Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2009

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 410, NWS Atlanta, GA

August 5, 2009Warren County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 5, 2009, 7:53 PM EDT for Warren County, Georgia. It was in force for 52 min. 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: Aug 5, 2009, 7:53 PM EDT (23:53 UTC)
Expired: Aug 5, 2009, 8:45 PM EDT
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS Atlanta, GA
Area: Storm-based polygon

County Warren County, GA

The radar

The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:56 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Aug 5, 7:56 PM EDT	HAIL 0.75	3 Wnw Norwood, GA

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 171 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2691 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -21 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 669 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -62 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: -31 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 
WUUS52 KFFC 052353
SVRFFC
GAC301-060045-
/O.NEW.KFFC.SV.W.0410.090805T2353Z-090806T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
753 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  WARREN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA

* UNTIL 845 PM EDT

* AT 753 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZED HAIL...AND
  DAMAGING WINDS UP TO 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
  NORWOOD...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CAMAK
  AND WARRENTON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS.
REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL 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 3329 8268 3352 8282 3351 8276 3356 8271
      3358 8263 3354 8261 3345 8258 3341 8254
      3335 8254
TIME...MOT...LOC 2354Z 293DEG 15KT 3346 8270

$$

1 follow-up statement

000 
WWUS52 KFFC 060040
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
840 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

GAC301-060048-
/O.EXP.KFFC.SV.W.0410.000000T0000Z-090806T0045Z/
WARREN GA-
840 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WARREN COUNTY WILL BE ALLOWED 
TO EXPIRE AT 845 PM EDT...

AT 836 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT THE STORM THAT EARLIER PROMPTED THE WARNING FOR WARREN COUNTY 
HAS WEAKENED AND IS NO LONGER SEVERE.  LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND 
FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE 
SOUTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTY NEAR REESE FOR THE NEXT 30 MINUTES.

LAT...LON 3329 8268 3352 8282 3351 8276 3356 8271
      3358 8263 3354 8261 3345 8258 3341 8254
      3335 8254
TIME...MOT...LOC 0038Z 293DEG 15KT 3339 8250

$$



19

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 5, 6:33 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 5, 6:33 PM EDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
633 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

.UPDATE...
CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY HAS DIMINISHED ACROSS NORTH GA AS DRY AIR HAS
BEGUN TO MOVE IN...ALTHOUGH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
TO CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS ACROSS CENTRAL GA. HAVE UPDATED
THE ZONES TO REMOVE POPS AND THUNDER FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT
GENERALLY NORTH OF A LINE FROM WEST POINT TO ATHENS. THE REST OF THE
FORECAST FOR TONIGHT STILL LOOKS TO BE ON TRACK.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/...
CONVECTION ASSOCIATED WITH SHORTWAVE CONTINUES TO FIRE ALONG
OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES LEFT FROM OVERNIGHT MCS. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THE
MOIST ATMOSPHERE...IN COMBINATION WITH LIFTED INDEX VALUES OF -4 TO
-6 AND CAPES APPROACHING 3000...WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOME STRONG PULSE STORMS. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE.

MODELS CONSISTENT WITH A CHANGE IN THE LARGE SCALE SYNOPTIC
PATTERN AS THE UPPER TROUGH PUSHES OFF THE EAST COAST THURSDAY
AFTERNOON AND HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE REGION. BEST
POPS THURSDAY OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SE GA DOWNSTREAM OF THE
TROUGH. DRIER AIR ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIDGE WILL KEEP POPS LOW AS
IT CONTINUES TO BUILD OVER THE REGION INTO THE WEEKEND.
LIKEWISE... TEMPERATURES WILL APPROACH THE MID TO UPPER 90S INTO THE
WEEKEND.

