Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 118, NWS Atlanta, GA

May 5, 2009Baldwin County, Hancock County, Washington County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at May 5, 2009, 6:49 PM EDT for Baldwin County, Hancock County, Washington County, Georgia. It was in force for 41 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 5, 2009, 6:49 PM EDT (22:49 UTC)
Expired
May 5, 2009, 7:30 PM EDT
In force
41 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Baldwin County, GA, Hancock County, GA, Washington County, GA

The radar

The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:51 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 nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 152 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 2009-05-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 422 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 2009-05-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 88 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
422 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
584 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
88 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
141 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KFFC 052249
TORFFC
GAC009-141-303-052330-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0118.090505T2249Z-090505T2330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
649 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL BALDWIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL GEORGIA
  SOUTHERN HANCOCK COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
  NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA

* UNTIL 730 PM EDT

* AT 648 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 8 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF DEEPSTEP...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  SANDERSVILLE AND TENNILLE.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3314 8271 3293 8280 3306 8317 3323 8310
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 285DEG 20KT 3311 8305

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 052303
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
703 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

GAC009-052313-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0118.000000T0000Z-090505T2330Z/
BALDWIN GA-
703 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL BALDWIN 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.

LAT...LON 3293 8280 3302 8306 3307 8304 3308 8310
      3309 8311 3311 8311 3318 8302 3314 8271
TIME...MOT...LOC 2303Z 285DEG 22KT 3308 8294

$$

GAC141-303-052330-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0118.000000T0000Z-090505T2330Z/
WASHINGTON GA-HANCOCK GA-
703 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL HANCOCK AND CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 702 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED BETWEEN LINTON AND 
DEEPSTEP...MOVING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
WARTHEN...SANDERSVILLE AND TENNILLE.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3293 8280 3302 8306 3307 8304 3308 8310
      3309 8311 3311 8311 3318 8302 3314 8271
TIME...MOT...LOC 2303Z 285DEG 22KT 3308 8294

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 052314
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
714 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

GAC141-303-052330-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0118.000000T0000Z-090505T2330Z/
WASHINGTON GA-HANCOCK GA-
714 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL HANCOCK AND CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES...

AT 714 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DEEPSTEP...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
WARTHEN...TENNILLE AND SANDERSVILLE.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3293 8280 3302 8306 3307 8304 3308 8308
      3316 8296 3314 8271
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 296DEG 14KT 3304 8291

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 052323
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
723 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

GAC141-052332-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0118.000000T0000Z-090505T2330Z/
HANCOCK GA-
723 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL HANCOCK 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.

LAT...LON 3293 8280 3302 8304 3308 8305 3308 8300
      3310 8298 3311 8296 3312 8292 3315 8289
      3313 8271
TIME...MOT...LOC 2322Z 296DEG 14KT 3303 8288

$$

GAC303-052330-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0118.000000T0000Z-090505T2330Z/
WASHINGTON GA-
723 PM EDT TUE MAY 5 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
WASHINGTON COUNTY...

AT 722 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF 
SANDERSVILLE...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WARTHEN
AND TENNILLE.

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.

IN ADDITION TO THE POSSIBLE TORNADO...THIS STORM LIKELY CONTAINS VERY 
LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS. TAKE COVER NOW

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 3293 8280 3302 8304 3308 8305 3308 8300
      3310 8298 3311 8296 3312 8292 3315 8289
      3313 8271
TIME...MOT...LOC 2322Z 296DEG 14KT 3303 8288

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 5, 12:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCEmanuel, Johnson39 min
May 5, 2:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCEmanuel, Johnson45 min
May 5, 3:31 PM EDTWind AdvisoryFFCChattooga, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin and 6 more27 hr
May 5, 4:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDodge, Telfair, Wilcox53 min
May 5, 6:31 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHancock, Washington44 min
May 5, 7:21 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCWashington39 min
May 5, 7:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBaldwin, Washington, Wilkinson42 min
May 5, 7:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCWashington51 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.