Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 176, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Nov 15, 1989, 8:19 PM EST for DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Georgia. It was in force for 41 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
- Nov 15, 1989, 8:19 PM EST (01:19 UTC)
- Expired
- Nov 15, 1989, 9:00 PM EST
- In force
- 41 min
- Issued by
- NWS Atlanta, GA
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties DeKalb County, GA, 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 8:24 PM EST | Hail 1 | De Kalb, GA | |
| Nov 15, 8:30 PM EST | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Gwinnett, 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 00:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 77 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
- 813 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -15 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 916 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 47 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 232 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 322 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.2
- Supercell composite
- 7.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KATL 160126 COR
SVRATL
GAC089-135-160200-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
819 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ATLANTA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 900 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
...DEKALB...GWINNETT
A WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED 3/4 INCH TO 1 INCH HAIL JUST NORTH OF
DECATUR IN DEKALB COUNTY. THIS STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40
MPH. RESIDENTS CAN ALSO EXPECT STRONG WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAIN WITH
THIS STORM.
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.
...CORRECTION TO INCLUDE ALL OF GWINETT COUNTY IN WARNING...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, Nov 15, 5:44 PM EST, 2 hours 35 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA 535 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WARNINGS WERE IN EFFECT FOR CHAMBERS COUNTY ALABAMA AND A TORNADO WARNING FOR COWETA AND HEARD COUNTIES GEORGIA UNTIL 6 PM EST. ...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR RUSSELL COUNTY ALABAMA AND ALL OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA UNTIL 11 PM EST TONIGHT. AT 525 PM EST COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR WAS INDICATING SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR CAMP HILL ALABAMA TO NEWNAN GEORGIA. SEVERE WEATHER WAS ALREADY OCCURING AND PERSONS ACROSS EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TONIGHT FOR POSSIBLE SEVERE WEATHER. A VERY STRONG COLD FRONT PRESENTLY FROM WESTERN OHIO TO THE TEXAS COAST IS EXPECTED TO MOVE RAPIDLY EASTWARD TONIGHT AND TO BE OFF THE GEORGIA COAST THURSDAY MORNING. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER NEWS MENDIA FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR POSIBLE WARNINGS.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 6:34 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA 630 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989 A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EST THURSDAY MORNING FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL... DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS. INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER NORTHWEST GEORGIA NEAR ATLANTA...OVER COWETA COUNTY AND NEAR CUMMING GEORGIA. : ELSEWHERE...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER WESTERN GEORGIA...EASTERN ALABAMA AND EASTERN TENNESSEE. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST 35 MPH.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 7:32 PM EST, 47 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA 730 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989 A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EST THURSDAY MORNING FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL... DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS. INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER NORTH GEORGIA NEAR AND SOUTHWEST OF ATLANTA...NEAR CLEVELAND...SOUTHWEST OF ROME AND JUST ACROSS THE STATE LINE SOUTH OF CHATTANOOGA. ELSEWHERE...A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS LOCATED OVER NORTHWEST GEORGIA...GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM THE ATLANTA AREA TO CHATSWORTH. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS W}ERE ALSO OVER NORTHEAST ALABAMA AND EASTERN TENNESSEE. MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST 35 MPH.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 7:47 PM EST, 32 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA 745 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989 ...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR RUSSELL COUNTY ALABAMA AND ALL OF EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA UNTIL 11 PM EST TONIGHT AND FOR MOST OF WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL 1 AM TONIGHT. AT 730 PM EST COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR WAS INDICATING A LARGE AREA OF RAIN AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHWEST GEORGIA ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. THE THUNDERSTORMS PRESENTLY WITH THIS AREA WERE MOSTLY SCATTERED FROM SOUTHEAST OF VILLA RICA TO NEAR FRANKLIN GEORGIA AND THEN EAST TO SOUTH OF TALLEDEGA ALABAMA. ANOTHER STORM WAS 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MONTGOMERY. THIS AREA OF RAIN WAS FROM 25 TO 70 MILES WIDE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR. THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. PERSONS ACROSS EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND BE PREPARED FOR STRONG GUSTY WINDS..HEAVY RAIN.. DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HAIL OR A POSSIBLE TORNADO. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER NEWS MENDIA FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS.
Local storm report, Nov 15, 7:59 PM EST, 20 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
758 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989
COUNTY..... COWETA COUNTY
SOURCE..... COWETA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
TIME....... 735 PM EST NOV 15 1989
LOCATION... INTERSTATE 85 EXIT 11
DAMAGE..... THREE TRACTOR TRAILERS TURNED OVER AT EXIT 11 OFF I85.
ALSO SOME MOBILE HOMES NEAR EXIT 11 MOVED OFF FOUNDATION.Special weather statement, Nov 15, 8:15 PM EST, 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA 815 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989 ...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 755 IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF NORTH HALF OF GEORGIA UNTIL 1 AM THURSDAY... AT 805 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS LOCATED NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS OVER EASTERN ALABAMA AND OVER NORTH GEORGIA FROM LA GRANGE TO ATLANTA. THUNDERSTORMS AND THE LARGE AREA OF RAINSHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM ARE MOVING SLOWLY EAST AND SOUTHEAST WHILE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO MOVE INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA LATE TONIGHT. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA INCLUDING MACON AND SURROUNDING CITIES NEED TO TAKE ANY PROTECTIVE ACTION EARLY AS THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MORE LIKELY LATE...AFTER MOST PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO BED FOR THE NIGHT. STRONG GUSTY WIND...LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAINFALL AND POSSIBLY HAIL SHOULD BE EXPECTED FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS. THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALREADY CAUSED DAMAGE IN ALABAMA AND NORTH GEORGIA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 7:20 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Fayette, Fulton | 40 min |
| Nov 15, 7:34 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Gilmer, Gordon, Pickens | 56 min |
| Nov 15, 7:34 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Murray | 56 min |
| Nov 15, 8:34 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Barrow, Hall, Jackson | 56 min |
| Nov 15, 8:38 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Fulton, Paulding | 52 min |
| Nov 15, 8:38 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb | 52 min |
| Nov 15, 11:09 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Greene, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro | 66 min |
| Nov 15, 11:09 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Elbert | 66 min |
| Nov 15, 11:18 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Lincoln, McDuffie, Warren, Wilkes | 57 min |
| Nov 15, 11:18 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Columbia | 57 min |
| Nov 16, 12:02 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Ben Hill, Dodge, Wilcox | 43 min |
| Nov 16, 12:02 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Laurens | 43 min |
| Nov 16, 12:12 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Irwin, Turner | 63 min |
| Nov 16, 12:27 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Telfair, Wheeler | 63 min |
| Nov 16, 12:27 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Montgomery, Treutlen | 63 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.