Alert archive / Georgia / Flash Flood Warnings in 1996

Flash Flood Warning 27, NWS Atlanta, GA

March 6, 1996DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this flash flood warning at Mar 6, 1996, 8:44 AM EST for DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Georgia. It was in force for 4 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 6, 1996, 8:44 AM EST (13:44 UTC)
Expired
Mar 6, 1996, 12:45 PM EST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Whole counties

Counties DeKalb County, GA, Gwinnett County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:43 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 1.7 hours before the alert went out and 258 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, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 1996-03-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 168 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 1996-03-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 320 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
168 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-14 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
561 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
320 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
332 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
1.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KATL 061344
FFWATL
GAC067-089-121-135-061745-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
844 AM EST WED MAR 6 1996
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1245 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
 
   ...COBB COUNTY...DE KALB COUNTY...NORTHERN FULTON COUNTY
   ...GWINNETT COUNTY
 
...VERY HEAVY RAINS LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING WILL CAUSED SMALL
STREAMS AND LOW AREA TO BECOME FLOODED THROUGH EARLY THIS AFTERNOON IN
THE ATLANTA METRO AREA...
 
SINCE AROUND 10 PM LAST NIGHT BETWEEN THREE AND THREE AND A HALF INCHES
HAVE FALLEN OVER THE SIX COUNTY AREA THAT MAKES UP THE ATLANTA METRO
AREA. THE RUNOFF FROM THE HEAVY RAINS WILL CAUSE THE ATLANTA AREA CREEKS
TO RISE SHARPLY AND VERY LIKELY COME OUT OF THEIR BANKS THIS MORNING AND
THIS AFTERNOON.
 
THE CREEK MOST LIKELY TO FLOOD IS PEACHTREE CREEK WHICH WAS AT 13.5 FEET
AT NORTHSIDE DRIVE AT 8 AM THIS MORNING. THREE AND HALF INCHES OF RAIN
HAS FALLEN OVER THIS BASIN. FLOOD STAGE IS 17 FEET. THE CREEK WILL CREST
INITIALLY BETWEEN 17 AND 18 FEET BY AROUND 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON. ANY
ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE PEACHTREE TO CREST EVEN HIGHER.
 
AT 8 AM BIG CREEK AT ALPHARETTA WAS AT 6 FEET OR ONE FOOT BELOW
BANKFULL. BASED ON THE RAINFALL THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURREE...BIG CREEK
WILL CONTINUE TO RISE SHARPLY AND REACH BANKFULL THIS MORNING...THEN
CONTINUE RISING TO AT LEAST 9 TO 10 FEET BY TONIGHT.
 
AT SUWANNEE CREEK THE STAGE IN NORTH GWINNETT WAS 5 FEET. BANKFULL IS 7
FEET. SUWANNE WILL RISE TO BANKFULL THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE RISING TO
AROUND 9 FEET LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
 
FLOODING OF AREA CREEKS AROUND METRO ATLANTA WILL CONTINUE. YOUR SHOULD
NOT ATTEMPT TO FORGE THESE CREEKS OR LOW AREAS WHERE SEVERAL FEET OF
WATER MIGHT BE STANDING.
IS
 
DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO
CROSS SAFELY.  VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE
ABANDONED QUICKLY.  MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.
 
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT.  IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR
CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS.  CAMPERS SHOULD
AVOID CAMPING ALONG STREAMS OR CREEKS DURING THREATENING RAINS.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 6, 3:53 AM EST, 4 hours 51 minutes before
GAZ042-060955-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
353 AM EST WED MAR 6 1996

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO GEORGIA...

AT 350 AM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO CARROLL COUNTY GEORGIA MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MILES AN HOUR.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND
STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR THE
LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Mar 6, 3:54 AM EST, 4 hours 50 minutes before
GAZ042-060955-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
353 AM EST WED MAR 6 1996

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO GEORGIA...

AT 350 AM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADARS INDICATED A VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO CARROLL COUNTY GEORGIA MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40
MILES AN HOUR.

THIS STORM WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND
STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR THE
LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Mar 6, 6:30 AM EST, 2 hours 14 minutes before
GAZ005>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
091>098-103>113-061630-

NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
630 AM EST WED MAR 6 1996

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA TODAY.

