Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 79, NWS Jacksonville, FL
NWS Jacksonville, FL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 20, 2003, 6:04 PM EST for Atkinson County, Clinch County, Georgia. It was in force for 41 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 20, 2003, 6:04 PM EST (23:04 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 20, 2003, 6:45 PM EST
- In force
- 41 min
- Issued by
- NWS Jacksonville, FL
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
Counties Atkinson County, GA, Clinch County, GA
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 2:35 PM EST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Jacksonville, FL (KJAX), launched 12:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 133 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1354 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -49 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 703 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 57 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 242 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 206 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.9
- Supercell composite
- 9.3
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WUUS52 KJAX 202304
SVRJAX
GAC003-065-202345-
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
605 PM EST THU MAR 20 2003
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
ATKINSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
NORTHWESTERN CLINCH COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA
* UNTIL 645 PM EST
* AT 604 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS 18 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF PEARSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
PEARSON AT 615 PM EST AND
AXSON AT 625 PM EST.
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE
WARNING.
PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A BUILDING OR STRUCTURE WHICH WILL
PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION. MOBILE HOMES AND TRAILERS DO NOT PROVIDE
ADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM A SEVERE STORM.
LAT...LON 3137 8263 3129 8263 3128 8270 3119 8268
3106 8295 3119 8295 3120 8304 3137 8278
$$
PETERSONWhat 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.
NWS Jacksonville, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Mar 20, 3:25 PM EST, 2 hours 39 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 20, 3:25 PM EST, 2 hours 39 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED WITH TORNADO WATCH #70 INFO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
325 PM EST THU MAR 20 2003
UPDATED CWF WITH TORNADO WATCH #70 IN GA LEG. ISSUED NEW ZFP PACKAGE
EARLY WITH TORNADO WATCH.
======================= PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ========================
CURRENTLY...SVR WX ADVANCING NE ACRS OUR WESTERN GA ZONES IN VC OF
THE RRQ OF A 35-45KT LOW LVL JET AND IN ADVANCE OF AN OCCLUDED FRONT
MOVING THRU THE FL PANHANDLE. NICKEL TO BASEBALL SIZE HAS BEEN
REPORTED IN THE STRONGEST STORMS. KJAX 12Z RAOB AND LATEST WV
IMAGERY INDICATED THAT HAIL AND STRONG WINDS WOULD BE HAZARDS ACRS
THE AREA TODAY WITH DRY AIR ALOFT AND STRONG DIVERGENCE AT 300 MB.
MESOETA HELICITIES INCREASED TO NEAR 220 M2/S2 ACRS SE GA 18Z TODAY
AND ROTATION HAS BEEN NOTED IN STORMS. TORNADO WATCH #65 CONTINUES
FOR THE GA ZONES UNTIL 3 PM TODAY...WITH THE ENTIRE AREA UNDER A
SLIGHT RISK THRU 12Z FRI MORNING. TEMPS ARE IN THE LWR TO MID 80S
WITH DEW PTS IN THE LWR 70S. THE EAST COAST SEABREEZE BOUNDARY IS
TRYING TO ADVANCE INLAND...BUT STRONG WSW WINDS ARE PINNIG IT ALONG
THE COAST. EXPECT SEABREEZE BOUNDARY AND OUTFLOWS TO INTERACT THIS
AFTN...IN A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS.
SHORT TERM...SVR WX WILL COTINUE TO BE OF CONCERN AS WE HEAD INTO
TONIGHT WITH A SERIES OF TROUGHS MOVING E THROUGH THE UNSTABLE
CWA...OUTFLOWS EVERYWHERE AND THE LINGERING SEABREEZE FRONT ALONG
THE COAST. WILL MONITOR LATEST RADAR TRENDS NEAR ZFP ISSUANCE
TIME...BUT ANTICIPATE LIKELY POPS AT LEAST FOR THE EARLY EVE HOURS
FOR MUCH OF THE AREA. WILL KEEP TSRA WORDING THRU THE NIGHT...AS
ANOTHER FRONT EXTENDING FROM THE PLAINS SFC LOW APPROACHES THE AREA.