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
THE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL DOMINATE CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA
INTO NEXT WEEK. HOT TEMPERATURES AND GENERALLY DIURNAL CONVECTION
WILL BE THE PRIMARY FEATURES. MODELS HINT AT BEST CHANCES FOR
DIURNAL CONVECTION ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTH AND CENTRAL GA
BEGINNING SUNDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH TUESDAY. AS THE RIDGE
BEGINS TO MOVE OFF OVER THE ATLANTIC EARLY NEXT WEEK...AN UPPER
LEVEL TROUGH MOVES OVER THE NORTHEAST. DISTURBANCES IN THE UPPER
LEVEL FLOW WILL PROVIDE THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION BY
WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN TO NEAR 90 ACROSS THE AREA BY
WEDNESDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...
MUCH DRIER AIR MOVING ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA. NOTHING UPSTREAM AND NO
TRIGGER THEREFORE WILL TAKE OUT MENTION OF CONVECTION TONIGHT FROM
ATL TO AHN. THE BACK EDGE OF THE MOISTURE BOUNDARY SEEN ON SATELLITE
FROM JUST EAST OF AHN TO NEAR LGC MOVING SOUTHEAST. AHEAD OF THIS
WILL KEEP TSRA IN THE TAF WITH COVERAGE DIMINISHING. ACCORDING TO
THE MODELS THIS BOUNDARY STALLS ACROSS CENTRAL GA TONIGHT AND SLOWLY
RETREATS NORTH...BUT NOT MAKING IT TO ATL/AHN. WILL GO WITH PROB 30
IN THE CSG/MCN AREAS AFTER 18Z THURSDAY. HOWEVER FOR AHN AND ATL
AREAS WILL GO WITH A DRY FORECAST AND VFR CONDITIONS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
ATHENS          68  94  67  95  70 /  30   5  10  10   5
ATLANTA         71  91  71  94  73 /  30   5  10  10   5
BLAIRSVILLE     64  86  63  87  66 /  20   5  10  20   5
CARTERSVILLE    65  91  62  94  68 /  20   5  10  10   5
COLUMBUS        72  92  71  95  74 /  30  20  10  10   5
GAINESVILLE     68  90  68  92  71 /  20  10  10  10   5
MACON           71  94  69  96  72 /  30  20  10  10   5
ROME            67  94  65  96  69 /  20   5  10  10   5
PEACHTREE CITY  66  91  64  92  68 /  30   5  10  10   5
VIDALIA         71  91  69  94  71 /  40  30  10  10   5

&&

.FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

31

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 5, 6:26 PM EDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
626 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-062230-
BALDWIN-BANKS-BARROW-BARTOW-BIBB-BLECKLEY-BUTTS-CARROLL-CATOOSA-
CHATTAHOOCHEE-CHATTOOGA-CHEROKEE-CLARKE-CLAYTON-COBB-COWETA-
CRAWFORD-CRISP-DADE-DAWSON-DEKALB-DODGE-DOOLY-DOUGLAS-EMANUEL-
FANNIN-FAYETTE-FLOYD-FORSYTH-GILMER-GLASCOCK-GORDON-GREENE-
GWINNETT-HALL-HANCOCK-HARALSON-HARRIS-HEARD-HENRY-HOUSTON-JACKSON-
JASPER-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-JONES-LAMAR-LAURENS-LUMPKIN-MACON-
MADISON-MARION-MERIWETHER-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-MORGAN-MURRAY-
MUSCOGEE-NEWTON-NORTH FULTON-OCONEE-OGLETHORPE-PAULDING-PEACH-
PICKENS-PIKE-POLK-PULASKI-PUTNAM-ROCKDALE-SCHLEY-SOUTH FULTON-
SPALDING-STEWART-SUMTER-TALBOT-TALIAFERRO-TAYLOR-TELFAIR-TOOMBS-
TOWNS-TREUTLEN-TROUP-TWIGGS-UNION-UPSON-WALKER-WALTON-WARREN-
WASHINGTON-WEBSTER-WHEELER-WHITE-WHITFIELD-WILCOX-WILKES-
WILKINSON-
626 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA THIS
EVENING.

.SYNOPSIS...
A MOISTURE BOUNDARY FROM JUST SOUTH OF ATLANTA TO NEAR ATHENS WILL
MOVE INTO CENTRAL GEORGIA AND STALL TONIGHT.

.PRIMARY HAZARDS...
THE PRIMARY HAZARD FROM THE SEVERE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS
AND NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZED HAIL. ALSO...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING IS LIKELY.

