Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 515, NWS Atlanta, GA

August 2, 2008Floyd County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 2, 2008, 5:13 PM EDT for Floyd County, Georgia. It was in force for 47 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: Aug 2, 2008, 5:13 PM EDT (21:13 UTC)
Expired: Aug 2, 2008, 6:00 PM EDT
In force: 47 min
Issued by: NWS Atlanta, GA
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Floyd County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:57 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.

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 nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 112 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1040 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -144 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 999 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 58 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 16 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS52 KFFC 022114
SVRFFC
GAC115-022200-
/O.NEW.KFFC.SV.W.0515.080802T2113Z-080802T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
513 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  FLOYD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 600 PM EDT

* AT 510 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZED HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTH
  OF CAVE SPRING...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO   
  ROME...LINDALE...AND SILVER CREEK.

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS.
REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

LAT...LON 3443 8515 3438 8500 3435 8500 3434 8502
      3422 8502 3422 8504 3414 8504 3410 8507
      3409 8515 3411 8516 3410 8526 3409 8526
      3409 8543 3421 8545
TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 293DEG 13KT 3422 8534

$$

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS52 KFFC 022159
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
559 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

GAC115-022209-
/O.EXP.KFFC.SV.W.0515.000000T0000Z-080802T2200Z/
FLOYD GA-
559 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR FLOYD COUNTY EXPIRES AT 600 PM
EDT...

AT 557 PM EDT...THE THUNDERSTORMS THAT EARLIER PROMPTED THE WARNING
FOR FLOYD COUNTY HAVE DISSIPATED.  HOWEVER...ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS
CONTINUE IN EASTERN ALABAMA AND MAY MOVE INTO FLOYD COUNTY LATER.   

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT SUNDAY
MORNING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

LAT...LON 3443 8515 3438 8500 3435 8500 3434 8502
      3422 8502 3422 8504 3414 8504 3410 8507
      3409 8515 3411 8516 3410 8526 3409 8526
      3409 8543 3421 8545
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 293DEG 13KT 3415 8516

$$


19

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.

NWS Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 2, 3:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 2, 3:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 31 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
342 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
SHORT TERM MODELS ARE IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT THIS MODEL RUN. THE
UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE LOCATED OVER NEW YORK SLOWLY ROTATES ACROSS
NEW ENGLAND THROUGH MONDAY ALLOWING THE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE
CENTRAL PLAINS TO BUILD EASTWARD. WEAK IMPULSES MOVING THROUGH THE
UPPER FLOW...AS WELL AS A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH SLOWLY SINKING
SOUTHWARD WILL AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING
THUNDERSTORMS. COVERAGE OF CONVECTION WILL BE ISOLATED AT BEST.
LOW LEVEL THICKNESS VALUES AND H85 TEMPERATURES ARE INDICATING
THAT AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL REMAIN IN THE 90S. WITH GOOD GULF
MOISTURE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...HEAT INDICES WILL
CLIMB INTO THE UPPER 90S NORTH TO NEAR 102 ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA
TOMORROW AND MONDAY.

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
THE UPPER RIDGE PREVAILS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST UNTIL FRIDAY WHEN
THE NEXT LOW MOVES ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES AREA. A WEAK SURFACE
BOUNDARY WILL AGAIN TRAVERSE THE AREA LATE IN THE WEEK PROVIDING A
FOCUS FOR SCATTERED CONVECTION. OTHERWISE MAINLY ISOLATED
AFTERNOON AND EVENING CONVECTION WILL CONTINUE. TEMPERATURES WILL
REMAIN IN THE MID 90S EARLY IN THE EXTENDED PERIODS WITH HEAT
INDICES AT OR ABOVE 100.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
ATHENS          71  97  71  95  70 /  20  20   5  20  10
ATLANTA         74  93  73  95  74 /  20  20  10  20  10
BLAIRSVILLE     66  91  62  92  64 /  20  20   5  20  10
CARTERSVILLE    69  95  66  95  68 /  20  20   5  20  10
COLUMBUS        75  96  77  96  75 /  20  20  20  20  10
GAINESVILLE     73  92  71  94  72 /  20  20   5  20  10
MACON           74  97  73  95  74 /  20  20  20  20  10
ROME            69  96  69  98  68 /  20  20   5  20  10
PEACHTREE CITY  70  94  69  94  70 /  20  20  10  20  10
VIDALIA         73  95  73  95  73 /  20  20  20  20  10

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

12

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 2, 6:22 AM EDT, 10 hours 51 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
622 AM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-031030-
BALDWIN-BANKS-BARROW-BARTOW-BIBB-BLECKLEY-BUTTS-CARROLL-CATOOSA-
CHATTAHOOCHEE-CHATTOOGA-CHEROKEE-CLARKE-CLAYTON-COBB-COWETA-
CRAWFORD-CRISP-DADE-DAWSON-DEKALB-DODGE-DOOLY-DOUGLAS-EMANUEL-
FANNIN-FAYETTE-FLOYD-FORSYTH-GILMER-GLASCOCK-GORDON-GREENE-
GWINNETT-HALL-HANCOCK-HARALSON-HARRIS-HEARD-HENRY-HOUSTON-JACKSON-
JASPER-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-JONES-LAMAR-LAURENS-LUMPKIN-MACON-
MADISON-MARION-MERIWETHER-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-MORGAN-MURRAY-
MUSCOGEE-NEWTON-NORTH FULTON-OCONEE-OGLETHORPE-PAULDING-PEACH-
PICKENS-PIKE-POLK-PULASKI-PUTNAM-ROCKDALE-SCHLEY-SOUTH FULTON-
SPALDING-STEWART-SUMTER-TALBOT-TALIAFERRO-TAYLOR-TELFAIR-TOOMBS-
TOWNS-TREUTLEN-TROUP-TWIGGS-UNION-UPSON-WALKER-WALTON-WARREN-
WASHINGTON-WEBSTER-WHEELER-WHITE-WHITFIELD-WILCOX-WILKES-
WILKINSON-
622 AM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.SYNOPSIS...
A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH WILL REMAIN ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA TODAY
WITH A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS OVER THE STATE.

