Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 91, NWS Atlanta, GA

August 26, 2008Cobb County, DeKalb County, Fulton County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Aug 26, 2008, 8:09 AM EDT for Cobb County, DeKalb County, Fulton County, Georgia. It was in force for 36 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
Aug 26, 2008, 8:09 AM EDT (12:09 UTC)
Expired
Aug 26, 2008, 8:45 AM EDT
In force
36 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), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:13 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 26, 8:13 AM EDTTSTM WND DMG4 Nw East Point, GASIX TREES BLOWN DOWN NEAR INTERSECTION OF BUTNER ROAD AND CAMPBELLTON ROAD.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 38 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2008-08-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 825 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2008-08-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 348 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
825 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
459 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
348 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
373 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.3
Supercell composite
13.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KFFC 261209
TORFFC
GAC067-089-121-261245-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0091.080826T1209Z-080826T1245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
809 AM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN COBB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  WEST CENTRAL DEKALB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  CENTRAL FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA

* UNTIL 845 AM EDT

* AT 807 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR EAST
  POINT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 34 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SIX
  FLAGS...TURNER FIELD...ATLANTA...PIEDMONT PARK...VININGS...
  DECATUR...DRUID HILLS...NORTH DRUID HILLS...NORTH DECATUR...
  SCOTTDALE...NORTH ATLANTA AND CLARKSTON.

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 TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM EDT TUESDAY MORNING
FOR WEST CENTRAL 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 3370 8462 3373 8459 3376 8458 3395 8443
      3383 8419 3364 8444 3365 8445 3363 8445
      3361 8448 3366 8466
TIME...MOT...LOC 1209Z 214DEG 30KT 3368 8449

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 261219
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
819 AM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

GAC067-089-121-261245-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0091.000000T0000Z-080826T1245Z/
DEKALB GA-COBB GA-FULTON GA-
819 AM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 AM EDT FOR CENTRAL
FULTON...SOUTHEASTERN COBB AND NORTHWESTERN DEKALB COUNTIES...

AT 813 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SIX FLAGS...MOVING 
NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 38 MPH.  THE ROTATION IN THIS STORM HAS WEAKENED 
BUT IS STILL CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
PIEDMONT PARK...NORTH DRUID HILLS...VININGS AND NORTH ATLANTA.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM EDT TUESDAY MORNING
FOR WEST CENTRAL 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 3395 8443 3388 8429 3387 8428 3387 8426
      3386 8425 3385 8425 3368 8447 3370 8458
      3376 8458
TIME...MOT...LOC 1219Z 196DEG 33KT 3377 8448

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 261228
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
828 AM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

GAC067-089-121-261245-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0091.000000T0000Z-080826T1245Z/
DEKALB GA-COBB GA-FULTON GA-
827 AM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 AM EDT FOR CENTRAL
FULTON...SOUTHEASTERN COBB AND NORTHWESTERN DEKALB COUNTIES...

AT 824 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WEST ATLANTA... 
MOVING NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO NORTH 
DRUID HILLS...VININGS AND NORTH ATLANTA. THE TORNADO MAY AFFECT I-75 
AT EXIT 256.

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.

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 3395 8443 3388 8429 3387 8428 3387 8426
      3386 8425 3385 8425 3375 8443 3382 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 1227Z 198DEG 31KT 3383 8444

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 261239
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
839 AM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

GAC067-089-121-261248-
/O.EXP.KFFC.TO.W.0091.000000T0000Z-080826T1245Z/
DEKALB GA-COBB GA-FULTON GA-
838 AM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL FULTON...SOUTHEASTERN COBB AND
NORTHWESTERN DEKALB COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 845 AM EDT...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE TORNADO WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND THE 
WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

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 3395 8443 3388 8429 3387 8428 3387 8426
      3386 8425 3385 8425 3375 8443 3382 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 1238Z 198DEG 31KT 3392 8440

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 25, 10:45 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCOglethorpe, Wilkes30 min
Aug 25, 11:08 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCWilkes52 min
Aug 25, 11:56 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCBibb, Houston, Twiggs49 min
Aug 26, 12:01 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCBarrow, Gwinnett, Oconee, Walton44 min
Aug 26, 9:21 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningFFCCobb4 hr
Aug 26, 9:31 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCTalbot, Taylor, Upson44 min
Aug 26, 9:59 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCLamar22 min
Aug 26, 11:34 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCCrawford, Monroe41 min
Aug 26, 12:04 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCJasper, Jones41 min
Aug 26, 12:28 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCCrisp47 min
Aug 26, 12:40 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningFFCLumpkin, White6 hr
Aug 26, 12:40 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCJasper, Morgan, Putnam50 min
Aug 26, 1:16 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCOconee, Walton29 min
Aug 26, 1:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClarke, Jackson, Madison30 min
Aug 26, 1:39 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningFFCTowns6 hr
Aug 26, 2:01 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCClarke, Oconee, Oglethorpe29 min
Aug 26, 2:07 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningFFCBanks, Jackson6 hr
Aug 26, 3:16 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningFFCNewton, Rockdale6 hr
Aug 26, 3:28 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningFFCForsyth, Fulton6 hr
Aug 26, 3:49 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCHall, White41 min
Aug 26, 4:08 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCBarrow, Jackson37 min
Aug 26, 4:10 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCDooly, Houston, Macon, Peach50 min
Aug 26, 4:36 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCBanks, Jackson24 min
Aug 26, 4:55 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCGreene, Oglethorpe50 min
Aug 26, 6:02 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCGreene, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Wilkes58 min
Aug 26, 6:08 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCBanks, Hall37 min
Aug 26, 6:24 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCBaldwin, Jones38 min
Aug 26, 6:41 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningFFCLumpkin, White6 hr
Aug 26, 7:00 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCWilkes15 min
Aug 26, 7:15 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningFFCHall6 hr
Aug 26, 7:31 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCHancock, Taliaferro, Warren44 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.