Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 74, NWS Atlanta, GA

May 15, 1994Hancock County, Warren County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 1994, 7:52 PM EDT for Hancock County, Warren County, Georgia. It was in force for 68 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 1994, 7:52 PM EDT (23:52 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 1994, 9:00 PM EDT
In force
68 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Hancock County, GA, Warren County, GA

The nearest sounding before it

Athens Municipal, GA (KAHN), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 80 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 KAGS 152352 RRA
SVRAGS
GAC141-301-160100-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
752 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUGUSTA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  900 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
 
   ...NORTHERN HANCOCK COUNTY...WARREN COUNTY
 
AT 750 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN
NORTHERN HANCOCK COUNTY JUST NORTHEAST OF SPARTA. THIS STORM WAS MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

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, 6:58 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
GAZAL048-152355-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS,    GEORGIA
654 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUSCOGEE...CHATTAHOOCHEE...
   ...MARION...STEWART AND WEBSTER COUNTIES UNTIL 8 PM EDT...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR HARRIS...TALBOT AND TAYLOR
COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT...

AT 650 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN COLUMBUS SHOWED ONLY
SCATTERED LIGHT RAINSHOWERS OCCURRING OVER EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA AND
WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA.  HOWEVER...THE POSSIBILITY STILL EXISTS FOR
THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP AND BECOME SEVERE EARLY 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, 6:59 PM EDT, 53 minutes before
GAZ081-110-128-130-131-160000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR LOCATION UNDER SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
659 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN MACON IS OPERATIONAL AGAIN...AND AT
705 PM EDT THUNDERSHOWERS WERE INDICATED OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH
CENTRAL GEORGIA FROM ALBANY TO OVER TURNER COUNTY...BEN HILL COUNTY AND
CONTINUING NORTHEAST OVER TATTNALL COUNTY. MOVEMENT IS TO THE EAST
NORTHEAST AT AROUND 10 MPH. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:06 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
GAZ081-110-128-130-131-160000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
659 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN MACON IS OPERATIONAL AGAIN...AND AT
705 PM EDT THUNDERSHOWERS WERE INDICATED OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH
CENTRAL GEORGIA FROM ALBANY TO OVER TURNER COUNTY...BEN HILL COUNTY AND
CONTINUING NORTHEAST OVER TATTNALL COUNTY. MOVEMENT IS TO THE EAST
NORTHEAST AT AROUND 10 MPH. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR
PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUCED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD Q&UICKLY.
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:07 PM EDT, 45 minutes before
GAZ081-110-128-130-131-160000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR LOCATION UNDER SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM WATCH...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MACON GA
659 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN MACON IS OPERATIONAL AGAIN...AND AT
705 PM EDT THUNDERSHOWERS WERE INDICATED OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH
CENTRAL GEORGIA FROM ALBANY TO OVER TURNER COUNTY...BEN HILL COUNTY AND
CONTINUING NORTHEAST OVER TATTNALL COUNTY. MOVEMENT IS TO THE EAST
NORTHEAST AT AROUND 10 MPH. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH CONTINUES FOR
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL GEORGIA UNTIL MIDNIGHT.

IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...MOVE TO A PLACE OF SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IF A
STORM APPROACHES.  MOTORISTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR REDUC(ED
VISIBILITIES DURING DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.  STREETS MAY FLOOD QUICKLY.
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:45 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
GAZ008>010-014>018-023>029-035>038-047>051-152345-

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

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL COUNTIES OF
   NORTHEAST GEORGIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING. ALSO A SEVERE
   THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT
   FOR...STEPHENS...JACKSON...FRANKLIN...MADISON...HART...
   ELBERT...BARROW...CLARKE...OCONEE...OGLETHORPE...WALTON...NEWTON
   MORGAN...GREENE...AND TALIAFERRO COUNTIES...

AT 740 PM EDT A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS VERY HEAVY RAINFALL
EXTENDED ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA FROM NEAR CLAYTON TO JUST WEST OF
ATLANTA. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE STRONGEST
STORMS WERE LOCATED OVER NORTHERN HABERSHAM COUNTY...IN HALL COUNTY OVER
THE NORTH PART OF LAKE LANIER...AND 10 MILES NORTH OF ROSWELL. IF YOU
ARE IN THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA COUNTIES OF HABERSHAM...HALL...BANKS...
RABUN...SETPHENS AND FRANKLIN YOU SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
APPROACHING THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE NEXT HOUR AND MOVE INDOORS UNTIL
THE STORMS HAVE PAST.

THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WERE LOCATED IN SOUTHERN
GREENE...SOUTHERN ELBERT AND NORTHERN WILKES COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST
GEORGIA.

ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE LOCATED
NEAR LYONS..NEAR STATESBORO AND 10 MILES NORTH OF SYLVANIA.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER NORTHWEST GEORGIA NEAR
NEWNAN AND MID WAY BETWEEN GRIFFIN AND HOGANSVILLE ALONG THE COWETA...
MERRIWETHER COUNTY LINE.

IN NORTH CAROLINA A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF
HENDERSONVILLE.

ALSO IN SOUTH CAROLINA AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
NEWBERRY.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, May 15, 7:50 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
GAZ008>010-014>018-023>029-035>038-047>051-152345-

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

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL COUNTIES OF
   NORTHEAST GEORGIA UNTIL 800 PM EDT THIS EVENING. ALSO A SEVERE
   THUNDERSTORM WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT
   FOR...STEPHENS...JACKSON...FRANKLIN...MADISON...HART...
   ELBERT...BARROW...CLARKE...OCONEE...OGLETHORPE...WALTON...NEWTON
   MORGAN...GREENE...AND TALIAFERRO COUNTIES...

AT 740 PM EDT A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS VERY HEAVY RAINFALL
EXTENDED ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA FROM NEAR CLAYTON TO JUST WEST OF
ATLANTA. THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE STRONGEST
STORMS WERE LOCATED OVER NORTHERN HABERSHAM COUNTY...IN HALL COUNTY OVER
THE NORTH PART OF LAKE LANIER...AND 10 MILES NORTH OF ROSWELL. IF YOU
ARE IN THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA COUNTIES OF HABERSHAM...HALL...BANKS...
RABUN...SETPHENS AND FRANKLIN YOU SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
APPROACHING THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE NEXT HOUR AND MOVE INDOORS UNTIL
THE STORMS HAVE PAST.

THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WERE LOCATED IN SOUTHERN
GREENE...SOUTHERN ELBERT AND NORTHERN WILKES COUNTIES OF NORTHEAST
GEORGIA.

ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE LOCATED
NEAR LYONS..NEAR STATESBORO AND 10 MILES NORTH OF SYLVANIA.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED OVER NORTHWEST GEORGIA NEAR
NEWNAN AND MID WAY BETWEEN GRIFFIN AND HOGANSVILLE ALONG THE COWETA...
MERRIWETHER COUNTY LINE.

IN NORTH CAROLINA A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF
HENDERSONVILLE.

ALSO IN SOUTH CAROLINA AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
NEWBERRY.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

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, 6:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHaralson42 min
May 15, 7:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCoweta, Meriwether52 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.