.PRIMARY HAZARDS...
THE PRIMARY HAZARDS WILL BE FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND
ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.

.DISCUSSION...
AN UPPER AIR DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE FROM THE OHIO VALLEY REGION
SOUTHWARD INTO GEORGIA TODAY. WITH A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS IN
PLACE...WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD DEVELOP MAINLY THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE
WITH LIFTED INDEX VALUES RANGING FROM MINUS TWO TO MINUS
FOUR...AND CAPES RANGING FROM 1500 TO 2000. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS
ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY CENTRAL GEORGIA SUNDAY
AND MONDAY...THEN THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS NORTH AND
CENTRAL SECTIONS WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTERS ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED BUT SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED
TO SUBMIT REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH THE WEB BY GOING TO
WEATHER.GOV/ATLANTA.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 2, 4:27 PM EDT, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
427 PM EDT SAT AUG 02 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0355 PM     HAIL             CISCO                   34.95N 84.74W
08/02/2008  E0.88 INCH       MURRAY             GA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MGRIESIN

Special weather statement, Aug 2, 4:31 PM EDT, 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
431 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

GAZ014-022100-
431 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING
AND PEA SIZED HAIL IN DAWSON COUNTY UNTIL 500 PM EDT...

AT 427 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPING OVER AMICALOLA FALLS STATE
PARK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

PEA-SIZED HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM AS IT TRACKS
SOUTHEAST TOWARD JUNO...AND DAWSONVILLE.  IN ADDITION...LIGHTNING
DETECTION SYSTEMS INDICATE NUMEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING
STRIKES WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM. RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD STAY
INDOORS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT BE USED
UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS UP TO 57 MPH ARE
EXPECTED...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF PENNIES...OR
SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.

19

Special weather statement, Aug 2, 4:45 PM EDT, 28 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
445 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

GAZ011-019-022115-
445 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS
TO 40 MPH IN FLOYD AND CHATTOOGA COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM EDT...

AT 440 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
TWO STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ONE 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF TIDINGS IN
EASTERN CHATTOOGA COUNTY AND ANOTHER 9 MILES WEST OF COOSA...BOTH
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH BOTH OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG WITH FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING
STRIKES. RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD STAY INDOORS. ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS UP TO 57 MPH ARE
EXPECTED...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF PENNIES...OR
SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.

19

Special weather statement, Aug 2, 4:50 PM EDT, 23 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
450 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

GAZ016-022145-
450 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS
TO 45 MPH IN WHITE COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM EDT...

AT 449 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO NORTHERN WHITE COUNTY...NORTH OF
UNICOI STATE PARK...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 45 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING
STRIKES WILL BE POSSIBLE AS THESE THUNDERSTORM MOVE SOUTHEAST ACROSS
WHITE COUNTY...INCLUDING UNICOI STATE PARK...ROBERTSTOWN...AND
HELEN.  RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD STAY INDOORS. ELECTRICAL
APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS UP TO 57 MPH ARE
EXPECTED...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF PENNIES...OR
SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.

19

Special weather statement, Aug 2, 4:57 PM EDT, 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
457 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

GAZ021-022200-
457 PM EDT SAT AUG 2 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN CHEROKEE
COUNTY UNTIL 600 PM EDT...

AT 453 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPING RAPIDLY OVER CANTON AND ANOTHER
DEVELOPING JUST NORTH OF FREE HOME...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES CAN BE EXPECTED WITH
THESE THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY.  RESIDENTS IN
THIS AREA SHOULD STAY INDOORS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES
SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS UP TO 57 MPH ARE
EXPECTED...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF PENNIES...OR
SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.

19

Local storm report, Aug 2, 5:06 PM EDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
506 PM EDT SAT AUG 02 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0445 PM     HAIL             9 NW ELLIJAY            34.78N 84.60W
08/02/2008  E0.88 INCH       GILMER             GA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

MGRIESIN

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 2, 3:42 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Fannin, Union	63 min
Aug 2, 3:48 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Murray	42 min
Aug 2, 4:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Gilmer	48 min
Aug 2, 4:40 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Murray	65 min
Aug 2, 5:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Cherokee	45 min
Aug 2, 5:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Gilmer, Gordon, Pickens	30 min
Aug 2, 5:33 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Bartow, Gordon	42 min
Aug 2, 5:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Cherokee	60 min
Aug 2, 5:49 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Pickens	56 min
Aug 2, 5:54 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Barrow, Hall, Jackson	51 min
Aug 2, 6:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Banks	43 min
Aug 2, 6:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Gilmer	25 min
Aug 2, 6:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Fannin, Murray	47 min
Aug 2, 6:38 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Cobb	67 min
Aug 2, 6:42 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Bartow	63 min
Aug 2, 6:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Fulton	64 min
Aug 2, 7:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	DeKalb, Gwinnett	58 min
Aug 2, 7:08 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Newton, Walton	52 min
Aug 2, 7:19 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Madison, Oglethorpe	41 min
Aug 2, 7:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Wilkes	46 min
Aug 2, 7:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Henry, Rockdale	39 min
Aug 2, 7:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Carroll, Haralson	49 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 2008 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2008

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.