MODELS GENERALLY AGREE WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THIS FRONT EXTENDING IT
THRU THE CWA BY 18Z FRI. ATT LOOKS LIKE STRONGEST AREA OF
INSTABILITY WILL SHIFT S INTO THE FL ZONES FRI WITH THE ENTIRE AREA
REMAINING UNDER SLIGHT RISK. ANOTHER (AND HOPEFULLY THE FINAL) COLD
FRONT WILL MOVE THRU THE AREA EARLY SAT WITH NW WINDS FUNNELING INTO
THE AREA AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE LWR MS VALLEY AND COLD
FRONT ADVANCES IN CENTRAL FL. NEAR CLIMO TEMPS ON TAP FOR THE
WEEKEND.
EXTENDED...A SFC LOW DEVELOPS ALONG THE LINGERING FRONTAL BOUNDARY
OVER S FL LATE SUN AND MOVES INTO THE ATLANTIC AS HIGH PRESS BUILDS
EASTWARD OVER THE NORTHERN GULF COAST. WILL GO WITH SLIGHT CHC OF
SHRA THRU EARLY MON WITH ONSHORE FLOW OVER THE AREA. WED LOOKS LIKE
A FAVORABLE SEABREEZE CONVERGENCE DAY WITH WARM SLY OVER THE AREA AS
SFC RIDGE ADVANCES OFFSHORE AND NEXT STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES THE TN
VALLEY. WILL GO WITH SLIGHT CHC POPS WED AFTN THRU THU. TEMPS
GENERALLY A FEW DEGREES ABOVE CLIMO.
MARINE...WILL CONTINUE SCA BASED ON SEA HEIGHTS AND WILL CONTINUE
HEADLINES THRU FRI. IMPROVING CONDITIONS THIS WEEKEND AS HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION FROM THE WEST.
FIRE WX...NO CONCERNS.
CCF...
FCSTID = 24
AMG 65 78 51 73 / 70 50 20 0
SSI 65 78 56 73 / 60 60 20 0
JAX 67 82 56 77 / 60 60 20 0
SGJ 67 80 60 77 / 60 60 30 0
GNV 67 83 56 78 / 60 60 20 0
OCF 67 83 56 79 / 60 60 30 0
.JAX...
FL...TORNADO WATCH #70 THRU 9 PM FLZ020>023.
SCA FERNANDINA BCH TO FLAGLER BCH OUT 60 NM.
GA...TORNADO WATCH #70 THRU 9 PM ALL ZONES.
SCA ALTAMAHA SOUND TO FERNANDINA BCH OUT 60 NM.
PUBLIC...BROYLES
MARINE/FIRE WX...CARROLL
RADAR...WELSH/SHASHYHazardous weather outlook, Mar 20, 3:50 PM EST, 2 hours 14 minutes before
FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-210200- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 350 PM EST THU MAR 20 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ...A TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND BAKER...COLUMBIA...HAMILTON AND SUWANNEE COUNTIES IN NORTH FLORIDA... ...TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND LOCALIZED FLOODING POSSIBLE... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA. ELSEWHERE SCATTERED STRONG AND ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING. STORMS WILL MOVE TOWARD THE NORTHEAST. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... THE POTENTIAL FOR SCATTERED STRONG AND ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS THROUGH FRIDAY ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. LOCALIZED HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE. AREA RIVERS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE NEAR OR ABOVE FLOOD STAGE THROUGH THE PERIOD. NO OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED FOR THE TORNADO WATCH AREA. OTHERWISE...SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO SELF-ACTIVATE IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAX. CARROLL
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 2:48 PM EST, 3 hours 16 minutes before
GAZ150-151-202015- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 248 PM EST THU MAR 20 2003 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WARE AND PIERCE THROUGH 315 PM... AT 248 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF WARESBORO...OR ABOUT 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF WAYCROSS...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND WARESBORO AND DIXIE UNION THROUGH 315 PM EST. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. ADDITIONAL STORMS MAY MOVE INTO SOUTH WARE COUNTY. SHASHY
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 3:08 PM EST, 2 hours 56 minutes before
GAZ136-202100- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 308 PM EST THU MAR 20 2003 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WAYNE COUNTY THROUGH 4 PM... AT 308 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 11 MILES WEST OF SCREVEN...OR ABOUT 11 MILES NORTH OF PATTERSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND SCREVEN...BROADHURST... ODUM...JESUP AND DOCTORTOWN THROUGH 400 PM EST. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. SHASHY
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 3:20 PM EST, 2 hours 44 minutes before
GAZ149-150-164-202100- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 320 PM EST THU MAR 20 2003 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WARE COUNTY THROUGH 4 PM... AT 320 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 4 MILES SOUTH OF AXSON...OR ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PEARSON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND MILLWOOD...AXSON...MANOR...WARESBORO...NEEDHAM...DIXIE UNION AND DEENWOOD THROUGH 400 PM EST. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER... EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. SHASHY
