Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009
Tornado Warning 11, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Feb 18, 2009, 5:31 PM EST for 4 counties in 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
- Feb 18, 2009, 5:31 PM EST (22:31 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 18, 2009, 6:15 PM EST
- In force
- 44 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), 33 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 5:50 PM EST | HAIL 1 | Whitesburg, GA | NWS EMPLOYEE REPORTED QUARTER SIZED HAIL ON THE GROUND. |
| Feb 18, 5:55 PM EST | HAIL 4.25 | 3 S Palmetto, GA | REPORT OF SOFTBALL SIZE HAIL SOUTH OF PALMETTO COUNTY. |
| Feb 18, 6:00 PM EST | HAIL 2.75 | Newnan, GA | BASEBALL SIZED HAIL AND DAMAGE TO HOME. |
| Feb 18, 6:10 PM EST | HAIL 2.75 | Newnan, GA | BASEBALL SIZED HAIL FOR 1 MINUTE. |
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 3:32 PM EST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 38 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 588 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 66 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 605 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 895 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WFUS52 KFFC 182231 TORFFC GAC045-077-097-121-182315- /O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0011.090218T2231Z-090218T2315Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 531 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... SOUTHWESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA SOUTHEASTERN CARROLL COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA NORTHERN COWETA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA * UNTIL 615 PM EST * AT 530 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 13 MILES WEST OF WHITESBURG...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. * OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CHATTAHOOCHEE HILL COUNTRY AND PALMETTO. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR GEORGIA. 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. LAT...LON 3365 8499 3358 8462 3334 8463 3343 8507 TIME...MOT...LOC 2232Z 275DEG 47KT 3355 8510 $$
2 follow-up statements
000
WWUS52 KFFC 182247
SVSFFC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
547 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
GAC097-182257-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-090218T2315Z/
DOUGLAS GA-
547 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
THE STORM HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY.
A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY
EVENING FOR MUCH OF GEORGIA.
IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.
LAT...LON 3349 8503 3359 8490 3357 8489 3358 8481
3361 8478 3358 8462 3334 8463
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 289DEG 46KT 3348 8488
$$
GAC045-077-121-182315-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-090218T2315Z/
COWETA GA-CARROLL GA-FULTON GA-
547 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FULTON...EAST CENTRAL CARROLL AND NORTHERN COWETA
COUNTIES...
AT 544 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WHITESBURG...MOVING
EAST AT 55 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
ARNCO-SARGENT...ROSCOE...DUNAWAY GARDENS...CHATTAHOOCHEE HILL
COUNTRY...MADRAS...PALMETTO...THOMAS CROSSROADS AND CANNONGATE.
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.
A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY
EVENING FOR MUCH OF GEORGIA.
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.
LAT...LON 3349 8503 3359 8490 3357 8489 3358 8481
3361 8478 3358 8462 3334 8463
TIME...MOT...LOC 2247Z 289DEG 46KT 3348 8488
$$000 WWUS52 KFFC 182306 RRA SVSFFC SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 606 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 GAC045-182315- /O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-090218T2315Z/ CARROLL GA- 605 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL CARROLL COUNTY IS CANCELLED... A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHWEST GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR GEORGIA. IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6. LAT...LON 3345 8479 3359 8472 3358 8462 3334 8463 TIME...MOT...LOC 2305Z 289DEG 46KT 3340 8462 $$ GAC077-121-182315- /O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-090218T2315Z/ COWETA GA-FULTON GA- 605 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EST FOR SOUTHWESTERN FULTON AND NORTH CENTRAL COWETA COUNTIES... AT 603 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR THOMAS CROSSROADS...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. IN ADDITION...NUMEROUS REPORTS OF LARGE HAIL FROM GOLF BALLS TO BASEBALLS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN SOUTH FULTON AND NORTHERN COWETA COUNTIES DURING THE PAST 10 TO 15 MINUTES. WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO A BASEMENT OR INTERIOR ROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR GEORGIA. 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. LAT...LON 3345 8479 3359 8472 3358 8462 3334 8463 TIME...MOT...LOC 2305Z 289DEG 46KT 3340 8462 $$
The office that day
Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 3:43 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bartow, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon | 52 min |
| Feb 18, 3:52 PM EST | Wind Advisory | FFC | Baldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley and 90 more | 27 hr |
| Feb 18, 4:19 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Chattahoochee, Marion, Muscogee | 41 min |
| Feb 18, 4:22 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Bartow, Cherokee | 38 min |
| Feb 18, 4:52 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Harris, Talbot | 38 min |
| Feb 18, 4:53 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Cherokee, Forsyth, Fulton | 37 min |
| Feb 18, 5:02 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Carroll | 43 min |
| Feb 18, 5:06 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Marion, Schley, Taylor | 24 min |
| Feb 18, 5:32 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Talbot, Taylor | 27 min |
| Feb 18, 5:33 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Macon, Taylor | 22 min |
| Feb 18, 5:36 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett | 54 min |
| Feb 18, 5:43 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett | 34 min |
| Feb 18, 5:54 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Clayton, Coweta, Fayette, Fulton, Henry, Spalding | 51 min |
| Feb 18, 5:59 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Gwinnett, Walton | 46 min |
| Feb 18, 6:01 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crawford, Houston, Peach | 44 min |
| Feb 18, 6:13 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Carroll | 47 min |
| Feb 18, 6:19 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Houston, Twiggs | 26 min |
| Feb 18, 6:21 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Clarke, Greene, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton | 54 min |
| Feb 18, 6:22 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Carroll, Haralson | 38 min |
| Feb 18, 6:33 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Butts, Henry, Jasper, Newton | 42 min |
| Feb 18, 6:44 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Bleckley, Laurens, Twiggs | 25 min |
| Feb 18, 6:48 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Wilkinson | 22 min |
| Feb 18, 6:50 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Jasper, Putnam | 55 min |
| Feb 18, 6:54 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Fulton | 18 min |
| Feb 18, 6:58 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Greene, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes | 77 min |
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.