Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Tallahassee, FL

March 3, 1991Sumter County, Georgia

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at Mar 3, 1991, 11:44 AM EST for Sumter County, Georgia. It was in force for 46 min. 1 report 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
Mar 3, 1991, 11:44 AM EST (16:44 UTC)
Expired
Mar 3, 1991, 12:30 PM EST
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area
Whole counties

County Sumter County, GA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 3, 11:45 AM ESTThunderstorm Wind 0Sumter, 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, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 228 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 1991-03-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 1991-03-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 183 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
NaN m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
183 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
336 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 031645
TORCSG
GAC261-031730-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
1144 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBUS HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1230 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA
 
   ...SUMTER COUNTY
 
AT 1145 EST THE SUMTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTED A
TORNADO ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE OF THE CITY ON AMERICUS GEORGIA.
MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
 
 
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.

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

Local storm report, Mar 3, 6:20 AM EST, 5 hours 24 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
620 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

EVENT         LOCATION      REMARKS                                TIME
WIND DAMAGE   TAYLOR COUNTY ROOF BLOWN OFF FLEA MARKET  SVR/WW26   0415-
              (2 N PERRY)   NORTH OF PERRY.  SHERIFF               0500 EST
                            DEPUTY ESTIMATED WINDS OF 80
                            MPH.

WIND DAMAGE   TAYLOR COUNTY REPORT FROM TAYLOR COUNTY   SVR/WW26   0415-
                            C.D. INDICATED REPORTS OF              0500 EST
                            NUMEROUS DOWNED TREES
                            THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY BETWEEN
                            0415 AND 0500 AM EDST.  A DOOR
                            WAS BLOWN OFF THE FIRE STATION
                            TRAILER IN NORTHEASTERN TAYLOR
                            COUNTY.

CTC
Local storm report, Mar 3, 6:42 AM EST, 5 hours 2 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
647 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

EVENT         LOCATION      REMARKS                                TIME
WIND DAMAGE   TAYLOR COUNTY TAYLOR COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT  SVR/WW26   0415-
              (2 N PERRY)   REPORTED ROOF BLOWN OFF FLEA           0500 EST
                            MARKET JUST NORTH OF PERRY

WIND DAMAGE   TAYLOR COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE REPORTED      SVR/WW26   0415-
                 k           NUMEROUS LARGE TREES DOWN              0500 EST
                            ALONG HIGHWAY 27 IN NORTHEAST
                            TAYLOR COUNTY.  WARNING IN
                            EFFECT.
CTC
Local storm report, Mar 3, 6:45 AM EST, 4 hours 59 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
645 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

EVENT         LOCATION      REMARKS                                TIME
WIND DAMAGE   TAYLOR COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT REPORTED ROOF  SVR/WW26   0415-
              (2 N PERRY)   BLOWN OFF FLEA MARKET NORTH            0455 EST
                            OF PERRY.  DEPUTY ESTIMATED
                            WINDS OF 80 MPH.

WIND DAMAGE   TAYLOR COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE RErPORTED      SVR/WW26   0415-
                            NUMEROUS LARGE TREES BLOWN             0455 EST
                            DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 27 IN
                            NORTHEAST TAYLOR COUNTY.

CTC
Local storm report, Mar 3, 7:01 AM EST, 4 hours 43 minutes before
LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
645 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

EVENT         LOCATION      REMARKS                                TIME
WIND DAMAGE   TAYLOR COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT REPORTED ROOF  SVR/WW26   0415-
              (2 N PERRY)   BLOWN OFF FLEA MARKET NORTH            0455 EST
                            OF PERRY.  DEPUTY ESTIMATED
                            WINDS OF 80 MPH.

WIND DAMAGE   TAYLOR COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE REPORTED      SVR/WW26   0415-
                            NUMEROUS LARGE TREES BLOWN             0455 EST
                            DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 27 IN
                            NORTHEAST TAYLOR COUNTY.

CTC
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 7:07 AM EST, 4 hours 37 minutes before
FLZ005-006-007-GAZ011-012-031400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
707 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 27 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR LEON..WAKULLA..
JEFFERSON..MADISON AND TAYLOR COUNTIES IN NORTH FLORIDA AND THOMAS
AND BROOKS COUNTIES IN GEORGIA.  THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT
FOR DIXIE COUNTY FLORIDA ONLY UNTIL 11 AM EST...

