Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 64, NWS Atlanta, GA

May 5, 1989Screven County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 5, 1989, 8:16 PM EDT for Screven County, Georgia. It was in force for 44 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 5, 1989, 8:16 PM EDT (00:16 UTC)
Expired
May 5, 1989, 9:00 PM EDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

County Screven County, GA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 152 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 00:00Z on 1989-05-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 42 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 00:00Z on 1989-05-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 159 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
42 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-137 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1282 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
159 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
238 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 KAGS 060018
SVRAGS
GAC251-060100-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
816 PM EDT FRI MAY 5 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUGUSTA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
          ...SCREVEN
 
AT 815 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR DETECTED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM NEAR SYLVANIA GEORGIA MOVING EAST AT 35 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, May 5, 5:53 PM EDT, 2 hours 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
552 PM EDT FRI MAY 5 1989

TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWEST GEORGIA.

THE WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR BUTTS...PIKE...LAMAR...AND UPSON
COUNTIES. SCATTERED THUNDERSHOWERS WILL CONTINUE IN THESE AREAS AND
OTHER PARTS OF NORTHWEST GEORGIA...BUT THE THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS
HAS ENDED.

THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF NORTHEAST AND
EAST CE"NTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL 9 PM THIS EVENING.
Special weather statement, May 5, 6:04 PM EDT, 2 hours 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
65PM EDT FRI MAY 5, 1989

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183:
Special weather statement, May 5, 6:16 PM EDT, 2 hours before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
6PM EDT FRI MAY 5, 1989

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 183:

BANKS     BARROW     CLARKE     DAWSON
ELBERT    FRANKLIN  GREENE     HABERSHAM
HALL      HART       JACKSON   OCONEE
LUMPKIN   MADISON   MORGAN     NEWTON
OGLETHORPE RABUN    STEPHENS   TALIAFERRO
UNION     WALTON    WHITE       TOWNS

ALL THE COUNTIES ABOVE ARE NOO LONGER IN A WARNING OR A WATCH.
Special weather statement, May 5, 6:52 PM EDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
650 PM EDT FRI MAY 5 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MACON AND SUMTER COUNTIES OF
   WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA...FOR LEE COUNTY OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA...AND
   COLQUITT...COOK...TIFT AND WORTH COUNTIES OF SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
   UNTIL 9 PM EDT...

THE TORNADO WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
MOST OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA...AND PART OF SOUTH CENTRAL
GEORGIA. COUNTIES STILL UNDER THE WATCH INCLUDE SUMTER...MACON...LEE...
WORTH...COLQUITT...COOK...AND TIFT.

AT 645 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL SHOWERS AND
A FEW THUNDERSHOWERS SCATTERED FROM NEAR EUFAULA ALABAMA TO AMERICUS
TO NEAR MACON AND CONTINUING NORTHEAST. THE STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS
WERE NOW MAINLY IN CENTRAL GEORGIA AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSHOWERS ARE STILL FORECAST FOR THE CLEARED COUNTIES
...BUT THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER HAS MOVED EAST. CONTINUE TO LISTEN
TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.
Special weather statement, May 5, 8:08 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
650 PM EDT FRI MAY 5 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT FOR MACON AND
   SUMTER COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA...LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST
   GEORGIA...AND COLQUITT...COOK...TIFT AND WORTH COUNTIES OF SOUTH
   CENTRAL GEORGIA...

AT 800 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A SOLID LINE OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS...ABOUT 10 MILES WIDE...EXTENDING FROM AMERICUS
GEORGIA SOUTHWEST TO CUTHBERT AND FORT GAINES...AND CONTINUING WEST
TO NEAR ENTERPRISE ALABAMA.  STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE NEAR CUTHBERT.
MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AROUND 40 MPH.

RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA CAN EXPECT A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO
CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA FROM
AMERICUS AND LESLIE WEST TO DAWSON...CUTHBERT AND FORT GAINES.  PLEASE
CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL TELEVISION AND
RADIO STATIONS FOR FURTHER UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Special weather statement, May 5, 8:11 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR TIME.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
808 PM EDT FRI MAY 5 1989

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT FOR MACON AND
   SUMTER COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA...LEE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST
   GEORGIA...AND COLQUITT...COOK...TIFT AND WORTH COUNTIES OF SOUTH
   CENTRAL GEORGIA...

AT 800 PM EDT COLUMBUS WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A SOLID LINE OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS...ABOUT 10 MILES WIDE...EXTENDING FROM AMERICUS
GEORGIA SOUTHWEST TO CUTHBERT AND FORT GAINES...AND CONTINUING WEST
TO NEAR ENTERPRISE ALABAMA.  STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE NEAR CUTHBERT.
MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AROUND 40 MPH.

RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA CAN EXPECT A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO
CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA FROM
AMERICUS AND LESLIE WEST TO DAWSON...CUTHBERT AND FORT GAINES.  PLEASE
CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL TELEVISION AND
RADIO STATIONS FOR FURTHER UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 5, 8:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCEmanuel49 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.