Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 99, NWS Atlanta, GA

August 26, 2008Clarke County, Oconee County, Oglethorpe County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Aug 26, 2008, 2:01 PM EDT for Clarke County, Oconee County, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. It was in force for 29 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 26, 2008, 2:01 PM EDT (18:01 UTC)
Expired
Aug 26, 2008, 2:30 PM EDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Clarke County, GA, Oconee County, GA, Oglethorpe County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 136 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:03 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 26, 10:00 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 6.0 hours before the alert went out and 130 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 261801
TORFFC
GAC059-219-221-261830-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0099.080826T1801Z-080826T1830Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CLARKE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA
  EASTERN OCONEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA
  NORTHWESTERN OGLETHORPE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 230 PM EDT

* AT 156 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  WATKINSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO      
  ATHENS AND WINTERVILLE.

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.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE
PLACE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING
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 3374 8333 3381 8348 3405 8337 3404 8333
      3399 8326 3401 8324 3400 8321 3404 8313
      3403 8311
TIME...MOT...LOC 1801Z 205DEG 29KT 3384 8335

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 261814
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
214 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

GAC219-261823-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0099.000000T0000Z-080826T1830Z/
OCONEE GA-
213 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN OCONEE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING 
FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA.

IF YOU SAW WIND DAMAGE 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 3386 8328 3394 8338 3404 8333 3399 8326
      3401 8324 3400 8321 3401 8318 3401 8317
      3403 8313 3403 8312 3403 8311
TIME...MOT...LOC 1813Z 212DEG 26KT 3393 8328

$$

GAC059-221-261830-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0099.000000T0000Z-080826T1830Z/
OGLETHORPE GA-CLARKE GA-
213 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
CLARKE AND NORTHWESTERN OGLETHORPE COUNTIES...

AT 208 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF 
DOWNTOWN ATHENS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
WINTERVILLE...HULL AND SMITHSONIA.

IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE
A STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING 
FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND 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 3386 8328 3394 8338 3404 8333 3399 8326
      3401 8324 3400 8321 3401 8318 3401 8317
      3403 8313 3403 8312 3403 8311
TIME...MOT...LOC 1813Z 212DEG 26KT 3393 8328

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 261822
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
222 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

GAC059-221-261832-
/O.EXP.KFFC.TO.W.0099.000000T0000Z-080826T1830Z/
OGLETHORPE GA-CLARKE GA-
222 PM EDT TUE AUG 26 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN CLARKE AND NORTHWESTERN OGLETHORPE
COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 230 PM EDT...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED AND IS NO LONGER 
EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A TORNADO.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT TUESDAY EVENING 
FOR MUCH OF NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA.

IF YOU SAW WIND DAMAGE 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 3386 8328 3394 8338 3404 8333 3399 8326
      3401 8324 3400 8321 3401 8318 3401 8317
      3403 8313 3403 8312 3403 8311
TIME...MOT...LOC 1822Z 212DEG 26KT 3399 8324

$$

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, 8:09 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCCobb, DeKalb, Fulton36 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, 2:07 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.