEORGIA DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL
HOURS.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 10:21 AM EDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
1015 AM EDT TUE APRIL 4 1989

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 86 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR
GEORGIA.

RADAR INDICATES THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVOER GEORGIA HAS DECREASED
IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITIES DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS AND THE
THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS DIMINISHED.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 11:58 AM EDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
1200 PM EDT TUE APR 4 1989

...THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS
   EVENING...

LATE THIS MORNING...THUNDERSTORMS IN GEORGIA HAD DIMINISHED TO A
JUST A FEW THUNDERSHOWERS IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. HOWEVER
THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER STILL LOOMS FOR THE PEACH STATE.

A LOW PRESSURE AREA IN MISSISSIPPI WILL BE MOVING EASTWARD THIS
AFTERNOON AND TRIGGER STRONG...AND POSSIBLY SEVERE...THUNDERSTORMS
IN GEORGIA.

THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER IN KANSAS CITY HAS ISSUED
A TORNADO WATCH FOR MUCH OF ALABAMA THAT IS VALID UNTIL 6 PM EDT.

AS THE THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH GEORGIA DURING THE MIDDLE AND LATER
PART OF THE AFTERNOON...IT IS EXPECTED THAT A TORNADO WATCH WILL BE
REQUIRED FOR PARTS OF CENTRAL AND NORTH GEORGIA.

CONDITIONS ARE VERY FAVORABLE FOR AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE WEATHER IN
GEORGIA LATER TODAY. PEOPLE IN GEORGIA...ESPECIALLY CENTRAL AND NORTH
GEORGIA...SHOULD PREPARE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING AND LISTEN FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 12:46 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
1245 PM EDT TUE APR 4 1989

...SEVERE WEATHER HEADED FOR NORTH GEORGIA...

EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING A POSSIBLE
TORNADO WAS INDICATED IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA AND THESE THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE MOVING INTO NORTHWEST GEORGIA SHORTLY.

THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER IN KANSAS CITY WILL BE
ISSUING A TORNADO WATCH FOR MUCH OF NORTH GEORGIA SHORTLY.

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION...PLEASE BE PREPARED.

CONDITIONS ARE VERY FAVORABLE FOR AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE WEATHER IN
GEORGIA LATER TODAY. PEOPLE IN GEORGIA...ESPECIALLY CENTRAL AND NORTH
GEORGIA...SHOULD PREPARE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THI@S AFTERNOON AND
EVENING AND LISTEN FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 4, 1:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCWalker49 min
Apr 4, 1:19 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCWalker41 min
Apr 4, 2:18 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCChattooga, Floyd42 min
Apr 4, 2:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCWalker49 min
Apr 4, 2:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMeriwether44 min
Apr 4, 2:50 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCBartow, Polk55 min
Apr 4, 2:50 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCGordon55 min
Apr 4, 3:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGilmer, Pickens50 min
Apr 4, 3:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Haralson, Paulding50 min
Apr 4, 3:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHeard50 min
Apr 4, 3:23 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCCarroll, Haralson, Paulding37 min
Apr 4, 3:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton59 min
Apr 4, 3:36 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCCherokee, Forsyth54 min
Apr 4, 3:41 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCCoweta, Fayette49 min
Apr 4, 3:44 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCClayton, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett46 min
Apr 4, 3:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDawson, Hall, Lumpkin56 min
Apr 4, 3:58 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCHenry, Rockdale, Spalding47 min
Apr 4, 4:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Habersham69 min
Apr 4, 4:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBarrow, Jackson69 min
Apr 4, 4:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCNewton, Walton69 min
Apr 4, 4:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCWhite63 min
Apr 4, 4:21 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCBanks, Habersham, Hall, Jackson69 min
Apr 4, 4:33 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCStephens57 min
Apr 4, 4:34 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCLamar, Pike, Upson41 min
Apr 4, 4:34 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCButts41 min
Apr 4, 4:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJasper, Monroe69 min
Apr 4, 4:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClarke, Elbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison, Oglethorpe68 min
Apr 4, 4:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGreene, Morgan, Oconee, Taliaferro68 min
Apr 4, 5:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJones, Putnam63 min
Apr 4, 5:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Crawford55 min
Apr 4, 5:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHouston, Peach, Twiggs66 min
Apr 4, 5:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBaldwin, Wilkinson66 min
Apr 4, 5:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGlascock, Hancock, Warren62 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.