Alert archive / Georgia / Flash Flood Warnings in 2009

Flash Flood Warning 5, NWS Atlanta, GA

July 8, 2009Towns County, Union County, White County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this flash flood warning at Jul 8, 2009, 7:47 AM EDT for Towns County, Union County, White County, Georgia. It was in force for 6 hr. 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
Jul 8, 2009, 7:47 AM EDT (11:47 UTC)
Expired
Jul 8, 2009, 1:45 PM EDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Towns County, GA, Union County, GA, White County, GA

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:50 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
Jul 8, 8:30 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 S Mountain Scene, GAHIGH SHOALS CREEK...SOAPSTONE CREEK AND CORBIN CREEK...ALL HEADWATER CREEKS OF THE HIWASSEE RIVER...CAUSED MINOR FLOODING OF AGRICULTURAL FIELDS NEAR THEIR BANKS. A FEW PRIVATE DIRT ROADS WERE WASHED OUT NEAR THE CREEKS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 6 INCHES OR MORE OC

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

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 300 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2009-07-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2009-07-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -12 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2128 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-12 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
14 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 
WGUS52 KFFC 081147
FFWFFC
GAC281-291-311-081745-
/O.NEW.KFFC.FF.W.0005.090708T1147Z-090708T1745Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
747 AM EDT WED JUL 8 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL UNION COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  TOWNS COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA
  NORTHERN WHITE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 145 PM EDT

* AT 744 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  VERY HEAVY RAINFALL OF 2 TO 3 INCHES THAT HAS FALLEN FROM 
  THUNDERSTORMS AROUND 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF UNICOI STATE PARK...
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO YOUNG
  HARRIS AND HIAWASSEE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE
YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME
KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS. CAMPERS AND HIKERS SHOULD AVOID STREAMS OR
CREEKS. THE WARNING INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE HIAWASSEE RIVER.

IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS FLOODED
ROADS...FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT ONLY TAKES A FEW INCHES OF SWIFTLY
FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

IF YOU SEE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

&&

LAT...LON 3498 8354 3495 8354 3494 8358 3491 8359
      3487 8365 3481 8365 3479 8367 3475 8362
      3470 8375 3482 8394 3499 8394 3499 8355

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS72 KFFC 081231
FFSFFC

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
831 AM EDT WED JUL 8 2009

GAC281-291-311-081745-
/O.CON.KFFC.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090708T1745Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WHITE GA-UNION GA-TOWNS GA-
831 AM EDT WED JUL 8 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM EDT FOR
TOWNS...EAST CENTRAL UNION AND NORTHEASTERN WHITE COUNTIES...

AT 821 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN.  THIS STORM WAS 
LOCATED 7 MILES NORTH OF UNICOI STATE PARK...OR ABOUT 9 MILES SOUTH 
OF HIAWASSEE...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH.

RADAR INDICATES THAT 4 TO 6 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN OVER EXTREME 
SOUTHERN TOWNS COUNTY DURING THE LAST TWO HOURS...NEAR CORBIN 
CREEK...HIGH SHOALS CREEK...AND THE HIAWASSEE RIVER NEAR THE TRAY 
MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS JUST SOUTH OF MOUNTAIN SCENE ALONG HIGHWAYS 17 
AND 180. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR
IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES... 
DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO 
HIGHER GROUND. STREAMS...RIVERS...OR CREEKS CAN BECOME KILLERS IN 
HEAVY RAINS. CAMPERS AND HIKERS SHOULD AVOID STREAMS OR CREEKS.

IF YOU SEE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

&&

LAT...LON 3498 8354 3495 8354 3494 8358 3491 8359
      3487 8365 3481 8365 3479 8367 3475 8362
      3470 8375 3482 8394 3499 8394 3499 8355

$$
000 
WGUS72 KFFC 081603
FFSFFC

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1203 PM EDT WED JUL 8 2009

GAC291-311-081559-
/O.CAN.KFFC.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090708T1745Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
WHITE GA-UNION GA-
1203 PM EDT WED JUL 8 2009

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR EAST CENTRAL UNION 
AND NORTHERN WHITE COUNTIES...

