Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 4, NWS Atlanta, GA

March 29, 1991Cobb County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Mar 29, 1991, 8:37 AM EST for Cobb County, Georgia. It was in force for 38 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 29, 1991, 8:37 AM EST (13:37 UTC)
Expired
Mar 29, 1991, 9:15 AM EST
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

County Cobb County, GA

The nearest sounding before it

Athens Municipal, GA (KAHN), launched 12:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 118 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 1991-03-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 450 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, Athens Municipal, GA at 12:00Z on 1991-03-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 293 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
450 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
625 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
293 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
356 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
4.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KATL 291337
TORATL
GAC067-291415-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA  GA
837 AM EST FRI MAR 29 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ATLANTA  HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  915 AM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
 
   ...COBB COUNTY
 
RADAR INDICATED A STORM MOVING THROUGH COBB COUNTY TO THE NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH. FUNNEL CLOUDS HAVE BEEN SIGHTED WITH THIS STORM NEAR SMYRNA.
 
 
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING OR GET INTO A DITCH OR CULVERT.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 29, 5:55 AM EST, 2 hours 42 minutes before
GAZALL-300000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GEORGIA
600 AM EST FRIDAY MARCH 29 1991

...OUTBREAK OF TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TODAY
  INTO TONIGHT OVER MUCH OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES...

THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER IN KANSAS CITY MISSOURI
IS FORECASTING AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES
TODAY INTO TONIGHT OVER A LARGE PART OF THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

THE STATES WHICH ARE MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THE BRUNT OF THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO ACTIVITY INCLUDE PARTS OF ALABAMA
...AND MOST OF GEORGIA...SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH CAROLINA.

A LOW PRESSURE AREA LOCATED OVER MISSISSIPPI THIS MORNING WILL
DEEPEN AND MOVE RAPIDLY NORTHEAST TODAY TO A POSITION OVER NORTH
CAROLINA BY TONIGHT.  A STRONG COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO MOVE
EASTWARD ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST STATES THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT
PROVIDING THE MAIN FOCUS FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT.

A VERY STRONG UPPER LEVEL JETSTREAM MOVING FROM TEXAS TO NORTH
CAROLINA WILL INTERACT WITH A STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW OF WARM
AND MOIST AIR FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO.  THIS COMBINATION OF
CONTRASTING AIR MASSES IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY
INGREDIENTS FOR AN EXPLOSIVE OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
AND TORNADOES TODAY INTO TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS PARTS OF ALABAMA
AND MISSISSIPPI THIS MORNING WHERE TORNADO WATCHES HAVE ALREADY BEEN
ISSUED.  DAYTIME HEATING WILL SET THE STAGE FOR INTENSIFICATION
OF THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM GEORGIA
INTO SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH CAROLINA.

THE COMBINATION OF A DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM...A VERY
STRONG JETSTREAM ALOFT AND A MOIST UNSTABLE AIRMASS AHEAD OF
THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BE SUFFICIENT TO BRING A THREAT
OF POTENTIALLY DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES TO THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.
DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS AND LARGE HAIL AREA ALSO POSSIBLE
WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.  IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THIS IS A
DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION FOR MUCH OF ALABAMA...GEORGIA...
SOUTH CAROLINA...AND NORTH CAROLINA.
ALL PERSONS IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SAFETY RULES
...AND LISTEN TO RADIO..TV..OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WATCHES OR WARNINGS.  THIS IS A POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION FOR THE AFFECTED AREAS AND SHOULD BE
MONITORED VERY CLOSELY.
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 7:16 AM EST, 1 hour 21 minutes before
GAZ005-006-ALZ012-291315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
713 AM EST FRI MAR 29 1991

...THUNDERSTORMS INCREASING OVER WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND EAST CENTRAL
ALABAMA...

AT 710
AM EST WEATHER RADAR INDICATED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS AROUND
HURTSBORO AND EUFAULA ALABAMA MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.  THESE AND OTHER
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER CENTRAL GEORGIA AND
CENTRAL ALABAMA FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

PEOPLE IN THOSE AREAS...INCLUDING COLUMBUS AND PHENIX CITY...SHOULD
BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS MORNING.
THE LARGER THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO CONTAIN VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...
SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

SINCE SEVERE WEATHER MAY DEVELOP OVER CENTRAL GEORGIA AND CENTRAL
ALABAMA TODAY...PEOPLE IN THOSE AREAS SHOULD ALSO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER
RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS FOR THE LATEST
UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 7:29 AM EST, 1 hour 8 minutes before
GAZ001-003-005-291330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GEORGIA
730 AM EST FRI MAR 29 1991

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST FOR MOST OF NORTH
  GEORGIA...

