Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 76, NWS Atlanta, GA

May 15, 1994Lamar County, Pike County, Spalding County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 15, 1994, 8:05 PM EDT for Lamar County, Pike County, Spalding County, Georgia. It was in force for 40 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 1994, 8:05 PM EDT (00:05 UTC)
Expired
May 15, 1994, 8:45 PM EDT
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lamar County, GA, Pike County, GA, Spalding County, GA

The nearest sounding before it

Athens Municipal, GA (KAHN), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 127 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 00:00Z on 1994-05-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1847 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 1994-05-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 62 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
1847 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-4 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
937 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
62 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
89 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
2.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KATL 160008
SVRATL
GAC255-171-231-160045-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
805 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  845 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
 
   ...SOUTHERN SPALDING COUNTY
 
IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA
 
   ...LAMAR COUNTY...NORTHERN PIKE COUNTY
 
AT 805 PM RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM JUST SOUTHWEST OF GRIFFIN
ALONG THE SPAULDING AND PIKE COUNTY LINES. THE STORM WAS MOVING TOWARDS 
E30 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, 7:07 PM EDT, 58 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, 20 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, 15 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.
Local storm report, May 15, 7:54 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
754 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

COUNTY......  WORTH COUNTY GEORGIA
SOURCE......  SHERIFFS OFFICE AND SYLVESTER POLICE
TIME........  APPROXIMATELY 720 PM EDT
DAMAGE......  NUMEROUS TREES AND LARGE LIMBS DOWN IN COUNTY.
              LARGE TREE FELL ON HOUSE NEAR SYLVESTER.
INJURIES....  NONE REPORTED
DEATHS......  NONE
COSTS.......  NOT AVAILABLE
Local storm report, May 15, 7:59 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBUS GA
754 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

COUNTY......  WORTH COUNTY GEORGIA
SOURCE......  SHERIFFS OFFICE AND SYLVESTER POLICE
TIME........  APPROXIMATELY 720 PM EDT
DAMAGE......  NUMEROUS TREES AND LARGE LIMBS DOWN IN COUNTY.
INJURIES....  NONE REPORTED
DEATHS......  NONE
COSTS.......  NOT AVAILABLE
Special weather statement, May 15, 8:05 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
GAZ008>010-014>018-023>029-035>038-047>051-160400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ATHENS GA
805 PM EDT SUN MAY 15 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA
   HAS EXPIRED. HOWEVER A WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR
   STEPHENS...JACKSON...FRANKLIN...MADISON...HART...
   ELBERT...BARROW...CLARKE...OCONEE...OGLETHORPE...WALTON...NEWTON
   MORGAN...GREENE...AND TALIAFERRO COUNTIES.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE DEVELOPING ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEAST
GEORGIA THIS EVENING. STAY ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER
CONDITIONS. IF YOU ARE IN OR NEAR THUNDERSTORMS SEEK SHELTER
QUICKLY. THUNDERSTORMS MAY HAVE STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING..AND POSSIBLE HAIL.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 15, 8:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCLaurens, Treutlen55 min
May 15, 8:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMeriwether, Pike43 min
May 15, 8:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCTroup43 min
May 15, 8:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJenkins, Screven55 min
May 15, 8:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJasper55 min
May 15, 9:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJones63 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.