THE HEAVY RAIN HAS EXITED THE AREA. 

IF YOU SAW SIGNIFICANT FLOODING CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

LAT...LON 3496 8354 3487 8365 3481 8365 3479 8367
      3478 8372 3479 8377 3490 8382 3489 8385
      3492 8391 3496 8394 3499 8394 3499 8355

$$

GAC281-081745-
/O.CON.KFFC.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090708T1745Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TOWNS GA-
1203 PM EDT WED JUL 8 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM EDT FOR TOWNS
COUNTY...

AT 1155 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR ESTIMATES THAT 6 TO 
9 INCHES OF RAIN FELL EARLIER THIS MORNING OVER A SMALL PORTION OF 
EXTREME SOUTHERN TOWNS COUNTY...SOUTHEAST OF MOUNTAIN SCENE.

THE HIAWASSEE RIVER SOUTH OF HIAWASSEE HAD RAPIDLY RISEN TO 8.9 FEET 
AS OF 930 AM. FLOOD STAGE IS 10 FEET. CORBIN CREEK...HIGH SHOALS 
CREEK...AND THE HIAWASSEE RIVER NEAR THE TRAY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS 
JUST SOUTHEAST OF MOUNTAIN SCENE AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 75 LIKELY SAW 
SHARP RISES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO 
CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. TO 
ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND. STREAMS...RIVERS...OR 
CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS. CAMPERS AND HIKERS 
SHOULD AVOID STREAMS OR CREEKS.

IF YOU SEE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

&&

LAT...LON 3496 8354 3487 8365 3481 8365 3479 8367
      3478 8372 3479 8377 3490 8382 3489 8385
      3492 8391 3496 8394 3499 8394 3499 8355

$$
000 
WGUS72 KFFC 081736
FFSFFC

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
136 PM EDT WED JUL 8 2009

GAC281-081745-
/O.CON.KFFC.FF.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090708T1745Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TOWNS GA-
136 PM EDT WED JUL 8 2009

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 PM EDT FOR TOWNS
COUNTY...

AT 120 PM EDT...THE TOWNS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED THAT 
CORBIN...HIGH SHOALS AND SOAPSTONE CREEKS...ALL HEADWATER CREEKS OF 
THE HIWASSEE RIVER IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE COUNTY...CAUSED MINOR 
FLOODING OF AGRICULTURAL FIELDS NEAR THEIR BANKS THIS MORNING. ALSO 
A FEW PRIVATE DIRT ROADS IN THE FLASH FLOOD AREA WERE WASHED OUT. 
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 6 INCHES OR MORE OCCURRED IN THIS AREA WHICH IS 
AROUND 2 MILES SOUTH OF MOUNTAIN SCENE OR NEAR THE INTERSECTIONS OF 
GEORGIA HIGHWAYS 180 AND 75. 

CURRENT RADAR INDICATES THE RAIN CONTINUES TO DIMINISH OVER THE 
WARNED AREA. THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 145 PM EDT. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOODING MAY STILL BE OCCURRING IN SOME LOCATIONS. MOST FLOOD 
RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER 
COVERED BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS 
A FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING 
WATER MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND.

IF YOU SEE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.

&&

LAT...LON 3496 8354 3487 8365 3481 8365 3479 8367
      3478 8372 3479 8377 3490 8382 3489 8385
      3492 8391 3496 8394 3499 8394 3499 8355

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 8, 10:25 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningFFCLumpkin, Union12 hr
Jul 8, 3:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHouston, Twiggs49 min
Jul 8, 4:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFannin, Gilmer18 min
Jul 8, 4:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBleckley, Twiggs18 min
Jul 8, 7:06 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningFFCUnion3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Georgia, 2009Every flash flood warning 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.