Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009
Tornado Warning 15, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Feb 18, 2009, 5:54 PM EST for 6 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 51 min. 18 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, 5:54 PM EST (22:54 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 18, 2009, 6:45 PM EST
- In force
- 51 min
- Issued by
- NWS Atlanta, GA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Clayton County, GA, Coweta County, GA, Fayette County, GA, Fulton County, GA, Henry County, GA, Spalding County, GA
The radar
The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:53 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, 5:55 PM EST | HAIL 4.25 | 3 S Palmetto, GA | REPORT OF SOFTBALL SIZE HAIL SOUTH OF PALMETTO COUNTY. |
| Feb 18, 6:00 PM EST | HAIL 2.5 | Fayetteville, GA | TENNIS BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED. |
| Feb 18, 6:00 PM EST | HAIL 3 | Fayetteville, GA | NUMEROUS REPORTS OF 2.5 TO 3.0 INCH HAIL FROM TYRONE TO FAYETTEVILLE. EMA DIRECTOR REPORTS THAT OVER 110 SKYLIGHTS WERE DAMAGED IN SCHOOLS WITH THIS ALONE COSTING 250,000 DOLLARS. MANY HOMES SUSTAINED ROOF DAMAGE. |
| Feb 18, 6:00 PM EST | HAIL 3 | Jonesboro, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:05 PM EST | HAIL 2.75 | 1 Nne Tyrone, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:05 PM EST | HAIL 3 | Tyrone, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:06 PM EST | HAIL 2.75 | Tyrone, GA | REPORT OF BASEBALL SIZED HAIL. |
| Feb 18, 6:08 PM EST | HAIL 2.75 | Tyrone, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:10 PM EST | HAIL 1.5 | 4 Ene Tyrone, GA | WINDOWS BROKEN OUT OF SEVERAL HOUSES. |
| Feb 18, 6:10 PM EST | HAIL 1.75 | Jonesboro, GA | GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED ON TARA BLVD. |
| Feb 18, 6:15 PM EST | HAIL 1.75 | 1 E Peachtree City, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:15 PM EST | HAIL 1.75 | 3 Ene Fayetteville, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:15 PM EST | HAIL 2.5 | 1 Se Fayetteville, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:15 PM EST | HAIL 2.75 | Fayetteville, GA | 2.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED. |
| Feb 18, 6:30 PM EST | HAIL 1 | Hampton, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:30 PM EST | HAIL 1.25 | 4 Ssw Mcdonough, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:30 PM EST | HAIL 1.75 | 2 Sw Mcdonough, GA | |
| Feb 18, 6:45 PM EST | HAIL 1.75 | Lovejoy, GA | GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED. |
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, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 20 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WFUS52 KFFC 182254 TORFFC GAC063-077-113-121-151-255-182345- /O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0015.090218T2254Z-090218T2345Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 554 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... SOUTHERN CLAYTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA FAYETTE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA SOUTH CENTRAL FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA SOUTHERN HENRY COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA NORTHEASTERN COWETA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA NORTHEASTERN SPALDING COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA * UNTIL 645 PM EST * AT 550 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 10 MILES WEST OF TYRONE...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. * OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PEACHTREE CITY...FAYETTEVILLE...WOOLSEY...JONESBORO...LOVEJOY... SUNNY SIDE...HAMPTON AND MCDONOUGH. 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 3349 8404 3329 8413 3338 8468 3357 8465 TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 278DEG 47KT 3348 8471 $$
4 follow-up statements
000 WWUS52 KFFC 182306 SVSFFC SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 606 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 GAC063-077-113-121-151-255-182345- /O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-090218T2345Z/ SPALDING GA-COWETA GA-FAYETTE GA-HENRY GA-CLAYTON GA-FULTON GA- 606 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EST FOR SOUTH CENTRAL FULTON...SOUTHERN CLAYTON...SOUTHERN HENRY...FAYETTE... NORTHEASTERN COWETA AND NORTHEASTERN SPALDING COUNTIES... AT 603 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED BETWEEN CANNONGATE AND TYRONE...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. PERSONS IN TYRONE AND NORTHERN FAYETTE COUNTY SHOULD MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE NOW OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PEACHTREE CITY...FAYETTEVILLE...KENWOOD...INMAN...WOOLSEY... JONESBORO...IRONDALE...JW SMITH RESERVOIR...BONANZA...LOVEJOY...LAKE SPIVEY...ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY...HAMPTON...SUNNY SIDE...EAGLES LANDING...FLIPPEN...TOWALAGA...LUELLA...MCDONOUGH AND BLACKSVILLE. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR MUCH OF GEORGIA. IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6. LAT...LON 3349 8404 3329 8413 3338 8468 3357 8465 TIME...MOT...LOC 2306Z 282DEG 47KT 3346 8459 $$