.DISCUSSION...
AHEAD OF THE MOISTURE BOUNDARY THE ATMOSPHERE REMAINED UNSTABLE
AND WITH DAYTIME HEATING...NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED.
A FEW OF THESE STORMS HAVE ALREADY PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS. THIS
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNSET...HOWEVER AFTER SUNSET THE ATMOSPHERE
WILL STABILIZE SOMEWHAT. WHILE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN
POSSIBLE AFTER MIDNIGHT ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA...SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY...ESPECIALLY
DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTERS ACTIVATION IS NOT REQUESTED BUT SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED
TO SUBMIT REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH THE WEB BY GOING TO
WEATHER.GOV/ATLANTA.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 6:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
619 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

GAZ112-113-052245-
619 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN TOOMBS AND
SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM EDT...

AT 617 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAD DEVELOPED FROM OHOOPEE TO 5 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF CHARLOTTEVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. THESE
STORMS WILL AFFECT CEDAR CROSSING...JOHNSON CORNER...AND NEW BRANCH.

WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH MAY BLOW DOWN SMALL TREES AND POWER LINES.
IN ADDITION...NUMEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE
INDICATED IN THESE THUNDERSTORMS. RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD STAY
INDOORS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT BE USED
UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY.

19

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 6:39 PM EDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
639 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

GAZ082-052315-
639 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND WIND GUSTS
TO 40 MPH IN BIBB COUNTY UNTIL 715 PM EDT...

AT 636 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM WESLEYAN TO LIZELLA...MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST
AT 15 MPH.

THESE WIND GUSTS MAY PRODUCE MINOR DAMAGE TO TREE LIMBS AND BLOW
LIGHT...UNSECURED OBJECTS AROUND.

LIGHTNING DETECTION SYSTEMS INDICATE NUMEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND
LIGHTNING STRIKES WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA
SHOULD STAY INDOORS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT
BE USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY.

19

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 6:48 PM EDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
648 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

GAZ103-104-052315-
648 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR FREQUENT LIGHTNING IN WESTERN
SUMTER AND SOUTHERN WEBSTER COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM EDT...

AT 645 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM PLAINS TO LEVERETTS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5
MPH.

LIGHTNING DETECTION SYSTEMS INDICATE FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND
LIGHTNING STRIKES WITH THIS ACTIVITY. RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD
STAY INDOORS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT BE
USED UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY.

SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERTS ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS UP TO 57 MPH ARE
EXPECTED...HAIL IS EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN THE SIZE OF PENNIES...OR
SIGNIFICANT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING IS EXPECTED.

19

Local storm report, Aug 5, 7:15 PM EDT, 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
715 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0637 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ROBERTA                 32.72N 84.01W
08/05/2009                   CRAWFORD           GA   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            ONE TREE DOWN ON HWY 341 NORTH.

0638 PM     TSTM WND DMG     13 S FORSYTH            32.85N 83.94W
08/05/2009                   MONROE             GA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            2 TREES DOWN

&&

22

Local storm report, Aug 5, 7:18 PM EDT, 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
718 PM EDT WED AUG 05 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0705 PM     TSTM WND DMG     MACON                   32.84N 83.66W
08/05/2009                   BIBB               GA   PUBLIC

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN...INCLUDING ONE LARGE TREE.

&&

22

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 7:41 PM EDT, 12 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
741 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

GAZ051-062-060015-
741 PM EDT WED AUG 5 2009

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT FOR 35 MPH WINDS IN NORTHERN WARREN AND
SOUTHERN TALIAFERRO COUNTIES UNTIL 815 PM EDT...

AT 738 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER BARNETT...MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING CAN BE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA SHOULD STAY
INDOORS. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND TELEPHONES SHOULD NOT BE USED
UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY.

19

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 4, 8:53 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Gwinnett	23 min
Aug 4, 9:03 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Walton	57 min
Aug 5, 1:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Clarke, Madison, Oglethorpe	49 min
Aug 5, 2:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Baldwin, Washington, Wilkinson	31 min
Aug 5, 2:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Dooly, Macon, Schley	26 min
Aug 5, 3:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Bibb, Jones, Twiggs	49 min
Aug 5, 4:54 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Laurens, Treutlen	36 min
Aug 5, 5:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Emanuel	44 min
Aug 5, 6:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Taylor	51 min
Aug 5, 6:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Crawford, Monroe	38 min
Aug 5, 6:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Bibb	33 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 2009 Every severe thunderstorm 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.