Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Charleston, SC

April 13, 2009Long County, Tattnall County, Georgia

NWS Charleston, SC issued this tornado warning at Apr 13, 2009, 3:16 PM EDT for Long County, Tattnall County, Georgia. It was in force for 44 min. 4 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
Apr 13, 2009, 3:16 PM EDT (19:16 UTC)
Expired
Apr 13, 2009, 4:00 PM EDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Long County, GA, Tattnall County, GA

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 128 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:19 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
Apr 13, 3:27 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGDonald, GASEVERAL TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS SMITH BERRY ROAD NEAR HIGHWAY 301 AND STATE ROAD 196 NEAR DONALD.
Apr 13, 3:30 PM EDTHAIL 0.88Beards Creek, GA
Apr 13, 3:35 PM EDTTORNADO4 Sw Donald, GATORNADO REPORTED ON EBENEZER ROAD. MOVING NORTHEAST.
Apr 13, 3:43 PM EDTHAIL 13 N Donald, GAON HIGHWAY 261.

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
Apr 13, 12:32 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Jacksonville, FL (KJAX), launched 12:00Z, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 144 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, Jacksonville, FL at 12:00Z on 2009-04-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Jacksonville, FL at 12:00Z on 2009-04-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 136 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
3 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-232 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
802 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
136 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
214 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 131916
TORCHS
GAC183-267-132000-
/O.NEW.KCHS.TO.W.0008.090413T1916Z-090413T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
316 PM EDT MON APR 13 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WEST CENTRAL LONG COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL TATTNALL COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...

* UNTIL 400 PM EDT

* AT 315 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 12 MILES WEST OF
  DONALD...OR ABOUT 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF SURRENCY...MOVING EAST AT
  30 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE...
  DONALD...

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...STRONG
ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY BE OCCURRING
OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS
DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE LOWEST LEVEL OF THE
BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER
UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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 3171 8190 3174 8192 3176 8196 3178 8197
      3178 8199 3182 8205 3184 8207 3193 8178
      3172 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 1916Z 264DEG 26KT 3179 8204

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 131932
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
332 PM EDT MON APR 13 2009

GAC183-267-132000-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-090413T2000Z/
LONG GA-TATTNALL GA-
331 PM EDT MON APR 13 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL TATTNALL AND WEST CENTRAL LONG COUNTIES...

AT 328 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR NOBLE...OR ABOUT
12 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUDOWICI...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...DONALD.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...STRONG
ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY BE OCCURRING
OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS
DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE LOWEST LEVEL OF THE
BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER
UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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 3171 8190 3174 8192 3176 8196 3178 8197
      3178 8199 3182 8205 3184 8207 3193 8178
      3172 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 1931Z 288DEG 23KT 3180 8189

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 131939
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
339 PM EDT MON APR 13 2009

GAC183-267-132000-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-090413T2000Z/
LONG GA-TATTNALL GA-
337 PM EDT MON APR 13 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL TATTNALL AND WEST CENTRAL LONG COUNTIES...

AT 337 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A TORNADO.  THIS 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DONALD...MOVING NORTHEAST.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...DONALD.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS
TORNADO IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SEVERE DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS AN
INTERIOR BATHROOM OR CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. PROTECT YOUR HEAD.

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 3171 8190 3174 8192 3176 8196 3178 8197
      3178 8199 3182 8205 3184 8207 3193 8178
      3172 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 1937Z 288DEG 23KT 3181 8184

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 131959
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
359 PM EDT MON APR 13 2009

GAC183-267-132008-
/O.EXP.KCHS.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-090413T2000Z/
LONG GA-TATTNALL GA-
358 PM EDT MON APR 13 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TATTNALL AND WEST CENTRAL
LONG COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 400 PM EDT...

AT 355 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH
PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED AREA...THUS THE 
TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

ALTHOUGH THE TORNADO WARNING IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT...ADDITIONAL
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS 
AND LARGE HAIL MAY AFFECT THE AREA THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. 
CONTINUE TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS FOR THE LATEST 
FORECASTS...WARNINGS AND STATEMENTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE OFFICE IN CHARLESTON.

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 3171 8190 3174 8192 3176 8196 3178 8197
      3178 8199 3182 8205 3184 8207 3193 8178
      3172 8169
TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 288DEG 23KT 3177 8169

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 13, 4:23 AM EDTGale WatchCHS12 hr
Apr 13, 4:23 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryCHS55 hr
Apr 13, 2:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSTattnall46 min
Apr 13, 2:40 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSTattnall22 min
Apr 13, 3:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSLong, Tattnall60 min
Apr 13, 3:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBryan, Liberty, Long, Tattnall62 min
Apr 13, 3:40 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSLiberty, Long50 min
Apr 13, 3:52 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCHSBryan, Bulloch, Effingham, Evans, Screven, Tattnall53 min
Apr 13, 4:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty53 min
Apr 13, 4:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSLiberty, Long, McIntosh67 min
Apr 13, 4:14 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSBryan, Chatham, Liberty46 min
Apr 13, 4:16 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSLiberty, Long, McIntosh44 min
Apr 13, 4:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBryan, Chatham, Liberty, McIntosh63 min
Apr 13, 4:50 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSLiberty, McIntosh40 min
Apr 13, 4:54 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Apr 13, 4:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBryan, Chatham, Liberty64 min
Apr 13, 5:32 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCHSBryan, Chatham88 min
Apr 13, 5:54 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS68 min
Apr 13, 6:17 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCHSMcIntosh58 min
Apr 13, 6:44 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 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.