Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 19, NWS Atlanta, GA

February 18, 20096 counties in Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Feb 18, 2009, 6:21 PM EST for 6 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 54 min. 5 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, 6:21 PM EST (23:21 UTC)
Expired
Feb 18, 2009, 7:15 PM EST
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Clarke County, GA, Greene County, GA, Morgan County, GA, Oconee County, GA, Oglethorpe County, GA, Walton County, GA

The radar

The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:24 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
Feb 18, 6:30 PM ESTHAIL 1.75Good Hope, GAGOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED.
Feb 18, 6:44 PM ESTHAIL 1Bishop, GAA NUMBER OF REPORTS OF PENNY TO QUARTER-SIZED HAIL FROM NORTH HIGH SHOALS...TO BISHOP...TO WATKINSVILLE.
Feb 18, 6:57 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG6 Ssw Watkinsville, GAPOSSIBLE TORNADO. EMA DIRECTOR REPORTS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE STARTING ON U.S. 441 AT MILE MARKER 2-3 AT TAPPIN SPUR ROAD. DAMAGE CONTINUES EAST TO HALE ROAD AND COLHAM ROAD. TREES DOWN AND A VEHICLE OVERTURNED. U.S. 441 WAS COMPLETELY CLOSED BECAUSE OF DOWNED TRE
Feb 18, 6:57 PM ESTTORNADO6 Ssw Watkinsville, GATORNADO RATED EF1 AND 5 MILES IN LENGTH. SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE STARTING ON U.S. 441 AT MILE MARKER 2-3 AT TAPPIN SPUR ROAD. DAMAGE CONTINUES EAST TO HALE ROAD AND COLHAM ROAD. TREES DOWN AND A VEHICLE OVERTURNED. U.S. 441 WAS COMPLETELY CLOSED BECAUSE OF DOW
Feb 18, 7:07 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG2 Nw Woodville, GATWENTY TREES UPROOTED OR SNAPPED WITH AN APPROXIMATELY 50 ACRE WIDE AREA OF WOODS.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 18, 3:32 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 120 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 182321
TORFFC
GAC059-133-211-219-221-297-190015-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0019.090218T2321Z-090219T0015Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
  NORTH CENTRAL MORGAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  EAST CENTRAL WALTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN CLARKE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA
  OCONEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA
  SOUTHWESTERN OGLETHORPE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 715 PM EST

* AT 616 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 14 MILES WEST OF
  GOOD HOPE...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  BOSTWICK...NORTH HIGH SHOALS...BISHOP...WATKINSVILLE...MAXEYS...
  CRAWFORD...LEXINGTON AND WOODVILLE.

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 3389 8308 3364 8311 3372 8365 3388 8364
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 275DEG 45KT 3382 8377

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 182343
SVSFFC

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

GAC297-182353-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-090219T0015Z/
WALTON GA-
643 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL WALTON 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 3364 8311 3373 8357 3374 8356 3375 8356
      3375 8355 3380 8352 3383 8354 3387 8353
      3389 8308
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 282DEG 39KT 3377 8348

$$

GAC059-133-211-219-221-190015-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-090219T0015Z/
GREENE GA-MORGAN GA-OCONEE GA-OGLETHORPE GA-CLARKE GA-
643 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM EST FOR EXTREME
SOUTHEASTERN CLARKE...SOUTHWESTERN OGLETHORPE...SOUTHERN OCONEE...
NORTH CENTRAL MORGAN AND NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTIES...

AT 640 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF BOSTWICK 
...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
BISHOP...WATKINSVILLE...FARMINGTON...SALEM...BARNETT SHOALS...ROSE
HILL...WRAYSWOOD...HUTCHINGS...CRAWFORD...MAXEYS...STEPHENS...
PENFIELD...LEXINGTON AND WOODVILLE.

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 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 3364 8311 3373 8357 3374 8356 3375 8356
      3375 8355 3380 8352 3383 8354 3387 8353
      3389 8308
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 282DEG 39KT 3377 8348

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 182345
SVSFFC

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

GAC059-133-211-219-221-190015-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-090219T0015Z/
GREENE GA-MORGAN GA-OCONEE GA-OGLETHORPE GA-CLARKE GA-
645 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM EST FOR EXTREME
SOUTHEASTERN CLARKE...SOUTHWESTERN OGLETHORPE...SOUTHERN OCONEE...
NORTH CENTRAL MORGAN AND NORTHWESTERN GREENE COUNTIES...

AT 640 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF BOSTWICK 
...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
WATKINSVILLE...FARMINGTON...SALEM...BARNETT SHOALS...ROSE HILL...
WRAYSWOOD...HUTCHINGS...CRAWFORD...MAXEYS...STEPHENS...PENFIELD...
LEXINGTON AND WOODVILLE.

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 3364 8311 3373 8357 3374 8356 3375 8356
      3375 8355 3380 8352 3383 8354 3387 8353
      3389 8308
TIME...MOT...LOC 2345Z 282DEG 39KT 3376 8346

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 182358
SVSFFC

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

GAC059-211-190008-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-090219T0015Z/
MORGAN GA-CLARKE GA-
658 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN CLARKE AND NORTH
CENTRAL MORGAN 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 3379 8309 3379 8310 3378 8309 3364 8311
      3371 8340 3384 8335 3385 8309
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 280DEG 45KT 3373 8326

$$

GAC133-219-221-190015-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-090219T0015Z/
GREENE GA-OCONEE GA-OGLETHORPE GA-
658 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM EST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN OGLETHORPE...SOUTHEASTERN OCONEE AND NORTHWESTERN GREENE
COUNTIES...

AT 653 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 6 MILES WEST OF 
MAXEYS...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
HUTCHINGS...MAXEYS...STEPHENS...PENFIELD AND WOODVILLE.

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 3379 8309 3379 8310 3378 8309 3364 8311
      3371 8340 3384 8335 3385 8309
TIME...MOT...LOC 2358Z 280DEG 45KT 3373 8326

$$

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, 6:13 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCCarroll47 min
Feb 18, 6:19 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCHouston, Twiggs26 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.