Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 14, NWS Atlanta, GA

February 18, 2009DeKalb County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Feb 18, 2009, 5:43 PM EST for DeKalb County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Georgia. It was in force for 34 min. 6 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, 5:43 PM EST (22:43 UTC)
Expired: Feb 18, 2009, 6:17 PM EST
In force: 34 min
Issued by: NWS Atlanta, GA
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties DeKalb County, GA, Fulton County, GA, Gwinnett County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:44 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, 5:48 PM EST	HAIL 1.75	Tucker, GA
Feb 18, 5:50 PM EST	HAIL 0.88	Tucker, GA
Feb 18, 5:50 PM EST	HAIL 1	Lilburn, GA	QUARTER SIZED HAIL REPORTED.
Feb 18, 6:00 PM EST	HAIL 1.75	Lilburn, GA
Feb 18, 6:03 PM EST	HAIL 1	Sw Snellville, GA
Feb 18, 6:05 PM EST	HAIL 1.75	Chamblee, GA

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, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 59 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KFFC 182243
TORFFC
GAC089-121-135-182330-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0014.090218T2243Z-090218T2330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
543 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN DEKALB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  CENTRAL FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  SOUTHWESTERN GWINNETT COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA

* UNTIL 630 PM EST

* AT 539 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BUCKHEAD...
  MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  AVONDALE ESTATES...CLARKSTON...TUCKER...PINE LAKE...STONE
  MOUNTAIN...LILBURN...LITHONIA AND SNELLVILLE.

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.

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 3388 8399 3370 8408 3376 8442 3394 8440
TIME...MOT...LOC 2244Z 275DEG 44KT 3384 8429

$$

3 follow-up statements

000 
WWUS52 KFFC 182252
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
552 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

GAC121-182301-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-090218T2330Z/
FULTON GA-
551 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL FULTON 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 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 3392 8429 3388 8399 3377 8405 3376 8405
      3371 8408 3370 8408 3382 8433
TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 276DEG 38KT 3383 8421

$$

GAC089-135-182330-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-090218T2330Z/
DEKALB GA-GWINNETT GA-
551 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN GWINNETT AND NORTHERN DEKALB COUNTIES...

AT 549 PM EST...DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATED A TORNADO. THIS 
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CLARKSTON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. HAIL TO 
THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO STONE
MOUNTAIN...LILBURN...MOUNTAIN PARK...REDAN...LITHONIA...CENTERVILLE
AND SNELLVILLE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL 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 3392 8429 3388 8399 3377 8405 3376 8405
      3371 8408 3370 8408 3382 8433
TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 276DEG 38KT 3383 8421

$$

000 
WWUS52 KFFC 182301
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
601 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

GAC089-135-182330-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-090218T2330Z/
DEKALB GA-GWINNETT GA-
601 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EST FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL GWINNETT AND EAST CENTRAL DEKALB COUNTIES...

AT 558 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MOUNTAIN 
PARK...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
CENTERVILLE AND SNELLVILLE.

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

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 3390 8414 3388 8399 3377 8405 3376 8405
      3380 8418
TIME...MOT...LOC 2301Z 275DEG 41KT 3382 8408

$$

000 
WWUS52 KFFC 182317
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
617 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

GAC089-135-182327-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0014.000000T0000Z-090218T2330Z/
DEKALB GA-GWINNETT GA-
617 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL GWINNETT AND EAST CENTRAL
DEKALB COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.

A TORNADO WATCH 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 3390 8414 3388 8399 3377 8405 3376 8405
      3380 8418
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 275DEG 41KT 3380 8386

$$

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, 5:31 PM EST	Tornado Warning	FFC	Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Fulton	44 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, 5:54 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, 2009 Every tornado warning in 2009 Tornadoes 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.