Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 61, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at May 11, 2008, 4:52 AM EDT for 4 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 53 min. 5 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 11, 2008, 4:52 AM EDT (08:52 UTC)
- Expired
- May 11, 2008, 5:45 AM EDT
- In force
- 53 min
- Issued by
- NWS Atlanta, GA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Clayton County, GA, DeKalb County, GA, Fulton County, GA, Henry County, GA
The radar
The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:54 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 5:00 AM EDT | HAIL 1.75 | 5 Ne Morrow, GA | |
| May 11, 5:10 AM EDT | TORNADO 2 | 5 Ne Morrow, GA | EF2 TOUCHDOWN JUST EAST OF I-675.APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS WIDE. 1 HOME WITH 2ND FLOOR TAKEN OFF. MANY HOMES WITH DAMAGE IN ELLENWOOD. |
| May 11, 5:15 AM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 4 S Panthersville, GA | ONE POWER LINE WAS DOWN ALONG RAINBOW DRIVE. |
| May 11, 5:17 AM EDT | TORNADO 2 | 4 Ne Morrow, GA | AN EF2 TORNADO WITH WINDS UP TO 130 MPH TOUCHED DOWN JUST EAST OF I-675 CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OVER A 2.5 SQ MILE AREA TO THE ELLENWOOD COMMUNITY. 188 PRIVATE DWELLINGS WERE DAMAGED...53 ARE UNINHABITABLE. 500 RESIDENTS WERE DISPLACED. THE TORNADO CONTINUE |
| May 11, 5:20 AM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 E Morrow, GA | NUMEROUS TREES ARE DOWN ALONG REX ROAD BETWEEN HOMESTEAD AND STAGECOACH ROADS EAST OF MORROW. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 10:06 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
| May 11, 2:37 AM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 39 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
- 1834 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -10 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 852 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 138 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 226 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 2.1
- Supercell composite
- 11.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS52 KFFC 110852
TORFFC
GAC063-089-121-151-110945-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0061.080511T0852Z-080511T0945Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
452 AM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN CLAYTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
SOUTHERN DEKALB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
CENTRAL FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
NORTH CENTRAL HENRY COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
* UNTIL 545 AM EDT
* AT 450 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 7 MILES WEST OF
EAST POINT...MOVING EAST AT 49 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
COLLEGE PARK...ATLANTA HARTSFIELD-JACKSON AIRPORT...RIVERDALE...
HAPEVILLE...TURNER FIELD...FOREST PARK...MORROW...LAKE CITY...
CONLEY...GRESHAM PARK...PANTHERSVILLE...CANDLER-MCAFEE...BELVEDERE
PARK...PANOLA MOUNTAIN STATE PARK...REDAN AND LITHONIA.
WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO A
BASEMENT OR INTERIOR ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.
TAKE COVER NOW TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING
FOR 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 3355 8451 3373 8447 3379 8408 3375 8403
3363 8412 3364 8415 3364 8417 3358 8415
3355 8407
TIME...MOT...LOC 0852Z 261DEG 43KT 3364 8455
$$1 follow-up statement
000
WWUS52 KFFC 110915
SVSFFC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
514 AM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
GAC121-110924-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0061.000000T0000Z-080511T0945Z/
FULTON GA-
514 AM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL FULTON COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS EXITED FULTON COUNTY.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING
FOR GEORGIA.
IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.
LAT...LON 3355 8446 3365 8444 3364 8436 3370 8433
3375 8403 3363 8412 3364 8415 3364 8417
3358 8415 3355 8407
TIME...MOT...LOC 0914Z 270DEG 38KT 3362 8431
$$
GAC063-089-151-110945-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0061.000000T0000Z-080511T0945Z/
HENRY GA-CLAYTON GA-DEKALB GA-
514 AM EDT SUN MAY 11 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 AM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
DEKALB...NORTHERN CLAYTON AND NORTH CENTRAL HENRY COUNTIES...
AT 513 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LAKE CITY...MOVING
EAST AT 44 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
PANTHERSVILLE...PANOLA MOUNTAIN STATE PARK AND LITHONIA.
TAKE COVER NOW TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING
FOR 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 3355 8446 3365 8444 3364 8436 3370 8433
3375 8403 3363 8412 3364 8415 3364 8417
3358 8415 3355 8407
TIME...MOT...LOC 0914Z 270DEG 38KT 3362 8431
$$The office that day
Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 8:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Jefferson | 31 min |
| May 10, 9:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crisp, Wilcox | 44 min |
| May 10, 9:59 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Dodge, Telfair, Wilcox | 31 min |
| May 10, 10:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Dodge, Telfair | 51 min |
| May 10, 10:47 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Dodge, Laurens, Montgomery, Telfair, Wheeler | 43 min |
| May 11, 2:08 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Douglas, Fulton | 41 min |
| May 11, 2:22 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton | 38 min |
| May 11, 2:33 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Newton, Rockdale | 42 min |
| May 11, 2:50 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | White | 25 min |
| May 11, 3:06 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Morgan, Oconee, Walton | 39 min |
| May 11, 3:07 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Harris, Troup | 53 min |
| May 11, 3:32 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Clarke, Oglethorpe, Wilkes | 43 min |
| May 11, 3:33 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Troup | 42 min |
| May 11, 4:01 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Talbot, Upson | 44 min |
| May 11, 4:09 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Carroll | 36 min |
| May 11, 4:14 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Meriwether, Troup | 46 min |
| May 11, 4:21 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Carroll, Douglas, Fulton | 54 min |
| May 11, 4:25 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Carroll, Douglas, Fulton | 50 min |
| May 11, 4:31 AM EDT | Wind Advisory | FFC | Baldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley and 90 more | 35 hr |
| May 11, 4:44 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Clayton, DeKalb, Henry, Rockdale | 46 min |
| May 11, 5:03 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Meriwether, Pike, Upson | 42 min |
| May 11, 5:12 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Lamar, Pike, Upson | 33 min |
| May 11, 5:22 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Newton, Rockdale | 38 min |
| May 11, 5:28 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Chattahoochee, Marion | 37 min |
| May 11, 5:37 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crawford, Monroe, Upson | 23 min |
| May 11, 5:37 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Bibb, Crawford, Monroe | 38 min |
| May 11, 5:50 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Baldwin, Jones | 55 min |
| May 11, 5:52 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Macon, Schley | 38 min |
| May 11, 5:54 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Bibb, Twiggs | 36 min |
| May 11, 5:58 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Jasper, Morgan, Putnam | 62 min |
| May 11, 6:10 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Twiggs, Wilkinson | 35 min |
| May 11, 6:12 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bleckley, Dooly, Houston, Macon, Peach, Pulaski and 1 more | 48 min |
| May 11, 6:26 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Treutlen | 49 min |
| May 11, 6:32 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Johnson, Laurens, Washington, Wilkinson | 43 min |
| May 11, 6:36 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crisp, Wilcox | 39 min |
| May 11, 6:39 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Glascock, Jefferson, Washington | 51 min |
| May 11, 6:43 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Jefferson, Washington | 47 min |
| May 11, 6:48 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Montgomery, Telfair, Toombs, Wheeler | 57 min |
| May 11, 6:52 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Emanuel | 38 min |
| May 11, 6:56 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Laurens, Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen, Wheeler | 47 min |
| May 11, 7:10 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crisp, Wilcox | 50 min |
| May 11, 7:18 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Crisp, Sumter | 57 min |
| May 11, 7:54 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Crisp, Wilcox | 36 min |
| May 11, 8:23 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Telfair | 23 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.