A STRONG COLD FRONT WAS APPROACHING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY
EARLY THIS MORNING. AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...WARM MOIST AIR HAD
BECOME THE RULE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S..  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPED IN THE MOIST WARM AIR AND MOVED ACROSS ALABAMA INTO
GEORGIA DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS.  SOME OF THE STORMS PRODUCED
SEVERE WEATHER OVER PORTIONS OF ALABAMA DURING THE NIGHT.

AS THE COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO MOVE EASTWARD TODAY...THUNDERSTORMS
COULD ONCE AGAIN INTENSIFY AND MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF NORTH AND
CENTRAL GEORGIA. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES.

SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN NORTH AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA SHOULD MONITOR LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE READY FOR
POSSIBLE ACTIVATION LATER TODAY.
Special weather statement, Mar 6, 6:31 AM EST, 2 hours 13 minutes before
GAZ005>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
091>098-103>113-061630-

NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
630 AM EST WED MAR 6 1996

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA TODAY.

A STRONG COLD FRONT WAS APPROACHING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY
EARLY THIS MORNING. AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...WARM MOIST AIR HAD
BECOME THE RULE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S..  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPED IN THE MOIST WARM AIR AND MOVED ACROSS ALABAMA INTO
GEORGIA DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS.  SOME OF THE STORMS PRODUCED
SEVERE WEATHER OVER PORTIONS OF ALABAMA DURING THE NIGHT.

AS THE COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO MOVE EASTWARD TODAY...THUNDERSTORMS
COULD ONCE AGAIN INTENSIFY AND MOVE INTO PORTIONS OF NORTH AND
CENTRAL GEORGIA. SOME OF THE STORMS COULD PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...LARGE HAIL...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES.

SPOTTER GROUPS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN NORTH AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA SHOULD MONITOR LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE READY FOR
POSSIBLE ACTIVATION LATER TODAY.
Special weather statement, Mar 6, 6:57 AM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes before
GAZ031-032-033-061400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
657 AM EST WED MAR 6 1996

AT 655 AM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN
PAULDING...COBB AND NORTHERN FULTON COUNTIES. THESE STORMS MAY
CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR THE
LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.
Special weather statement, Mar 6, 6:58 AM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes before
GAZ031-032-033-061400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
657 AM EST WED MAR 6 1996

AT 655 AM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN
PAULDING...COBB AND NORTHERN FULTON COUNTIES. THESE STORMS MAY
CONTAIN STRONG GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...RADIO OR TELEVISION FOR THE
LATEST UPDATES CONCERNING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 6, 7:30 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHarris30 min
Mar 6, 7:56 AM ESTTornado WarningFFCMeriwether, Talbot34 min
Mar 6, 8:00 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMarion45 min
Mar 6, 8:06 AM ESTTornado WarningFFCMarion39 min
Mar 6, 8:15 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCSchley, Taylor45 min
Mar 6, 8:26 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMacon, Sumter, Webster49 min
Mar 6, 8:44 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCCobb, Fulton4 hr
Mar 6, 8:47 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrawford, Peach43 min
Mar 6, 9:00 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDooly, Houston45 min
Mar 6, 9:22 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClayton, Fulton53 min
Mar 6, 9:29 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBleckley, Dodge, Pulaski, Twiggs46 min
Mar 6, 10:20 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMeriwether, Troup40 min
Mar 6, 11:13 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBleckley, Houston, Pulaski47 min
Mar 6, 11:36 AM ESTTornado WarningFFCBleckley, Dodge, Pulaski54 min
Mar 6, 11:49 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCLaurens26 min
Mar 6, 12:06 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCLaurens54 min
Mar 6, 12:13 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCEmanuel, Johnson, Treutlen47 min
Mar 6, 12:35 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrisp, Wilcox25 min
Mar 6, 12:45 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCWilcox30 min
Mar 6, 1:02 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDodge, Telfair43 min
Mar 6, 1:39 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMarion, Talbot, Taylor51 min
Mar 6, 6:45 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCherokee, Forsyth45 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Georgia, 1996Every flash flood warning in 1996

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.