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CALHOUN COUNTY OF NORTH
FLORIDA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHWEST GEORGIA COUNTIES
OF SEMINOLE..DECATUR..GRADY..THOMAS AND BROOKS.  IT IS ALSO IN EFFECT
FOR THE NORTH FLORIDA COUNTIES OF JACKSON..CALHOUN..TAYLOR AND DIXIE..

...AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR
LEON..GADSDEN..WAKULLA AND DIXIE COUNTIES.
SINCE THIS RAIN EVENT BEGAN EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.  RAINFALL TOTALS
OVER NORTH FLORIDA DURING THE PAST 36 HOURS HAVE RANGED FROM 5 TO 10
INCHES.  OFFICIALS IN CALHOUN COUNTY INDICATED THAT HIGHWAY 20 IS NOW
OPEN FROM CLARKSVILLE TO HIGHWAY 231.  HOWEVER...NUMEROUS REPORTS
INDICATED THAT MANY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS ARE FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED AREAS IN YOUR AUTOMOBILE.

AT 700 AM EST...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF RAIN AND EMBEDDED
HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MUCH OF DIXIE COUNTY.  ELSEWHERE SHOWERS
AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP OVER THE CENTRAL FLORIDA
PANHANDLE BACK TO NEAR PENSACOLA.  THIS ACTIITY IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT
20 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS CAN EXPECT GUSTY
WINDS..FREQUENT LIGHTING AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME.

..ALSO A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR POSSIBLE WINDS OF
25 TO 35 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  A LAKE WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN POSTED
FOR NORTHERN FLORIDA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS ON THIS CHANGING WEATHER SITUATION.
CTC
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 7:10 AM EST, 4 hours 34 minutes before
FLZ005-006-007-GAZ011-012-031400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
707 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 27 IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR LEON..WAKULLA..
JEFFERSON..MADISON AND TAYLOR COUNTIES IN NORTH FLORIDA AND THOMAS
AND BROOKS COUNTIES IN GEORGIA.  THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT
FOR DIXIE COUNTY FLORIDA ONLY UNTIL 11 AM EST...

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CALHOUN COUNTY OF NORTH
FLORIDA...

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHWEST GEORGIA COUNTIES
OF SEMINOLE..DECATUR..GRADY..THOMAS AND BROOKS.  IT IS ALSO IN EFFECT
FOR THE NORTH FLORIDA COUNTIES OF JACKSON..CALHOUN..TAYLOR AND DIXIE..

...AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR
LEON..GADSDEN..WAKULLA AND DIXIE COUNTIES.
SINCE THIS RAIN EVENT BEGAN EARLY SATURDAY MORNING RAINFALL TOTALS
OVER NORTH FLORIDA HAVE RANGED FROM 5 TO 10 INCHES.  THE REGIONAL AIRPORT
HAS RECORDED NEARLY 9 INCHES OF RAINFALL SINCE EARLY SATURDAY
MORNING. OFFICIALS IN CALHOUN COUNTY INDICATED THAT HIGHWAY 20 IS NOW
OPEN FROM CLARKSVILLE TO HIGHWAY 231.  HOWEVER...NUMEROUS REPORTS
INDICATED THAT MANY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS ARE FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE
REGION.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED AREAS IN YOUR AUTOMOBILE.

AT 700 AM EST...RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF RAIN AND EMBEDDED
HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS COVERING MUCH OF DIXIE COUNTY.  ELSEWHERE SHOWERS
AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP OVER THE CENTRAL FLORIDA
PANHANDLE BACK TO NEAR PENSACOLA.  THIS ACTIITY IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT
20 MPH.

PERSONS IN THE VICINITY OF THESE STORMS CAN EXPECT GUSTY
WINDS..FREQUENT LIGHTING AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IN A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME.

..ALSO A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY FOR POSSIBLE WINDS OF
25 TO 35 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  A LAKE WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN POSTED
FOR NORTHERN FLORIDA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS ON THIS CHANGING WEATHER SITUATION.

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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.