Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 131, NWS Atlanta, GA

December 14, 2009Sumter County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Dec 14, 2009, 5:20 PM EST for Sumter County, Georgia. It was in force for 40 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
Dec 14, 2009, 5:20 PM EST (22:20 UTC)
Expired
Dec 14, 2009, 6:00 PM EST
In force
40 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Sumter County, GA

The radar

The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:24 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
Dec 14, 5:45 PM ESTTSTM WND DMGAmericus, GATREE DOWN ON A HOUSE ON OGLETHORPE STREET WITH PEOPLE TRAPPED INSIDE. SEVERAL REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUDS.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 143 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 2009-12-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2009-12-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 154 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
478 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
154 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
176 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KFFC 142220
TORFFC
GAC261-142300-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0131.091214T2220Z-091214T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
520 PM EST MON DEC 14 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN SUMTER COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA

* UNTIL 600 PM EST

* AT 520 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR PLAINS...
  MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  AMERICUS AND ANDERSONVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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 GROUND FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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 3199 8442 3203 8443 3205 8443 3207 8443
      3215 8426 3215 8418 3219 8418 3222 8413
      3218 8412 3219 8410 3217 8403 3209 8397
      3207 8398 3203 8395
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 253DEG 17KT 3204 8438

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 142231
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
531 PM EST MON DEC 14 2009

GAC261-142300-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0131.000000T0000Z-091214T2300Z/
SUMTER GA-
531 PM EST MON DEC 14 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EST FOR NORTHERN
SUMTER COUNTY...

AT 528 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO LOCATED 7 MILES WEST OF 
AMERICUS...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
PENNINGTON...METHVINS AND NEW ERA.

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 3200 8437 3207 8436 3219 8410 3218 8409
      3217 8403 3215 8403 3209 8397 3207 8398
      3205 8396 3203 8396
TIME...MOT...LOC 2231Z 262DEG 21KT 3204 8433

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 142245
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
545 PM EST MON DEC 14 2009

GAC261-142300-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0131.000000T0000Z-091214T2300Z/
SUMTER GA-
545 PM EST MON DEC 14 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EST FOR
NORTHEASTERN SUMTER COUNTY...

AT 544 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A STORM WITH STRONG ROTATION LOCATED NEAR AMERICUS...MOVING 
EAST AT 25 MPH.  THE STORM HAS WEAKENED SOMEWHAT...BUT IS STILL 
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
PENNINGTON...METHVINS AND NEW ERA.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3210 8428 3219 8410 3218 8409 3217 8403
      3215 8403 3212 8401 3211 8399 3203 8396
      3201 8428
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 262DEG 21KT 3205 8424

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 142257
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
557 PM EST MON DEC 14 2009

GAC261-142300-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0131.000000T0000Z-091214T2300Z/
SUMTER GA-
557 PM EST MON DEC 14 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM EST FOR CENTRAL
SUMTER COUNTY...

AT 554 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A STRONG STORM LOCATED NEAR NEW ERA...MOVING EAST AT 25 
MPH.  THIS STORM HAS WEAKENED CONSIDERABLY AND THE TORNADO WARNING 
WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 600 PM EST.  THE STORM MAY STILL 
PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AND PEA SIZED HAIL AS IT PASSES THROUGH 
EASTERN SUMTER COUNTY.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3210 8421 3215 8403 3211 8400 3205 8397
      3203 8396 3202 8419
TIME...MOT...LOC 2256Z 262DEG 21KT 3206 8416

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 14, 3:16 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningFFCDooly9 hr
Dec 14, 12:05 PM ESTFlood WatchFFCBleckley, Chattahoochee, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Emanuel and 17 more28 hr
Dec 14, 3:42 PM ESTDense Fog AdvisoryFFCBaldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley and 67 more12 hr
Dec 14, 6:23 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCDooly37 hr
Dec 14, 6:28 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningFFCChattahoochee, Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Marion, Schley and 3 more24 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.