Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 112, NWS Atlanta, GA

May 3, 2009Floyd County, Haralson County, Polk County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2009, 4:42 PM EDT for Floyd County, Haralson County, Polk County, Georgia. It was in force for 63 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
May 3, 2009, 4:42 PM EDT (20:42 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2009, 5:45 PM EDT
In force
63 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Floyd County, GA, Haralson County, GA, Polk County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:43 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
May 3, 5:20 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUDN Cedartown, GALAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR WALMART ON HWY 27 IN CEDARTOWN.

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
May 3, 12:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr
May 3, 4:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 104 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 12:00Z on 2009-05-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 149 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 12:00Z on 2009-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 104 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
149 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
523 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
104 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
182 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KFFC 032042
TORFFC
GAC115-143-233-032145-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0112.090503T2042Z-090503T2145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
442 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN FLOYD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
  NORTHWESTERN HARALSON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
  POLK COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 545 PM EDT

* AT 440 PM EDT...ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING A TORNADO
  ACROSS EASTERN ALABAMA...CURRENTLY 22 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CAVE
  SPRING...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  CEDARTOWN...ROCKMART AND ARAGON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE
PLACE.

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3423 8514 3399 8499 3386 8538 3402 8542
      3410 8542
TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 244DEG 30KT 3389 8560

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 032109
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
509 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

GAC115-143-233-032145-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0112.000000T0000Z-090503T2145Z/
HARALSON GA-POLK GA-FLOYD GA-
509 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
FLOYD...POLK AND NORTHWESTERN HARALSON COUNTIES...

AT 507 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ESOM HILL...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CAVE
SPRING...CEDARTOWN...ANTIOCH...FISH CREEK...LINDALE...SENEY...VAN
WERT...ROCKMART AND ARAGON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGE ACROSS EASTERN ALABAMA. 
HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT TO 
SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3423 8514 3399 8499 3386 8538 3402 8542
      3410 8542
TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 247DEG 27KT 3398 8537

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 032120
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
520 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

GAC143-032130-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0112.000000T0000Z-090503T2145Z/
HARALSON GA-
520 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN HARALSON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE TORNADO WILL REMAIN NORTH OF THE COUNTY...THUS THE WARNING HAS BEEN 
CANCELLED.

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3391 8535 3411 8540 3423 8514 3401 8500
TIME...MOT...LOC 2120Z 243DEG 27KT 3402 8529

$$

GAC115-233-032145-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0112.000000T0000Z-090503T2145Z/
POLK GA-FLOYD GA-
520 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL FLOYD AND POLK COUNTIES...

AT 519 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CEDARTOWN...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FISH
CREEK...SENEY...LINDALE...ROCKMART AND ARAGON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGE ACROSS EASTERN ALABAMA. 
HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT TO 
SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3391 8535 3411 8540 3423 8514 3401 8500
TIME...MOT...LOC 2120Z 243DEG 27KT 3402 8529

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 032129
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
529 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

GAC115-233-032145-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0112.000000T0000Z-090503T2145Z/
POLK GA-FLOYD GA-
529 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL FLOYD AND NORTHERN POLK COUNTIES...

AT 529 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD. THIS 
POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CEDARTOWN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 
MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO FISH
CREEK...SENEY...LINDALE AND ARAGON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGE ACROSS EASTERN ALABAMA. 
HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT TO 
SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3397 8527 3413 8535 3423 8514 3404 8502
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 238DEG 27KT 3407 8522

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 3:44 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningFFCGordon, Murray, Whitfield17 hr
May 3, 4:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk, Troup83 min
May 3, 4:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFannin, Gilmer40 min
May 3, 5:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattahoochee, Harris, Meriwether, Muscogee, Stewart, Troup80 min
May 3, 5:32 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCBartow, Floyd, Polk43 min
May 3, 5:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Coweta, Douglas, Fulton, Haralson, Heard and 2 more65 min
May 3, 5:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette and 6 more65 min
May 3, 6:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCLamar, Meriwether, Pike, Talbot, Taylor, Upson60 min
May 3, 6:06 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCCoweta, Fayette, Fulton39 min
May 3, 6:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattahoochee, Macon, Marion, Schley, Stewart, Sumter and 2 more63 min
May 3, 6:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth and 3 more61 min
May 3, 6:26 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee, Gordon, Pickens34 min
May 3, 6:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCButts, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, Jasper, Lamar and 5 more58 min
May 3, 6:35 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Crawford, Lamar, Monroe, Taylor, Upson55 min
May 3, 6:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCherokee, Dawson, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall and 1 more52 min
May 3, 7:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Butts, Crawford, Jasper, Jones, Monroe and 2 more64 min
May 3, 7:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBarrow, Butts, Gwinnett, Jasper, Morgan, Newton and 3 more38 min
May 3, 7:17 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Barrow, Clarke, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall and 5 more58 min
May 3, 7:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBaldwin, Greene, Hancock, Jones, Putnam, Twiggs and 1 more53 min
May 3, 7:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClarke, Greene, Hancock, Madison, Morgan, Oconee and 2 more50 min
May 3, 7:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Jackson, Madison48 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.