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 3:33 PM EST, 2 hours 31 minutes before
GAZ136-202100- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 333 PM EST THU MAR 20 2003 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT WAYNE COUNTY THROUGH 4 PM... AT 333 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 7 MILES SOUTH OF ODUM...OR ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF JESUP...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND ODUM...JESUP AND DOCTORTOWN THROUGH 400 PM EST. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. SHASHY
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 4:14 PM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
GAZ162-163-202145- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 414 PM EST THU MAR 20 2003 ...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM... ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT ECHOLS AND CLINCH COUNTY THROUGH 445 PM... AT 414 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS 5 MILES NORTH OF MAYDAY MOVING NORTHEAST AROUND 40 MPH. THIS LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND HAYLOW...WITHERS...AND MIDWAY THROUGH 445 PM EST. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. IF LIGHTNING IS IN YOUR AREA...PLEASE SEEK SHELTER. BROYLES
Special weather statement, Mar 20, 5:26 PM EST, 38 minutes before
FLZ038-202300- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 526 PM EST THU MAR 20 2003 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN FLAGLER COUNTY THROUGH 600 PM... AT 526 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FLAGLER BEACH...OR ABOUT 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF BARBERVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND BEVERLY BEACH AND AREAS EAST OF STATE ROAD 11 TO FAVORITA THROUGH 600 PM EST. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. TAKE SHELTER IF LIGHTNING IS IN YOUR AREA. BROYLES
The office that day
Everything else NWS Jacksonville, FL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 7:00 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Appling, Jeff Davis | 45 min |
| Mar 19, 7:47 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Appling | 43 min |
| Mar 19, 8:07 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Wayne | 23 min |
| Mar 19, 9:46 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Brantley, Wayne | 44 min |
| Mar 20, 8:27 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Coffee | 48 min |
| Mar 20, 9:12 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Coffee | 48 min |
| Mar 20, 9:40 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Atkinson | 50 min |
| Mar 20, 12:18 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Atkinson, Coffee | 57 min |
| Mar 20, 12:25 PM EST | Tornado Warning | JAX | Atkinson, Coffee | 50 min |
| Mar 20, 1:05 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Bacon | 40 min |
| Mar 20, 1:20 PM EST | Tornado Warning | JAX | Bacon | 40 min |
| Mar 20, 1:34 PM EST | Tornado Warning | JAX | Wayne | 26 min |
| Mar 20, 1:37 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Appling, Bacon | 38 min |
| Mar 20, 1:51 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Atkinson | 39 min |
| Mar 20, 2:03 PM EST | Tornado Warning | JAX | Atkinson | 27 min |
| Mar 20, 2:09 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Coffee | 51 min |
| Mar 20, 2:10 PM EST | Tornado Warning | JAX | Wayne | 35 min |
| Mar 20, 2:20 PM EST | Tornado Warning | JAX | Coffee | 40 min |
| Mar 20, 2:29 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Bacon | 46 min |
| Mar 20, 2:34 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Clinch, Echols | 56 min |
| Mar 20, 2:45 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Appling | 45 min |
| Mar 20, 3:15 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Atkinson | 45 min |
| Mar 20, 3:23 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Charlton | 67 min |
| Mar 20, 3:28 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Ware | 32 min |
| Mar 20, 3:55 PM EST | Flash Flood Warning | JAX | Bacon | 6 hr |
| Mar 20, 4:37 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | JAX | Clinch | 38 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 2003Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003
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.