Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 244, NWS Atlanta, GA

July 23, 1990DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 23, 1990, 5:26 PM EDT for DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Georgia. It was in force for 49 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: Jul 23, 1990, 5:26 PM EDT (21:26 UTC)
Expired: Jul 23, 1990, 6:15 PM EDT
In force: 49 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
Jul 23, 5:28 PM EDT	Thunderstorm Wind 63	De Kalb, GA
Jul 23, 6:10 PM EDT	Thunderstorm Wind 0	De Kalb, 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, 9.4 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.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1687 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -18 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 617 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 47 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 3 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 232126
SVRATL
GAC089-135-232215-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA  GA
526 PM EDT MON JUL 23 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ATLANTA  HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  615 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
 
   ...DEKALB COUNTY...GWINNETT COUNTY
 
THE PUBLIC REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL AND WINDS IN EXESS OF 60 MPH
IN DEKALB COUNTY AROUND 520 PM EDT. THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE
MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH INTO WESTERN GWINETT COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT 15
MINUTES.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHT^NING...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 23, 1:36 PM EDT, 3 hours 50 minutes before

GAZ001-003-231930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA  GA
135 PM EDT MON JUL 23 1990

...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER NORTHWEST GEORGIA...

THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING RAPIDLY OVER PARTS OF NORTHWEST GEORGIA
EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. A 125 PM RADAR SHOWED SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERST
OVER THE METROPOLITAN ATLANTA AREA AND ALSO FROM THE JACKSON AND
FORSYTH AREAS WESTWARD TO THE LA GRANGE AND COLUMBUS VICINITIES. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 15 MILES AN HOUR.

A THUNDERSTORM AT THE ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AIRPORT PRODUCED A 40 MILE AN
HOUR WIND GUST DURING THE PAST 15 MINUTES.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOPE ACROSS NORTHWEST
GEORGIA THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON. THE STRONGER STORMS WILL
LIKELY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN AND INTENSE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.
STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SOME HAIL ARE ALSO A POSSIBILITY. PEOPLE IN
NORTHWEST GEORGIA SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THESE STORMS AND TAKE
APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS.

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 1:50 PM EDT, 3 hours 36 minutes before

GAZ005-ALZ011-231845-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
149 PM EDT MON JUL 23 1990

AT 1:45 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL
GEORGIA.  A THUNDERSTORM OVER LEE COUNTY IN ALABAMA WILL BE MOVING
INTO THE VICINITY OF COLUMBUS GEORGIA WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.  ALL
ACTIVITY WAS MOVING EAST AT 20 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE STORMS MAY CONTAIN HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS...AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER NEWS MEDIA
FOR LATER STATEMENTS OR WARNINGS.

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 3:16 PM EDT, 2 hours 10 minutes before

GAZ006-008-009-232100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
315 PM EDT MON JUL 23 1990

......THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA.....

AT 310 PM WEATHER RADAR IN MACON SHOWED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING
ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED
IN NORTH OF MONTICELLO IN JASPER COUNTY AND NEAR MILLEDGEVILLE IN
BALDWIN COUNTY. MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 20 MPH.

HEAVY RAINFALL..GUSTY WINDS..DANGEROUSI CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
AND HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THESE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON.

IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE INDOORS
UNTIL THE STORMS PASS. REMEMBER LIGHTNING IS THE UNDER-RATED
KILLER IN THUNDERSTORMS.

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 3:26 PM EDT, 2 hours before

GAZ001-003-232100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA  GA
330 PM EDT MON JUL 23 1990

AT 315 PM...RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR ROME TO
TALLAPOOSA IN HARALSON COUNTY TO NEAR BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA. THE STRONGEST
STORMS WERE LOCATED JUST NORTHWEST OF CARTERSVILLE AND NEAR TALLAPOOSA.

ELSEWHERE...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED JUST WEST OF ATLANTA AND
NEAR GRIFFIN AND WOODBURY. MOVEMEMT OF ALL STORMS WAS EAST AT 25 MPH.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTHWEST
GEORGIA THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON. THIS COULD POSSIBLY CREATE
RUSH HOUR PROBLEMS...AS HEAVY RAIN REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO NEAR ZERO...
STRONG GUSTY WINDS^...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLY
SOME HAIL WILL OCCUR WITH THESE STORMS.

PERSONS LEAVING THE CITY OF ATLANTA BETWEEN 4 AND 6 PM SHOULD ALLOW EXTRA
DRIVING TIME AS STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO SOON ENTER THE METRO AREA.

Special weather statement, Jul 23, 4:41 PM EDT, 45 minutes before

GAZ006-008-009-232230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
440 PM EDT MON JUL 23 1990

AT 435 PM WEATHER RADAR IN MACON SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA. THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORMS WERE NOTED IN WILKINSON COUNTY NEAR MCINTYRE AND IN
HOUSTON COUNTY BETWEEN PERRY AND WARNER ROBINS. MOVEMENT WAS EAST
AT 20 MPH.

HEAVY RAINFALL..GUSTY WINDS..DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
AND HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THESE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON.

IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE INDOORS
UNTIL THE STORMS PASS. REMEMBER LIGHTNING IS THE UNDER-RATED
KILLER IN THUNDERSTORMS.

Local storm report, Jul 23, 5:20 PM EDT, 6 minutes before

LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA, GA
520 PM EDT MON JUL 23 1990

COUNTY......  COBB
SOURCE......  COBB COUNTY POLICE
TIME........  ABOUT 450 PM EDT...23 JULY 90
LOCATION....  NEAR SPRING VALLEY AND SOUTH COBB DR.  ALSO NEAR MOZELLE
              STREET
TYPE STORM..  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
DAMAGE/TREES..TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
              ALSO NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES AROUND COUNTY...ESPECIALLY
              NEAR WINDY HILL...GAMLLERIA AREA.
              ALSO DOBBINS AFB REPORTS 1/4 INCH HAIL...WIND GUSTS TO
              35 KNOTS.
INJURIES....  NONE KNOWN
DEATHS......  NONE KNOWN
COSTS.......  UNKNOWN

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 22, 8:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Lumpkin, White	63 min
Jul 22, 9:12 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Habersham, Stephens	63 min
Jul 23, 3:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Butts, Spalding	47 min
Jul 23, 4:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Henry	50 min
Jul 23, 4:38 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Cobb	52 min
Jul 23, 4:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Coweta, Fayette	48 min
Jul 23, 5:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Fulton	30 min
Jul 23, 5:55 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Rockdale	50 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 1990 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.