Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Charleston, SC

March 28, 2009Bryan County, Chatham County, Liberty County, Georgia; Beaufort County, Jasper County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 28, 2009, 5:43 PM EDT for Bryan County, Chatham County, Liberty County, Georgia; Beaufort County, Jasper County, South Carolina. It was in force for 47 min. 6 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
Mar 28, 2009, 5:43 PM EDT (21:43 UTC)
Expired
Mar 28, 2009, 6:30 PM EDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bryan County, GA, Chatham County, GA, Liberty County, GA, Beaufort County, SC, Jasper County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 75 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:44 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
Mar 28, 6:10 PM EDTHAIL 0.25Savannah, GAPEA SIZED HAIL AT SAVANNAH MALL.
Mar 28, 6:13 PM EDTHAIL 0.25Skidaway Island, GAPEA SIZED HAIL AT THE LANDINGS ON SKIDAWAY ISLAND.
Mar 28, 6:16 PM EDTHAIL 0.253 Ese Savannah, GAPEA SIZED HAIL REPORTED ON WHITE MARSH ISLAND... BETWEEN SAVANNAH AND TYBEE ISLAND.
Mar 28, 6:17 PM EDTHAIL 0.251 E Savannah, GAPEA SIZED HAIL NEAR SKIDAWAY ROAD.
Mar 28, 6:30 PM EDTHAIL 1Tybee Island, GA
Mar 28, 6:32 PM EDTHAIL 0.5Tybee Island, GAPEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 28, 12:47 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 138 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2009-03-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 18 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2009-03-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 84 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
18 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-65 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
857 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
60 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 
WFUS52 KCHS 282143
TORCHS
GAC029-051-179-SCC013-053-282230-
/O.NEW.KCHS.TO.W.0005.090328T2143Z-090328T2230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
543 PM EDT SAT MAR 28 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN BRYAN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...
  CHATHAM COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...
  CENTRAL LIBERTY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...
  SOUTHWESTERN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHERN JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 630 PM EDT

* AT 543 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR MIDWAY...OR
  ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RICHMOND HILL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55
  MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE...
  MIDWAY...BELFAST...
  RICHMOND HILL...BURROUGHS...
  BURROUGHS...
  GARDEN CITY...WHITE BLUFF...
  SAVANNAH...THUNDERBOLT...

A TORNADO MAY FORM AT ANY TIME. TAKE COVER NOW. ABANDON MOBILE HOMES
AND VEHICLES. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND
POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024.

LAT...LON 3177 8129 3176 8141 3192 8154 3243 8088
      3231 8074 3228 8075 3223 8066 3213 8074
      3206 8089 3202 8083 3197 8084 3195 8095
      3193 8097 3191 8092 3185 8098 3186 8104
      3178 8105 3172 8113
TIME...MOT...LOC 2143Z 232DEG 49KT 3191 8138

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 282154
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
554 PM EDT SAT MAR 28 2009

GAC029-051-179-SCC013-053-282230-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090328T2230Z/
BRYAN GA-LIBERTY GA-BEAUFORT SC-CHATHAM GA-JASPER SC-
554 PM EDT SAT MAR 28 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
JASPER...CHATHAM...SOUTHWESTERN BEAUFORT...CENTRAL LIBERTY AND
SOUTHEASTERN BRYAN COUNTIES...

AT 554 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR BURROUGHS...OR
ABOUT OVER RICHMOND HILL...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

AT 552 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD 
SOUTH OF GARDEN CITY LOOKING TOWARD INTERSTATE 16. ANOTHER FUNNEL 
CLOUD WAS REPORTED NEAR CHATHAM PARKWAY.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...BELFAST...
BURROUGHS...FORT MCALLISTER...GARDEN CITY...ISLE OF HOPE...KELLER...
MONTEITH...POOLER...PORT WENTWORTH...RICHMOND HILL...SANDFLY...
SAVANNAH AIRPORT...SAVANNAH...SKIDAWAY ISLAND...SUNBURY...
THUNDERBOLT...TYBEE ISLAND...VERNONBURG...WHITE BLUFF...WILMINGTON
ISLAND...WINDSOR FOREST...BELLINGER HILL AREA...BLUFFTON...FOLLY
FIELD...FOREST BEACH...HILTON HEAD AIRPORT...HILTON HEAD ISLAND...
JASPER...PRITCHARDVILLE...MIDWAY AND RIVERSIDE.