AT 725 AM EST AN AREA OF RAIN WITH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS COVERED MOST
OF NORTH GEORGIA FROM NORTH OF A LINE FROM CLAYTON TO CEDARTOWN.
HOWEVER A STRONGER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS IN ALABAMA JUST WEST OF
CEDARTOWN MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THIS REMAINS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OR
TORNADOES COULD DEVELOP VERY QUICKLY. RESIDENTS OF NORTH GEORGIA
SHOULD REMAIN ALERT TO THE WEATHER AND SEEK SAFE SHELTER INDOORS
IF THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPS OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.
Local storm report, Mar 29, 7:31 AM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATLANTA GA
730 AM EST FRI MAR 29 1991

WARNING.... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
COUNTY..... FLOYD
SOURCE..... PUBLIC REPORT TO FLOYD COUNTY 911
TIME......  BETWEEN 6 AND 630 AM
LOCATION... NEAR THE TOWN OF SILVER CREEK
DAMAGE..... TREES DOWN ACROSS ROADWAY
HAIL....... NONE REPORTED
INJURIES... NOT REPORTED
REMARKS.... NONE

WARNING.... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
COUNTY..... POLK
SOURCE..... VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT.
TIME....... BETWEEN 6 AND 630 AM
LOCATION... TOWN OF ESOM HILL
DAMAGE..... NUMEROUS POWER AND PHONE LINES DOWN
HAIL....... NONE REPORTED
INJURIES... NOT REPORTED
REMARKS.... NONE
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 8:08 AM EST, 29 minutes before
GAZ006-291515-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
809 AM EST FRI MAR 29 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST FOR MOST OF NORTH GEORGIA
INCLUDING MONROE...JASPER...AND PUTNAM COUNTIES...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
MOST OF NORTH GEORGIA. AT 8 AM EST WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED ONLY
LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN MOVING INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA. HOWEVER...POSSIBLE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING OVER WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST
GEORGIA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT AROUND 50 MPH.

THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER IN KANSAS CITY IS
FORECASTING AN OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO A^CTIVITY
FOR MOST OF GEORGIA TODAY. PERSONS IN THE THREATENED AREA...INCLUDING
ALL OF CENTRAL GEORGIA...ARE URGED TO REVIEW SAFETY RULES AND LISTEN
TO RADIO...TV...OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE
WATCHES OR WARNINGS.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 29, 5:48 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFloyd, Polk42 min
Mar 29, 7:46 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll29 min
Mar 29, 8:29 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCobb31 min
Mar 29, 8:31 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDouglas29 min
Mar 29, 8:46 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFulton44 min
Mar 29, 9:05 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDeKalb40 min
Mar 29, 9:16 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCoweta, Fayette44 min
Mar 29, 9:24 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGwinnett51 min
Mar 29, 9:29 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClayton, Fulton46 min
Mar 29, 9:32 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJasper, Monroe58 min
Mar 29, 9:39 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCButts, Lamar51 min
Mar 29, 9:41 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrawford64 min
Mar 29, 9:55 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMorgan, Newton, Oconee, Walton65 min
Mar 29, 10:14 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Franklin, Habersham, Jackson, Stephens61 min
Mar 29, 10:14 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBarrow61 min
Mar 29, 10:20 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMeriwether, Troup25 min
Mar 29, 11:01 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCElbert, Franklin, Hart, Madison119 min
Mar 29, 11:01 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClarke, Oconee, Oglethorpe119 min
Mar 29, 11:01 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCStephens119 min
Mar 29, 11:12 AM ESTTornado WarningFFCMonroe48 min
Mar 29, 11:32 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJasper, Jones58 min
Mar 29, 11:32 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrawford58 min
Mar 29, 11:50 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Houston, Peach55 min
Mar 29, 12:36 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCTwiggs69 min
Mar 29, 12:45 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGlascock, Jefferson, Washington60 min
Mar 29, 12:50 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHouston55 min
Mar 29, 12:50 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCWilkinson55 min
Mar 29, 1:42 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBurke, Emanuel, Jefferson, Johnson33 min
Mar 29, 2:24 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCUpson36 min
Mar 29, 2:25 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBurke, Jenkins, Screven35 min
Mar 29, 3:19 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Crawford, Peach56 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes in 1991

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.