Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 72, NWS Atlanta, GA

May 15, 1994Haralson County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 1994, 6:03 PM EDT for Haralson County, Georgia. It was in force for 42 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 1994, 6:03 PM EDT (22:03 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 1994, 6:45 PM EDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

County Haralson County, GA

The nearest sounding before it

Athens Municipal, GA (KAHN), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 177 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 1994-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 365 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 1994-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 97 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
365 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-40 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
579 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
97 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
130 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS1 KATL 152205
SVRFFC
GAC143-152245-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
603 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  645 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
 
   ...HARALSON COUNTY
 
A THUNDERSTORM WAS INDCATED WITH HAIL LIKELY JUST ON THE ALABAMA-GEORGIA
BORDER OF HARALSON COUNTY. THIS STORM PRODUCED GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL OVER
CALHOUN COUNTY IN ALABAMA. THE STORM WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST AT 25
MPH.
 
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
 
 
 
&

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, May 15, 5:12 PM EDT, 51 minutes before
GAZAL048-152215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS,    GEORGIA
512 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND
PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL 8 PM EDT...

AT 506 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN COLUMBUS SHOWED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA 10 MILES SOUTH OF SEALE.
THE STORM WAS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH AND SHOULD MOVE
INTO STEWART COUNTY OF WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA OVER THE NEXT HOUR.
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN...DAMAGING
WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HAIL WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP
THROUGHOUT THIS EVENING.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS SHOULD WATCH FOR
THREATENING WEATHER AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... COMMERCIAL
RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 15, 5:13 PM EDT, 50 minutes before
GAZAL048-152215-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS,    GEORGIA
512 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND
PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL 8 PM EDT...

AT 506 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN COLUMBUS SHOWED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA 10 MILES SOUTH OF SEALE.
THE STORM WAS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH AND SHOULD MOVE
INTO STEWART COUNTY OF WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA OVER THE NEXT HOUR.
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS OF RAIN...DAMAGING
WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HAIL WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP
THROUGHOUT THIS EVENING.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE WATCH AREA.  PERSONS SHOULD WATCH FOR
THREATENING WEATHER AND LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO... COMMERCIAL
RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Special weather statement, May 15, 5:45 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
GAZ008>010-014>018-023>029-035>038-047>051-152330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
545 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHEAST
   GEORGIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 540 PM EDT THERE WERE NO THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA HOWEVER
A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR TELLICO PLAINS...IN
SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE...ACROSS NORTHWEST GEORGIA...INTO EAST ALABAMA NEAR
JACKSONVILLE. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR CHATSWORTH...ROME
AND SOUTH OF GEORGIA.

ANOTHER LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER NORTHWEST GEORGIA INTO
EASTCENTRAL ALABAMA. THE LINE EXTENDED FROM NEAR ACKWORTH GEORGIA
SOUTHWEST TO ROANOKE ALABAMA. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS MOVING TOWARDS
BREMAN AND CARROLLTON IN CARROLL COUNTY GEORGIA.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND
SOUTHWEST SOUTH CAROLINA. THE STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED
NEAR SYLVANIA GEORGIA AND ALLENDALE SOUTH CAROLINA.

ALSO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE OVER WEST NORTH
CAROLINA NEAR WAYNESVILLE AND 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRYSON CITY.

THE LINES WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR WHILE EACH
INDIVIDUAL STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, May 15, 5:48 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
GAZ008>010-014>018-023>029-035>038-047>051-152330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
545 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF NORTHEAST
   GEORGIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 540 PM EDT THERE WERE NO THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA HOWEVER
A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR TELLICO PLAINS...IN
SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE...ACROSS NORTHWEST GEORGIA...INTO EAST ALABAMA NEAR
JACKSONVILLE. THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR CHATSWORTH...ROME
AND SOUTH OF GEORGIA.

ANOTHER LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS OVER NORTHWEST GEORGIA INTO
EASTCENTRAL ALABAMA. THE LINE EXTENDED FROM NEAR ACKWORTH GEORGIA
SOUTHWEST TO ROANOKE ALABAMA. THE STRONGEST STORM WAS MOVING TOWARDS
BREMAN AND CARROLLTON IN CARROLL COUNTY GEORGIA.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND
SOUTHWEST SOUTH CAROLINA. THE STRONGEST OF THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED
NEAR SYLVANIA GEORGIA AND ALLENDALE SOUTH CAROLINA.

ALSO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE OVER WEST NORTH
CAROLINA NEAR WAYNESVILLE AND 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF BRYSON CITY.

THE LINES WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MILESJ AN HOUR WHILE EACH
INDIVIDUAL STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, May 15, 5:53 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
GAZ127-129-143>146-152255-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS,    GEORGIA
553 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

AT 550 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.  THE STRONGEST STORMS
WERE IN MILLER COUNTY...SEVEN MILES NORTHEAST OF COLQUITT...AND OVER
WORTH COUNTY BETWEEN BRIDGEBORO AND SYLVESTER.  THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.  THE STORM OVER MILLER COUNTY
WILL BE MOVING INTO BAKER COUNTY OVER THE NEXT HOUR.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
SMALL HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.

WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DO NOT USE TELEPHONES OR
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM HAS
PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
Special weather statement, May 15, 5:53 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
GAZ127-129-143>146-152255-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS,    GEORGIA
553 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

AT 550 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.  THE STRONGEST STORMS
WERE IN MILLER COUNTY...SEVEN MILES NORTHEAST OF COLQUITT...AND OVER
WORTH COUNTY BETWEEN BRIDGEBORO AND SYLVESTER.  THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.  THE STORM OVER MILLER COUNTY
WILL BE MOVING INTO BAKER COUNTY OVER THE NEXT HOUR.

STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
SMALL HAIL MAY ACCOMPANY THE STRONGER STORMS.

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

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 14, 9:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDade41 min
May 14, 11:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Jackson69 min
May 14, 11:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGilmer, Pickens46 min
May 15, 1:10 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Jackson50 min
May 15, 2:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee49 min
May 15, 3:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCherokee57 min
May 15, 4:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattooga49 min
May 15, 4:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJenkins, Screven40 min
May 15, 5:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCScreven68 min
May 15, 5:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll46 min
May 15, 7:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCoweta, Meriwether52 min
May 15, 7:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHancock, Warren68 min
May 15, 7:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJenkins, Screven48 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 1994Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1994

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.