Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 77, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at May 20, 2008, 7:14 PM EDT for Cobb County, DeKalb County, Fulton County, Georgia. It was in force for 31 min. 1 report 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 20, 2008, 7:14 PM EDT (23:14 UTC)
- Expired
- May 20, 2008, 7:45 PM EDT
- In force
- 31 min
- Issued by
- NWS Atlanta, GA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Cobb County, GA, DeKalb County, GA, Fulton County, GA
The radar
The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 47 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:15 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 20, 7:15 PM EDT | HAIL 1 | Marietta, GA |
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 20, 2:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 43 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
- 572 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -199 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 979 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 225 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 251 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 2.3
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS52 KFFC 202313
TORFFC
GAC067-089-121-210000-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0077.080520T2314Z-080521T0000Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
714 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHERN COBB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
DEKALB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
CENTRAL FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
* UNTIL 800 PM EDT
* AT 710 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR MARIETTA...
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FAIR
OAKS...MABLETON...VININGS...SIX FLAGS...NORTH ATLANTA...ATLANTA...
PIEDMONT PARK...EAST POINT...NORTH DRUID HILLS...TURNER FIELD...
DRUID HILLS...NORTH DECATUR...HAPEVILLE...DECATUR...SCOTTDALE...
CLARKSTON...AVONDALE ESTATES...GRESHAM PARK...BELVEDERE PARK...
CANDLER-MCAFEE...PINE LAKE...PANTHERSVILLE...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.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING 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 3363 8412 3363 8414 3364 8415 3364 8423
3364 8426 3365 8426 3366 8450 3391 8468
3401 8455 3373 8405
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 307DEG 39KT 3393 8456
$$4 follow-up statements
000
WWUS52 KFFC 202325
SVSFFC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
724 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
GAC067-089-121-210000-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0077.000000T0000Z-080521T0000Z/
DEKALB GA-COBB GA-FULTON GA-
724 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
FULTON...SOUTHEASTERN COBB AND SOUTHERN DEKALB COUNTIES...
AT 720 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR
SMYRNA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
IN ADDITION TO A TORNADO...GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 60
MPH CAN BE EXPECTED.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO NORTH
ATLANTA...ATLANTA...PIEDMONT PARK...EAST POINT...NORTH DRUID HILLS...
TURNER FIELD...GRANT PARK...DRUID HILLS...NORTH DECATUR...
HAPEVILLE...DECATUR...SCOTTDALE...CLARKSTON...AVONDALE ESTATES...
GRESHAM PARK...BELVEDERE PARK...CANDLER-MCAFEE...PINE LAKE...
PANTHERSVILLE...REDAN AND LITHONIA.
DO NOT USE HIGHWAY OVERPASSES FOR SHELTER. OVERPASSES DO NOT PROVIDE
PROTECTION FROM TORNADIC WINDS. VEHICLES STOPPED UNDER BRIDGES BLOCK
TRAFFIC AND PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING OUT OF THE STORMS PATH AND TO
SHELTER. IF YOU CANNOT DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...GET OUT OF YOUR
VEHICLE AND LIE FLAT IN A DITCH AS A LAST RESORT.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.
IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.
LAT...LON 3363 8412 3364 8415 3364 8426 3365 8426
3366 8450 3383 8458 3396 8451 3373 8405
TIME...MOT...LOC 2324Z 307DEG 39KT 3386 8446
$$000
WWUS52 KFFC 202333
SVSFFC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
733 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
GAC067-202343-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0077.000000T0000Z-080521T0000Z/
COBB GA-
733 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN COBB COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING 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 3363 8412 3364 8415 3364 8426 3365 8426
3380 8447 3391 8440 3387 8433 3374 8407
3372 8406
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 296DEG 46KT 3383 8431
$$
GAC089-121-210000-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0077.000000T0000Z-080521T0000Z/
DEKALB GA-FULTON GA-
733 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
FULTON AND SOUTHERN DEKALB COUNTIES...
AT 729 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE STRONG ROTATION. THIS ROTATION WAS LOCATED NEAR NORTH
ATLANTA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO NORTH
DECATUR...DECATUR...AVONDALE ESTATES...BELVEDERE PARK...
PANTHERSVILLE...PINE LAKE...REDAN AND LITHONIA.
WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO A
BASEMENT OR INTERIOR ROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.
IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.
LAT...LON 3363 8412 3364 8415 3364 8426 3365 8426
3380 8447 3391 8440 3387 8433 3374 8407
3372 8406
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 296DEG 46KT 3383 8431
$$000
WWUS52 KFFC 202340
SVSFFC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
739 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
GAC121-202349-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0077.000000T0000Z-080521T0000Z/
FULTON GA-
739 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL FULTON COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING 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 3363 8412 3364 8415 3364 8426 3371 8435
3386 8434 3387 8433 3374 8407 3372 8406
TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 299DEG 49KT 3380 8424
$$
GAC089-210000-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0077.000000T0000Z-080521T0000Z/
DEKALB GA-
739 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
DEKALB COUNTY...
AT 738 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CLARKSTON...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 57 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
SCOTTDALE...PINE LAKE AND REDAN.
IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.
IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.
LAT...LON 3363 8412 3364 8415 3364 8426 3371 8435
3386 8434 3387 8433 3374 8407 3372 8406
TIME...MOT...LOC 2339Z 299DEG 49KT 3380 8424
$$000
WWUS52 KFFC 202345
SVSFFC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
745 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
GAC089-202355-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0077.000000T0000Z-080521T0000Z/
DEKALB GA-
745 PM EDT TUE MAY 20 2008
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN DEKALB COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
THE ROTATION IN THE STORM HAS WEAKENED AND NO LONGER APPEARS CAPABLE
OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH THIS STORM AS IT APPROACHES STONE MOUNTAIN.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING 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 3363 8412 3364 8415 3364 8426 3371 8435
3386 8434 3387 8433 3374 8407 3372 8406
TIME...MOT...LOC 2345Z 296DEG 46KT 3376 8414
$$The office that day
Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 4:20 AM EDT | Wind Advisory | FFC | Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga and 31 more | 15 hr |
| May 20, 3:48 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Coweta, Fayette | 33 min |
| May 20, 3:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Dade, Walker | 46 min |
| May 20, 4:02 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Spalding | 43 min |
| May 20, 4:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Butts, Henry, Jasper, Newton | 39 min |
| May 20, 4:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Fannin, Murray, Whitfield | 61 min |
| May 20, 4:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Catoosa, Walker | 29 min |
| May 20, 4:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Chattooga, Walker | 51 min |
| May 20, 4:47 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Morgan, Putnam | 43 min |
| May 20, 4:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Butts, Jasper, Monroe | 36 min |
| May 20, 5:08 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bartow, Floyd, Gordon | 67 min |
| May 20, 5:11 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Greene | 25 min |
| May 20, 5:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Glascock, Warren | 32 min |
| May 20, 5:16 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Taliaferro | 44 min |
| May 20, 5:24 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Baldwin, Jones, Putnam | 51 min |
| May 20, 5:27 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Chattooga, Floyd | 78 min |
| May 20, 5:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bartow, Cherokee, Gordon, Pickens | 44 min |
| May 20, 5:33 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Jefferson | 26 min |
| May 20, 5:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union | 17 min |
| May 20, 5:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Baldwin, Hancock, Washington | 41 min |
| May 20, 5:51 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Bartow, Cherokee | 15 min |
| May 20, 6:02 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Glascock, Jefferson, Washington | 58 min |
| May 20, 6:08 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Cherokee, Cobb, Forsyth, Fulton | 52 min |
| May 20, 6:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bartow, Paulding | 50 min |
| May 20, 6:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Jefferson, Washington | 29 min |
| May 20, 6:33 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Cherokee, Cobb, Fulton | 27 min |
| May 20, 6:35 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Haralson, Polk | 55 min |
| May 20, 6:40 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Gwinnett | 65 min |
| May 20, 6:44 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | DeKalb, Gwinnett | 46 min |
| May 20, 6:51 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | FFC | Haralson, Polk | 34 min |
| May 20, 7:02 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Newton, Rockdale, Walton | 58 min |
| May 20, 7:05 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton | 40 min |
| May 20, 7:19 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Carroll, Douglas, Haralson, Paulding | 56 min |
| May 20, 7:41 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Morgan, Oconee | 34 min |
| May 20, 7:58 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Greene, Morgan, Oglethorpe, Putnam | 47 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.