000 WWUS52 KFFC 182316 SVSFFC SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA 616 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 GAC077-121-182325- /O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-090218T2345Z/ COWETA GA-FULTON GA- 615 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL FULTON AND NORTHEASTERN COWETA COUNTIES IS CANCELLED... THE STORM HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA. 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 3353 8449 3349 8404 3329 8413 3342 8456 TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 280DEG 50KT 3344 8444 $$ GAC063-113-151-255-182345- /O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-090218T2345Z/ SPALDING GA-FAYETTE GA-HENRY GA-CLAYTON GA- 615 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EST FOR SOUTHERN CLAYTON...SOUTHERN HENRY...NORTHERN FAYETTE AND NORTHEASTERN SPALDING COUNTIES... AT 612 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR FAYETTEVILLE... MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH. OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO INMAN...IRONDALE...JW SMITH RESERVOIR...BONANZA...LOVEJOY...ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY...SUNNY SIDE...HAMPTON...FLIPPEN...TOWALAGA... LUELLA...MCDONOUGH AND BLACKSVILLE. IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BASEBALL SIZE HAIL. HAIL TO THE SIZE OF SOFTBALLS HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR MUCH OF GEORGIA. IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6. LAT...LON 3353 8449 3349 8404 3329 8413 3342 8456 TIME...MOT...LOC 2315Z 280DEG 50KT 3344 8444 $$
000
WWUS52 KFFC 182327
SVSFFC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
627 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
GAC113-182336-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-090218T2345Z/
FAYETTE GA-
626 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN FAYETTE 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 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 3346 8438 3349 8439 3351 8434 3349 8404
3329 8413 3337 8439 3340 8438 3342 8438
3343 8440 3344 8440
TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 283DEG 49KT 3341 8427
$$
GAC063-151-255-182345-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-090218T2345Z/
SPALDING GA-HENRY GA-CLAYTON GA-
626 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN CLAYTON...SOUTHERN HENRY AND NORTHEASTERN SPALDING
COUNTIES...
AT 621 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 2 MILES NORTH OF
HAMPTON...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
FLIPPEN...TOWALAGA...LUELLA...MCDONOUGH AND BLACKSVILLE.
IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE
A STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY
EVENING FOR MUCH OF GEORGIA.
IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.
LAT...LON 3346 8438 3349 8439 3351 8434 3349 8404
3329 8413 3337 8439 3340 8438 3342 8438
3343 8440 3344 8440
TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 283DEG 49KT 3341 8427
$$000
WWUS52 KFFC 182336
SVSFFC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
636 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
GAC063-255-182345-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-090218T2345Z/
SPALDING GA-CLAYTON GA-
635 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CLAYTON AND NORTHEASTERN
SPALDING COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
THE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THIS WARNING HAS MOVED EAST INTO
HENRY COUNTY. ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING INTO WEST
CENTRAL GEORGIA AND MAY AFFECT THESE COUNTIES LATER...BUT THE
IMMEDIATE THREAT HAS ENDED.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHWEST GEORGIA. 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 3333 8413 3338 8429 3349 8415 3349 8410
3349 8404
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 283DEG 49KT 3338 8413
$$
GAC151-182345-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-090218T2345Z/
HENRY GA-
635 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM EST FOR SOUTHERN
HENRY COUNTY...
AT 633 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR
LUELLA...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.
IN ADDITION...LARGE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM IN HENRY
COUNTY.
WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS
THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY
ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU
ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO A
BASEMENT OR INTERIOR ROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR GEORGIA.
IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.
LAT...LON 3333 8413 3338 8429 3349 8415 3349 8410
3349 8404
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 283DEG 49KT 3338 8413
$$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, 5:43 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett | 34 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, 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.