Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Charleston, SC

April 13, 2009Liberty County, Long County, Georgia

NWS Charleston, SC issued this tornado warning at Apr 13, 2009, 3:40 PM EDT for Liberty County, Long County, Georgia. It was in force for 50 min. 5 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, 3:40 PM EDT (19:40 UTC)
Expired
Apr 13, 2009, 4:30 PM EDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Liberty County, GA, Long County, GA

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:42 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, 3:40 PM EDTHAIL 1.757 E Donald, GA
Apr 13, 3:50 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGGum Branch, GAPUBLIC REPORT OF LARGE TREE LIMBS OF 12 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWN FROM WIND. DAMAGE MAY HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF A TORNADO.
Apr 13, 3:50 PM EDTHAIL 1.75Gum Branch, GAPUBLIC REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL STARTING AT 330 PM THEN DECREASING TO PENNY SIZE HAIL JUST BEFORE 4 PM BETWEEN HINESVILLE AND GLENVILLE ON STATE ROAD 196. ALL HAIL HAD STOPPED BY 4 PM.
Apr 13, 4:07 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUDHinesville, GASPOTTER IN HINESVILLE REPORTS OCCASIONAL FUNNEL CLOUDS JUST NORTH OF TOWN.
Apr 13, 4:30 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 Ne Hinesville, GATREE DOWN BLOCKING E OGLETHORPE HWY JUST NE OF HINESVILLE.

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, 7.7 hours before the alert went out and 155 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°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 131940
TORCHS
GAC179-183-132030-
/O.NEW.KCHS.TO.W.0009.090413T1940Z-090413T2030Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN LIBERTY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...
  NORTHEASTERN LONG COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...

* UNTIL 430 PM EDT

* AT 340 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO ALONG A
  LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF GUM BRANCH TO 11 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF GUM BRANCH...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF HINESVILLE TO 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUDOWICI...MOVING
  EAST AT 35 MPH. THIS LINE OF STORMS IS CURRENTLY PRODUCING A
  TORNADO NEAR DONALD.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE...
  GUM BRANCH...
  WALTHOURVILLE...
  WALTHOURVILLE...ALLENHURST...
  HINESVILLE...FLEMINGTON...

A TORNADO IS OCCURRING. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE
COVER IMMEDIATELY IN A STURDY BUILDING. MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES ARE
NOT SAFE.

A TORNADO HAS BEEN OBSERVED WITH THIS STORM AND MAY REDEVELOP AT ANY
TIME. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY
IN A STURDY BUILDING. MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE.

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 3203 8162 3173 8150 3172 8169 3197 8180
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 256DEG 29KT 3193 8177 3178 8186

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 132008
SVSCHS

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

GAC179-183-132030-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-090413T2030Z/
LONG GA-LIBERTY GA-
406 PM EDT MON APR 13 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM EDT FOR WESTERN
LIBERTY AND NORTHEASTERN LONG COUNTIES...

AT 404 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A LINE OF STORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. THESE 
STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES NORTH OF 
FLEMINGTON TO CREEK ISLAND...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES 
SOUTH OF PEMBROKE TO HINESVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
ALLENHURST...FLEMINGTON...GUM BRANCH...HINESVILLE AND WALTHOURVILLE.

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.

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.

A TORNADO HAS BEEN OBSERVED WITH THIS STORM AND MAY REDEVELOP AT ANY
TIME. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY
IN A STURDY BUILDING. MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE.

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 3203 8162 3173 8150 3172 8169 3197 8180
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 252DEG 28KT 3202 8158 3186 8164

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 132027
SVSCHS

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

GAC179-183-132036-
/O.EXP.KCHS.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-090413T2030Z/
LONG GA-LIBERTY GA-
426 PM EDT MON APR 13 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WESTERN LIBERTY AND NORTHEASTERN LONG
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM EDT...

AT 422 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. 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 3203 8162 3173 8150 3172 8169 3197 8180
TIME...MOT...LOC 2026Z 252DEG 28KT 3207 8140 3191 8147

$$

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, 3:16 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSLong, Tattnall44 min
Apr 13, 3:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBryan, Liberty, Long, Tattnall62 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.