Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 17, NWS Atlanta, GA

February 18, 2009Carroll County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Feb 18, 2009, 6:13 PM EST for Carroll County, Georgia. It was in force for 47 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
Feb 18, 2009, 6:13 PM EST (23:13 UTC)
Expired
Feb 18, 2009, 7:00 PM EST
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Carroll County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 51 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:16 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
Feb 18, 3:32 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 56 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 2009-02-18Temperature 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 2009-02-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 605 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
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 182313
TORFFC
GAC045-190000-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0017.090218T2313Z-090219T0000Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CARROLL COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 700 PM EST

* AT 611 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 18 MILES WEST OF
  BOWDON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MOUNT
  ZION...ROOPVILLE...CARROLLTON AND WHITESBURG.

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 3366 852HELSEA...ALABASTER...
  SOUTHWESTERN TALLADEGA COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  EAST CENTRAL TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF HOLT...

* UNTIL 600 PM CST

* AT 510 PM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR HELENA...AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  VERIZON MUSIC CENTER AT OAK MOUNTAIN AND INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE BY
  520 PM CST...
  OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK BY 525 PM CST...
  CHELSEA BY 530 PM CST...
  WESTOVER BY 540 PM CST...
  HARPERSVILLE AND WILSONVILLE BY 545 PM CST...
  VINCENT BY 550 PM CST...

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 238 THROUGH 250...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 1 THROUGH 13...
AND INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 86 THROUGH 108.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CST WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR ALABAMA.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER...
CALL 1-800-856-0758.

LAT...LON 3344 8638 3323 8636 3317 8754 3333 8751
TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 264DEG 37KT 3327 8685

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 182331 RRA
SVSFFC

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

GAC045-190000-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-090219T0000Z/
CARROLL GA-
630 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EST FOR CARROLL
COUNTY...

AT 626 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 4 MILES NORTH OF 
BOWDON...MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 50 MPH. 

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGE. PERSONS IN CARROLLTON 
SHOULD MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE NOW

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MOUNT
ZION...JOHN TANNER STATE PARK...CARROLLTON...LOWELL...CLEM...SEATON
LAKE...WHITESBURG AND BYERS CROSSROADS.

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 3365 8534 3366 8526 3367 8522 3362 8490
      3357 8489 3358 8481 3352 8482 3344 8493
      3345 8498 3343 8501 3350 8531
TIME...MOT...LOC 2330Z 286DEG 45KT 3359 8526

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 182351
SVSFFC

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

GAC045-190000-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-090219T0000Z/
CARROLL GA-
651 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EST FOR EAST
CENTRAL CARROLL COUNTY...

AT 649 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CLEM...MOVING EAST
AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SEATON
LAKE...WHITESBURG AND BYERS CROSSROADS.

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 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 3365 8509 3362 8490 3358 8490 3357 8489
      3358 8481 3356 8481 3356 8482 3352 8482
      3346 8490 3351 8507
TIME...MOT...LOC 2351Z 281DEG 43KT 3355 8496

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 18, 3:43 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon52 min
Feb 18, 3:52 PM ESTWind AdvisoryFFCBaldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley and 90 more27 hr
Feb 18, 4:19 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattahoochee, Marion, Muscogee41 min
Feb 18, 4:22 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee38 min
Feb 18, 4:52 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCHarris, Talbot38 min
Feb 18, 4:53 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCCherokee, Forsyth, Fulton37 min
Feb 18, 5:02 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCCarroll43 min
Feb 18, 5:06 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCMarion, Schley, Taylor24 min
Feb 18, 5:31 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCCarroll, Coweta, Douglas, Fulton44 min
Feb 18, 5:32 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCTalbot, Taylor27 min
Feb 18, 5:33 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCMacon, Taylor22 min
Feb 18, 5:36 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett54 min
Feb 18, 5:43 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCDeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett34 min
Feb 18, 5:54 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCClayton, Coweta, Fayette, Fulton, Henry, Spalding51 min
Feb 18, 5:59 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCGwinnett, Walton46 min
Feb 18, 6:01 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrawford, Houston, Peach44 min
Feb 18, 6:19 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCHouston, Twiggs26 min
Feb 18, 6:21 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCClarke, Greene, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Walton54 min
Feb 18, 6:22 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Haralson38 min
Feb 18, 6:33 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCButts, Henry, Jasper, Newton42 min
Feb 18, 6:44 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCBleckley, Laurens, Twiggs25 min
Feb 18, 6:48 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCWilkinson22 min
Feb 18, 6:50 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCJasper, Putnam55 min
Feb 18, 6:54 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Coweta, Douglas, Fulton18 min
Feb 18, 6:58 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCGreene, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes77 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.