Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 182, NWS Atlanta, GA

November 15, 19894 counties in Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Nov 15, 1989, 11:18 PM EST for 4 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 57 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
Nov 15, 1989, 11:18 PM EST (04:18 UTC)
Expired
Nov 16, 1989, 12:15 AM EST
In force
57 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lincoln County, GA, McDuffie County, GA, Warren County, GA, Wilkes 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
Nov 16, 12:05 AM ESTThunderstorm Wind 0Wilkes, 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, 4.3 hours before the alert went out and 76 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 1989-11-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 813 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 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 1989-11-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 232 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KAGS 160420
SVRAGS
GAC073-189-301-181-317-SCC065-160515-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
1118 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUGUSTA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1215 AM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
          ...WESTERN COLUMBIA...MCDUFFIE...WARREN
IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA
          ...LINCOLN...WILKES
IN WEST CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA
          ...MCCORMICK
 
AT 1115 PM EST WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
IS BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO THE NORTHERN COUNTIES OF THE CENTRAL
SAVANNAH RIVER AREA. THESE STORMS ARE MOVING RAPIDLY TO THE EAST AT
ABOUT 40 MPH.
 
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.
 
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, Nov 15, 9:34 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
930 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.

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA
FROM NEAR BLAIRSVILLE TO CUMMING AND TO THE ATLANTA AREA.

ELSEWHERE...NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE OVER
THE NORTHERN HALF OF GEORGIA AND EXTEND NORTHWARD INTO THE
WESTERN CAROLINAS.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST 35 MPH.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 9:52 PM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
950 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 755 IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE NORTH HALF OF
   GEORGIA UNTIL 1 AM THURSDAY...

AT 940 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS LOCATED A 25 MILE WIDE BAND
OF WEATHER CONTAINING NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR COLUMBUS TO
ATLANTA TO NORTH OF ATHENS GEORGIA.

PRECIPITATION AREAS WERE DEVELOPING SLOWLY EAST AND SOUTHEAST WHILE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO MOVE INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
DURING THE NEXT TWO HOURS.   SHOWERS WERE STARTING TO DEVELOP OVER PARTS
OF CENTRAL GEORGIA AS OF 950 PM.

THUNDERSTORMS HAVE PRODUCED DA%MAGE IN ALABAMA AND NORTH GEORGIA THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
Local storm report, Nov 15, 10:13 PM EST, 1 hour 5 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
1013 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989

934 PM...GA DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION REPORTED NUMEROUS TREES DOWNED ON
         INTERSTATE 85 IN NORTH COWETA AND SOUTH FULTON COUNTIES. DAMAGE
         OCCURRED AROUND 730-745 PM EST.
949 PM...ATLANTA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED POWER LINES DOWNED AND
         SEVERAL HOUSES DAMAGED IN SOUTHWEST ATLANTA OFF MAYES DRIVE.
         HOUSE DAMAGED ENOUGH ON FLAMINGO ROAD :FOR A FAMILY TO EVACUATE.
         DAMAGE OCCURRED ABOUT 930 TO 940 PM EST WITH STRONG WINDS...
         EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SAID POSSIBLE DOWNBURST.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 10:32 PM EST, 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
1030 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 753 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR NORTHWEST GEORGIA.
THE AREA NORTH AND WEST OF ATLANTA IS NO LONGER IN THE WATCH.
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 753 REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TOWNS...WHITE...HALL
HABERSHAM AND RABUN COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA UNTIL 11 PM EST.

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 755 CONTINUES IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST AND
INCLUDES PARTS OF NORTH AND CENTR^AL GEORGIA.

THUNDERSTORMS MOVED QUICKLY EAST AND EXTENDED FROM NORTH OF ATHENS TO
WEST OF MACON AT 1025 PM EST.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 10:35 PM EST, 43 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
1030 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.

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDS ACROSS NORTHEAST GEORGIA
FROM TOCCOA TO COMMERCE AND COVINGTON. THIS LINE WAS MOVING TO
THE SOUTHEAST 35 MPH. WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH HAVE BEEN
REPORTED WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS. THIS LINE SHOULD MOVE THROUGH
THE ATHENS AREA AROUND 11 PM EST.

ELSEWHERE...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED OVER NORTH
AND CENTRAL GEORgGIA AND EXTEND INTO THE WESTERN CAROLINAS.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE NORTHEAST 35 MPH.
Special weather statement, Nov 15, 10:40 PM EST, 38 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
1040 PM EST WED NOV 15 1989

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 755 IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF THE NORTH HALF OF
   GEORGIA UNTIL 1 AM THURSDAY...

AT 1030 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF
THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA FROM THE WEST. STORMS
WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WERE JUST WEST OF
MACON NEAR LAKE TOBESOFKEE. THEY WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

THEY WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THE MACON AREA AND INTO JONES COUNTY
NEAR GRAY BEFORE 11 PM TONIGHT.

HEAVY RAIN WITH THESE STORMS COULD CAUSE STREET FLOODING. STRONG GUSTY
WINDS COULD POSSIBLY BREAK SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BLOW OVER LOOSE TRASH
CANS AND nPATIO FURNITURE.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 15, 7:20 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFayette, Fulton40 min
Nov 15, 7:34 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGilmer, Gordon, Pickens56 min
Nov 15, 7:34 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMurray56 min
Nov 15, 8:19 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDeKalb, Gwinnett41 min
Nov 15, 8:34 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBarrow, Hall, Jackson56 min
Nov 15, 8:38 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Coweta, Douglas, Fulton, Paulding52 min
Nov 15, 8:38 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee, Cobb52 min
Nov 15, 11:09 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGreene, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro66 min
Nov 15, 11:09 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCElbert66 min
Nov 15, 11:18 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCColumbia57 min
Nov 16, 12:02 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBen Hill, Dodge, Wilcox43 min
Nov 16, 12:02 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCLaurens43 min
Nov 16, 12:12 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCIrwin, Turner63 min
Nov 16, 12:27 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCTelfair, Wheeler63 min
Nov 16, 12:27 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMontgomery, Treutlen63 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.