Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 113, NWS Atlanta, GA

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

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2009, 5:32 PM EDT for Bartow County, Floyd County, Polk County, Georgia. It was in force for 43 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
May 3, 2009, 5:32 PM EDT (21:32 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2009, 6:15 PM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Bartow County, GA, Floyd County, GA, Polk County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:34 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
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, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 98 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 032132
TORFFC
GAC015-115-233-032215-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0113.090503T2132Z-090503T2215Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN BARTOW COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
  SOUTHEASTERN FLOYD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
  NORTHEASTERN POLK COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 615 PM EDT

* AT 530 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A FUNNEL CLOUD ON 
  HIGHWAY 27 JUST NORTH OF CEDARTOWN...OR 12 MILES WEST OF 
  TAYLORSVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  EUHARLEE AND KINGSTON.

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 3436 8494 3412 8478 3409 8487 3409 8491
      3407 8492 3403 8505 3423 8517
TIME...MOT...LOC 2131Z 238DEG 27KT 3408 8520

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 032150
SVSFFC

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

GAC233-032159-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0113.000000T0000Z-090503T2215Z/
POLK GA-
550 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN POLK COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM HAS MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY...THEREFORE 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 3436 8494 3412 8478 3409 8487 3409 8491
      3408 8492 3408 8494 3409 8495 3409 8504
      3411 8504 3411 8510 3423 8517
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 238DEG 27KT 3415 8506

$$

GAC015-115-032215-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0113.000000T0000Z-090503T2215Z/
BARTOW GA-FLOYD GA-
550 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN FLOYD AND WESTERN BARTOW COUNTIES...

AT 549 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 8 MILES WEST OF
EUHARLEE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
STILESBORO AND KINGSTON.

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 3436 8494 3412 8478 3409 8487 3409 8491
      3408 8492 3408 8494 3409 8495 3409 8504
      3411 8504 3411 8510 3423 8517
TIME...MOT...LOC 2149Z 238DEG 27KT 3415 8506

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 032201
SVSFFC

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

GAC115-032211-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0113.000000T0000Z-090503T2215Z/
FLOYD GA-
601 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN FLOYD COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM HAS MOVED OUT 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 3422 8502 3431 8502 3436 8494 3412 8478
      3409 8487 3409 8491 3408 8492 3408 8494
      3409 8495 3409 8504 3422 8504
TIME...MOT...LOC 2201Z 238DEG 26KT 3419 8498

$$

GAC015-032215-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0113.000000T0000Z-090503T2215Z/
BARTOW GA-
601 PM EDT SUN MAY 3 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT FOR WESTERN
BARTOW COUNTY...

AT 601 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR KINGSTON...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
EUHARLEE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 3422 8502 3431 8502 3436 8494 3412 8478
      3409 8487 3409 8491 3408 8492 3408 8494
      3409 8495 3409 8504 3422 8504
TIME...MOT...LOC 2201Z 238DEG 26KT 3419 8498

$$

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, 4:42 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCFloyd, Haralson, Polk63 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, 5:40 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.