Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 109, NWS Atlanta, GA

April 20, 20094 counties in Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Apr 20, 2009, 12:21 AM EDT for 4 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 54 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Apr 20, 2009, 12:21 AM EDT (04:21 UTC)
Expired
Apr 20, 2009, 1:15 AM EDT
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Carroll County, GA, Coweta County, GA, Douglas County, GA, Fulton County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 40 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:22 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Apr 19, 8:51 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 4.4 hours before the alert went out and 44 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2009-04-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 182 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2009-04-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 212 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
182 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-11 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1004 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
212 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
248 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
1.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WFUS52 KFFC 200421
TORFFC
GAC045-077-097-121-200515-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0109.090420T0421Z-090420T0515Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1221 AM EDT MON APR 20 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  SOUTHWESTERN FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  EASTERN CARROLL COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
  NORTH CENTRAL COWETA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA

* UNTIL 115 AM EDT

* AT 1219 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  CARROLLTON...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  WHITESBURG...CHATTAHOOCHEE HILL COUNTRY AND DOUGLASVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR
NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3376 8473 3349 8467 3345 8510 3363 8514
TIME...MOT...LOC 0422Z 257DEG 23KT 3356 8503

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 200431
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1231 AM EDT MON APR 20 2009

GAC045-077-097-121-200515-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0109.000000T0000Z-090420T0515Z/
COWETA GA-DOUGLAS GA-CARROLL GA-FULTON GA-
1231 AM EDT MON APR 20 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FULTON...EAST CENTRAL CARROLL...WESTERN DOUGLAS AND
NORTH CENTRAL COWETA COUNTIES...

AT 1231 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HANNAH...MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BYERS
CROSSROADS...FAIRPLAY...DUNAWAY GARDENS...ROSCOE...BILL ARP...
CHATTAHOOCHEE HILL COUNTRY...DOUGLASVILLE AND CHAPEL HILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE
A STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR
NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3346 8504 3367 8496 3376 8473 3349 8467
TIME...MOT...LOC 0431Z 259DEG 31KT 3358 8491

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 200442
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1242 AM EDT MON APR 20 2009

GAC045-200451-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0109.000000T0000Z-090420T0515Z/
CARROLL GA-
1242 AM EDT MON APR 20 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL CARROLL COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS EXITED CARROLL COUNTY.  
HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING ARE STILL POSSIBLE AS THE REMNANTS OF THIS 
STORM MOVES THROUGH CARROLL COUNTY.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR
NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
700 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR NORTHEASTERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3376 8473 3349 8467 3347 8489 3348 8488
      3352 8482 3358 8481 3358 8490 3369 8490
TIME...MOT...LOC 0441Z 259DEG 31KT 3360 8481

$$

GAC077-097-121-200515-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0109.000000T0000Z-090420T0515Z/
COWETA GA-DOUGLAS GA-FULTON GA-
1242 AM EDT MON APR 20 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FULTON...WESTERN DOUGLAS AND NORTH CENTRAL COWETA
COUNTIES...

AT 1238 AM EDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR HANNAH...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BILL
ARP...CHATTAHOOCHEE HILL COUNTRY...DOUGLASVILLE AND CHAPEL HILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR
NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
700 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR NORTHEASTERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3376 8473 3349 8467 3347 8489 3348 8488
      3352 8482 3358 8481 3358 8490 3369 8490
TIME...MOT...LOC 0441Z 259DEG 31KT 3360 8481

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 200455
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1255 AM EDT MON APR 20 2009

GAC077-200504-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0109.000000T0000Z-090420T0515Z/
COWETA GA-
1255 AM EDT MON APR 20 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL COWETA COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS EXITED THE COWETA COUNTY.  
GUSTY WINDS TO 30 MPH AND HEAVY RAIN ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS 
STORM IN COWETA COUNTY.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR
NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
700 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR NORTHEASTERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3358 8481 3372 8481 3376 8473 3351 8468
      3351 8482
TIME...MOT...LOC 0454Z 259DEG 31KT 3362 8468

$$

GAC097-121-200515-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0109.000000T0000Z-090420T0515Z/
DOUGLAS GA-FULTON GA-
1255 AM EDT MON APR 20 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 115 AM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FULTON AND CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTIES...

AT 1254 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A STRONG STORM LOCATED NEAR CHAPEL HILL...MOVING EAST AT 35 
MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER 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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR
NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
700 AM EDT MONDAY MORNING FOR NORTHEASTERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3358 8481 3372 8481 3376 8473 3351 8468
      3351 8482
TIME...MOT...LOC 0454Z 259DEG 31KT 3362 8468

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 19, 10:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattooga, Dade, Walker63 min
Apr 19, 10:25 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCChattooga, Dade, Walker28 min
Apr 19, 10:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFloyd57 min
Apr 19, 10:40 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCCherokee, Cobb, Fulton34 min
Apr 19, 11:04 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCHarris, Muscogee71 min
Apr 19, 11:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Haralson59 min
Apr 19, 11:51 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCChattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Talbot23 min
Apr 20, 12:07 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin, White53 min
Apr 20, 12:37 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCClayton, Cobb, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton53 min
Apr 20, 3:26 PM EDTWind AdvisoryFFCBanks, Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa and 55 more28 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.