Alert archive / Georgia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1990

Flash Flood Warning 11, NWS Tallahassee, FL

March 17, 1990Webster County, Georgia

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this flash flood warning at Mar 17, 1990, 11:00 AM EST for Webster County, Georgia. It was in force for 3 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 17, 1990, 11:00 AM EST (16:00 UTC)
Expired
Mar 17, 1990, 2:00 PM EST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area
Whole counties

County Webster 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 12:00Z, 4.0 hours before the alert went out and 242 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 12:00Z on 1990-03-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 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 12:00Z on 1990-03-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -111 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
619 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-111 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
58 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 KCSG 171601
FFWCSG
GAC307-171900-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
1100 AM EST SAT MAR 17 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBUS HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  200 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA
 
   ...WEBSTER COUNTY
 
AT 1045 AM EST A DAM BURST JUST NORTH OF PRESTON GEORGIA IN WEBSTER
COUNTY. WATER WAS REPORTED TO BE RISING AROUND 6 INCHES AN HOUR. THE
DAM WAS LOCATED ON THE KINCHAFOONEE CREEK.
 
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT.  IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR
CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS.  CAMPERS SHOULD
AVOID CAMPING ALONG STREAMS OR CREEKS DURING THREATENING RAINS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 17, 5:37 AM EST, 5 hours 23 minutes before
FLZ004-171145-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APALACHICOLA FL
535 AM EST SAT MAR 17 1990

...THE TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR PART OF THE EAST
FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND NORTH FLORIDA UNTIL 900 AM EST. THIS INCLUDES
GULF AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES AND THEIR ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.

AT 525 AM EST...A NEARLY SOLID LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN
STRETCHED FROM THOMASVILLE GEORGIA TO THE COAST AT CARRABELLE FLORIDA.
THE LINE THEN EXTENDED SOUTHWEST OUT OVER THE GULF FOR 100 MILES.

THIS LINE WAS PART OF A LARGE AREA OF MOSTLY LIGHT RAIN THAT COVERED
THE PANHANDLE AND THE ADJACENT GULF OUT TO 100 MILES OFFSHORE. THE
AREA ALSO COVERED EXTREME SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 15 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 17, 6:05 AM EST, 4 hours 55 minutes before
FLZ003-005-GAZ011-012-171200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
6:15 AM EST (5:15 AM CST) SAT MAR 17 1990

...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE FLORIDA BIG BEND AND
   SOUTHWEST GEORGIA UNTIL 9 AM EST.

AT 610 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
SHOWERS WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING WEST OF A LINE FROM
NEAR QUITMAN GEORGIA TO MONTICELLO TO ST. MARKS EXTENDING INTO THE GULF
OVER 150 MILES.  THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER THE GULF ABOUT 30
MILES SOUTH OF ALLIGATOR POINT.  THE LINE OF PRECIPITATION IS MOVING EAST
AT 10 TO 15 MPH.  HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE WAKULLA
..JEFFERSON AND TAYLOR COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.

COLLINS
Special weather statement, Mar 17, 6:34 AM EST, 4 hours 26 minutes before
FLZ003-005-GAZ011-012-171300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
6:35 AM EST (5:35 AM CST) SAT MAR 17 1990

...TORNADO WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR JACKSON..CALHOUN..GADSDEN..
LIBERTY..LEON AND WAKULLA COUNTIES IN FLORIDA OR SEMINOLE..GRADY AND
DECATUR COUNTIES IN GEORGIA.  TORNADO WATCH DOES REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL
9 AM EST FOR PERSONS IN JEFFERSON..MADISON..TAYLOR AND DIXIE COUNTIES IN
FLORIDA AND THOMAS AND BROOKS COUNTIES OF GEORGIA._

AT 630 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
SHOWERS WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS COVERING ALL OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA
AND THE BIG BEND AREA OF FLORIDA AND EXTENDING INTO THE GULF FOR 150 MILES.
THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER THE GULF ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
ALLIGATOR POINT.  THE LINE OF PRECIPITATION IS MOVING EAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.
HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE MAINLY OVER THE COASTAL AREAS OF
WAKULLA..JEFFERSON..TA7YLOR AND DIXIE COUNTIES IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

CTC
Special weather statement, Mar 17, 6:43 AM EST, 4 hours 17 minutes before
FLZ004-171245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APALACHICOLA FL
645 AM EST SAT MAR 17 1990

...THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR GULF AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES...

AT 629 AM EST...A NEARLY SOLID LINE OF SHOWERS WITH HEAVY RAIN
STRETCHED FROM 25 MILES EAST OF TALLAHASSEE TO A POINT IN APALACHEE
BAY ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF ALLIGATOR POINT. THE LINE THEN EXTENDED SOUTH-
WEST OVER THE GULF FOR 125 MILES.

THIS LINE WAS PART OF A LARGE AREA OF MOSTLY LIGHT RAIN THAT COVERED
THE PANHANDLE AND THE ADJACENT GULF OUT TO 100 MILES OFFSHORE. THE
AREA ALSO COVERED A SMALL PART OF SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND SOUTHWEST
GEORGIA.

MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 15 MILES AN HO"UR.
Special weather statement, Mar 17, 7:41 AM EST, 3 hours 19 minutes before
FLZ003-005-GAZ011-012-171400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
7:45 AM EST (6:45 AM CST) SAT MAR 17 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 93 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ALL FLORIDA AND
GEORGIA COUNTIES.

AT 730 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MOSTLY LIGHT WIND WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER ALL OF SOUTHWEST
GEORGIA THE BIG BEND AREA OF FLORIDA AND EXTENDING INTO THE GULF FOR 150 MILES.
tTHE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER THE GULF ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTH OF
APALACHICOLA.   THE LINE OF PRECIPITATION IS MOVING EAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.

BRIEF HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS
NEAR THE COAST.

CTC
Special weather statement, Mar 17, 7:46 AM EST, 3 hours 14 minutes before
FLZ003-005-GAZ011-012-171400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
7:45 AM EST (6:45 AM CST) SAT MAR 17 1990

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 93 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR ALL FLORIDA AND
GEORGIA COUNTIES.

AT 730 AM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
MOSTLY LIGHT RAIN WITH A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER ALL OF SOUTHWEST
GEORGIA THE BIG BEND AREA OF FLORIDA AND EXTENDING INTO THE GULF FOR 150 MILES.
THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER THE GULF ABOUT 30 MILES SOUTH OF
APALACHICOLA.   THE LINE OF PRECIPITATION IS MOVING EAST AT 10 TO 15 MPH.

BRIEF HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS
NEAR THE COAST.

CTC

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tallahassee, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 16, 9:34 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEMacon, Taylor41 min
Mar 16, 11:40 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningTAEMuscogee3 hr
Mar 17, 12:57 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEStewart63 min
Mar 17, 2:20 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAECalhoun, Terrell25 min
Mar 17, 2:53 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningTAEMuscogee4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Georgia, 1990Every flash flood 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.