TAKE COVER NOW. IF YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO
COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND
POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR REPORTS TO
CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV.

LAT...LON 3177 8129 3176 8141 3192 8154 3243 8088
      3231 8074 3228 8075 3223 8066 3213 8074
      3206 8089 3202 8083 3197 8084 3195 8095
      3193 8097 3191 8092 3185 8098 3186 8104
      3178 8105 3172 8113
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 250DEG 48KT 3197 8120

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 282211
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
611 PM EDT SAT MAR 28 2009

GAC029-051-179-SCC013-053-282230-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090328T2230Z/
BRYAN GA-LIBERTY GA-BEAUFORT SC-CHATHAM GA-JASPER SC-
611 PM EDT SAT MAR 28 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL JASPER...CHATHAM...SOUTHWESTERN BEAUFORT...CENTRAL LIBERTY
AND SOUTHEASTERN BRYAN COUNTIES...

AT 611 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PARKERSBURG...OR
ABOUT OVER SAVANNAH...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...BELFAST...
BURROUGHS...FORT MCALLISTER...GARDEN CITY...ISLE OF HOPE...KELLER...
SANDFLY...SAVANNAH...SKIDAWAY ISLAND...SUNBURY...THUNDERBOLT...TYBEE
ISLAND...VERNONBURG...WHITE BLUFF...WILMINGTON ISLAND...WINDSOR
FOREST...BELLINGER HILL AREA...FOLLY FIELD...FOREST BEACH...HILTON
HEAD AIRPORT...HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND RIVERSIDE.

TAKE COVER NOW. IF YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO
COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND
POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR REPORTS TO
CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV.

LAT...LON 3177 8129 3176 8141 3193 8128 3216 8115
      3219 8096 3223 8066 3213 8074 3206 8089
      3202 8083 3197 8084 3195 8095 3193 8097
      3191 8092 3185 8098 3186 8104 3178 8105
      3172 8113
TIME...MOT...LOC 2211Z 258DEG 43KT 3200 8098

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 282229
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
629 PM EDT SAT MAR 28 2009

GAC029-051-179-SCC013-053-282240-
/O.EXP.KCHS.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090328T2230Z/
BRYAN GA-LIBERTY GA-BEAUFORT SC-CHATHAM GA-JASPER SC-
630 PM EDT SAT MAR 28 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL JASPER...CHATHAM...
SOUTHWESTERN BEAUFORT...CENTRAL LIBERTY AND SOUTHEASTERN BRYAN
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 630 PM EDT...

AT 630 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH
PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED AREA...THUS THE
TORNADO WARNING BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

ALTHOUGH THE IMMEDIATE THREAT FOR TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL HAS ENDED...THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL PRODUCING FREQUENT
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES. THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO
REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND
POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR REPORTS TO
CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV.

LAT...LON 3177 8129 3176 8141 3193 8128 3216 8115
      3219 8096 3223 8066 3213 8074 3206 8089
      3202 8083 3197 8084 3195 8095 3193 8097
      3191 8092 3185 8098 3186 8104 3178 8105
      3172 8113
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 258DEG 43KT 3205 8072

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 28, 4:31 AM EDTGale WarningCHS23 hr
Mar 28, 9:42 AM EDTMarine Weather StatementCHS5 hr
Mar 28, 4:01 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSBryan, Chatham, Effingham29 min
Mar 28, 4:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSEvans, Long, Tattnall64 min
Mar 28, 5:14 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS61 min
Mar 28, 5:34 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSLiberty, Long, McIntosh41 min
Mar 28, 5:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty50 min
Mar 28, 5:51 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS72 min
Mar 28, 5:52 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS53 min
Mar 28, 6:06 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCHSBryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and 1 more114 min
Mar 28, 6:25 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS95 min
Mar 28, 6:41 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS94 min
Mar 28, 7:35 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS55 min
Mar 28, 4:01 AM EDTLake Wind AdvisoryCHSBerkeley52 hr
Mar 28, 3:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSColleton, Dorchester49 min
Mar 28, 4:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper34 min
Mar 28, 4:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester65 min
Mar 28, 4:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSCharleston, Colleton, Dorchester33 min
Mar 28, 6:55 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCHSBeaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Jasper110 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2009Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2009Every tornado warning in 2009Tornadoes in 2009

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.