Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 67, NWS Atlanta, GA

March 16, 1990Wilkes County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 16, 1990, 7:59 PM EST for Wilkes County, Georgia. It was in force for 61 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 16, 1990, 7:59 PM EST (00:59 UTC)
Expired
Mar 16, 1990, 9:00 PM EST
In force
61 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

County Wilkes 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

Athens Municipal, GA (KAHN), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 55 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 1990-03-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 60 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Athens Municipal, GA at 00:00Z on 1990-03-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 428 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
60 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-108 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
953 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
77 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
428 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
525 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KAGS 170106 COR
SVRAGS
GAC317-170200-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
759 PM EST FRI MAR 16 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUGUSTA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...

IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

   ...WILKES COUNTY

AT 755 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR WAS DETECTING A LINE OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM TOCCOA TO CRAWFORDVILLE AND WAS MOVING EAST
AT 50 MPH.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DON'T USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL TrHE STORM
HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

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, Mar 16, 5:18 PM EST, 2 hours 41 minutes before
GAZ001-003-170005-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
515 PM EST THU MAR 15 1990

AT 510 PM EST...HEAVY RAIN AND SHOWERS HAD DEVELOPED OVER NORTHWEST
AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS. THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING FROM NORTHEAST OF LA GRANGE IN TROUP
COUNTY AND NEAR DOUGLASVILLE IN DOUGLAS COUNTY. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL
STRETCHED FROM TROUP COUNTY NORTH ACROSS COWETA AND DOUGLAS COUNTIE|S.
THIS AREA OF RAINFALL WAS MOVING EAST AT NEAR 40 MPH AND SHOULD CROSS
THE METROPOLITAN AREA BETWEEN NOW AND 7 PM EST.

BRIEF DOWNPOURS AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED AS THIS AREA OF
PRECIPITION MOVES INTO THE ATLANTA METROPOLITAN AREA.
Special weather statement, Mar 16, 5:30 PM EST, 2 hours 29 minutes before
GAZ001-003-170005-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
515 PM EST FRI MAR 16 1990

AT 510 PM EST...HEAVY RAIN AND SHOWERS HAD DEVELOPED OVER NORTHWEST
AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS. THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING FROM NORTHEAST OF LA GRANGE IN TROUP
COUNTY AND NEAR DOUGLASVILLE IN DOUGLAS COUNTY. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL
STRETCHED FROM TROUP COUNTY NORTH ACROSS COWETA AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES.
THIS AREA OF RAINFALL WAS MOVING EAST AT NEAR 40 MPH AND SHOULD CROSS
THE METROPOLITAN ATLANTA AREA BETWEEN NOW AND 7 PM EST.

BRIEF DOWNPOURS AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE EXPECTED AS THIS AREA OF
PRECIPITION MOVES INTO THE ATLANTA METROPOLITAN AREA.
Special weather statement, Mar 16, 6:16 PM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
GAZ006-170100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
615 PM EST FRI MAR 16 1990

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE NORTHERN HALF OF GEORGIA CONTINUES THROUGH
SATURDAY...
...TORNADO WATCH FOR SOUTHWEST AND PARTS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL
9 PM...

AT 610 PM RADAR IN MACON SHOWED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM ATLANTA
SOUTH TO NEAR THOMASTON AND BUTLER. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA NEAR MONTICELLO
IN JASPER COUNTY...FORSYTH IN MONROE COUNTY...AND NEAR ROBERTA IN
CRAWFORD COUNTY WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH THESE STORMS COULD CAUSE STREET FLOODING. STRONG
GUSTY WINDS CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
Special weather statement, Mar 16, 6:39 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
GAZ002-004-161730-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
635 PM EST FRI MAR 16 1990

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CONTINUED
TO MOVE ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA. AT 625 PM EST THE LINE EXTENDED FROM NEAR
DAWSONVILLE TO GRIFFIN AND WAS MOVING EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
PERSONS THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA SHOULD KEEP ALERT TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND POSSIBLE
HAIL AS THESE STORMS MOVE THROUGH DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

ELSEWHERE RAIN AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED FROM
ALABAMA...ACROSS GEORGIA...INTO EAST TENNESSEE AND THE WESTERN
CAROLINAS.

MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 16, 7:26 PM EST, 33 minutes before
GAZ002-004-161730-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
725 PM EST FRI MAR 16 1990

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS INDICATED ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA FROM
NEAR GAINESVILLE...ACROSS WINDER AND MADISON TO EATONTON. THE LINE WAS
MOVING EAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR. PERSONS THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA
GEORGIA SHOULD KEEP ALERT AS THIS LINE MOVES THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE
NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. STORMS OF THIS INTENSITY PRODUCE VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND POSSIBLE HAIL...SO
KEEP ALERT AND SEEK SHELTERS INDOORS.

ELSEWHERE RAIN AND SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE INDICATED FROM CENTRAL
ALABAMA...ACROSS GEORGIA...INTO SOUTHEAST TENN5ESSEE AND THE WESTERN
CAROLINAS.

MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.
Local storm report, Mar 16, 7:47 PM EST, 12 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
745 PM EST FRI MAR 16 1990

630 PM EST.....ROCKDALE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES 911 REPORTED
               TORNADO SIGHTING. THEY REPORT NUMEROUS TREES AND
               POWER LINES DOWN WITH DAMAGE TO AN ESTIMATED
               200 TO 400 HOMES...MAINLY FROM FALLING TREES.
               SOME ROADS CLOSED. NO INJURIES REPORTED SO FAR.
               DAMAGE OCCURRED SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 IN THE
               VICINITY OF GEORGIA HIGHWAY 20 AND HONEY CREEK
               ROAD. POWER OUT ACROSS MOST OF THE SOUTHERN PART
               OF THE COUNTY.

DELAYED REPORT....WXIA-TV REPORTS NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN HENRY
                  COUNTY \AROUND MC DONOUGH. TIME OF OCCURRENCE
                  APPARENTLY AROUND 630 PM EST.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 16, 7:06 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCMorgan, Oconee69 min
Mar 16, 7:18 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGreene, Oconee, Oglethorpe57 min
Mar 16, 7:18 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClarke, Jackson, Madison57 min
Mar 16, 7:18 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Franklin57 min
Mar 16, 7:40 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCClarke, Madison, Oglethorpe35 min
Mar 16, 7:53 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCElbert, Hart67 min
Mar 16, 8:34 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCLincoln41 min
Mar 16, 8:59 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCLincoln61 min
Mar 16, 9:44 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrawford, Monroe, Peach61 min
Mar 16, 9:44 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJasper61 min
Mar 16, 9:52 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCPolk8 hr
Mar 16, 9:57 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCCobb, Douglas, Fulton5 hr
Mar 16, 9:57 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCDeKalb5 hr
Mar 16, 10:03 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Jones57 min
Mar 17, 12:30 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCDeKalb, Fulton6 hr
Mar 17, 12:30 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCCobb, Douglas6 hr
Mar 17, 1:59 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCHenry, Rockdale4 hr
Mar 17, 1:59 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCClayton, Fayette, Spalding4 hr
Mar 17, 1:59 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCLamar, Pike, Upson4 hr
Mar 17, 1:59 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCButts4 hr
Mar 17, 2:26 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrawford, Monroe64 min
Mar 17, 5:45 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCCobb, Douglas, Fulton6 hr
Mar 17, 5:45 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCDeKalb6 hr
Mar 17, 6:08 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCButts, Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Pike and 1 more4 hr
Mar 17, 6:08 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCUpson4 hr
Mar 17, 6:08 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCRockdale4 hr
Mar 17, 6:37 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCFannin5 hr
Mar 17, 7:21 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCWhite3 hr
Mar 17, 7:35 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCJasper, Jones, Monroe3 hr
Mar 17, 10:54 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCJones, Monroe3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 1990Every 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.