Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Atlanta, GA

January 6, 2009Chattooga County, Floyd County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Jan 6, 2009, 4:55 PM EST for Chattooga County, Floyd County, Georgia. It was in force for 50 min. 4 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
Jan 6, 2009, 4:55 PM EST (21:55 UTC)
Expired
Jan 6, 2009, 5:45 PM EST
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Chattooga County, GA, Floyd County, GA

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:58 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
Jan 6, 5:05 PM ESTTORNADO2 S Holland, GACOUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS A 30 TO 40 ACRE STAND OF TREES WAS FLATTENED ABOUT A HALF MILE TO THE EAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF STATE HIGHWAY 100 AND HOLLAND-CHATTOOGAVILLE ROAD. THIS EXTENDES THE PATH OF THE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TORNADO TO ABOUT 2.5 MILES T
Jan 6, 5:05 PM ESTTORNADO4 Ese Chattoogaville, GA2 MILE TRACK OF SPOTTY TREE DAMAGE ALONG OLD HOLLAND ROAD AND STATE HIGHWAY 100 IN THE HOLLAND COMMUNITY. LIGHT TO MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE ROOFS OF 3 BUILDINGS AND SEVERAL OUT BUILDINGS. DAMAGE APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND A
Jan 6, 5:18 PM ESTTSTM WND DMGHolland, GAON HIGHWAY 100 ROOF BLOWN OFF A HOUSE, POWER LINES AND TREES DOWN.
Jan 6, 5:30 PM ESTTSTM WND GST 61Rome, GAAT THE FLOYD MEDICAL CENTER

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, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 130 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 2009-01-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 40 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 2009-01-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 295 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
40 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
473 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
71 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
295 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
391 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 062155
TORFFC
GAC055-115-062245-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0002.090106T2155Z-090106T2245Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
455 PM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CHATTOOGA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
  FLOYD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 545 PM EST

* AT 449 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
A   LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ONE OR MORE 
TORNADOES ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF 
CHATTOOGAVILLE TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CHATTOOGAVILLE...MOVING EAST 
AT 40 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  BERRYTON...SUMMERVILLE...JAMES H. FLOYD STATE PARK...TRION...
  LINDALE...ROME...EVERETT SPRINGS AND SHANNON.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER 
A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS 
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN 
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR SMALL ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR 
PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE...LEAVE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE 
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3459 8529 3458 8508 3454 8507 3451 8509
      3443 8509 3442 8511 3440 8509 3439 8500
      3435 8500 3434 8502 3422 8502 3420 8505
      3413 8543 3447 8551
TIME...MOT...LOC 2154Z 248DEG 36KT 3444 8545 3431 8550

$$
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 062204
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
504 PM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

GAC055-115-062245-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090106T2245Z/
FLOYD GA-CHATTOOGA GA-
502 PM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EST FOR CHATTOOGA
AND FLOYD COUNTIES...

AT 458 PM EST...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS 
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. THESE TORNADIC STORMS WERE LOCATED 
ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BERRYTON TO CHATTOOGAVILLE TO 12 MILES 
SOUTHWEST OF CHATTOOGAVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS OBSERVED NEAR GAYLESVILLE IN ALABAMA. PEOPLE NEAR 
HOLLAND...LYERLY...AND TIDINGS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO JAMES
H. FLOYD STATE PARK...TRION...TIDINGS...COOSA...ARMUCHEE...EVERETT
SPRINGS...LINDALE...ROME...SHANNON AND PINSON.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR SMALL ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR
PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE...LEAVE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE 
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

LAT...LON 3459 8529 3458 8508 3454 8507 3451 8509
      3443 8509 3442 8511 3440 8509 3439 8500
      3435 8500 3434 8502 3422 8502 3420 8505
      3413 8543 3447 8551
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 248DEG 36KT 3446 8535 3434 8538
          3421 8551

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 062216
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
516 PM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

GAC055-115-062245-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090106T2245Z/
FLOYD GA-CHATTOOGA GA-
514 PM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EST FOR CHATTOOGA
AND FLOYD COUNTIES...

AT 511 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ONE OR 
MORE TORNADOES. THESE TORNADIC STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE 
EXTENDING FROM JAMES H. FLOYD STATE PARK TO HOLLAND...MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

THE MOST DANGEROUS PORTION OF THIS LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL 
IMPACT THE AREA FROM COOSA AND HOLLAND TO EVERETT SPRINGS...ARMUCHEE 
AND SHANNON.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
LINDALE...TIDINGS...ROME...AND PINSON.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR SMALL ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR
PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE...LEAVE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL 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 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 3441 8543 3459 8526 3458 8508 3454 8507
      3451 8509 3444 8509 3442 8511 3440 8509
      3439 8500 3435 8500 3434 8502 3422 8502
      3420 8505 3413 8543 3422 8545
TIME...MOT...LOC 2214Z 234DEG 42KT 3444 8526 3433 8534

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 062229
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
529 PM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

GAC055-115-062245-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090106T2245Z/
FLOYD GA-CHATTOOGA GA-
528 PM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EST FOR EASTERN
CHATTOOGA AND FLOYD COUNTIES...

AT 524 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF TORNADO PRODUCING STORMS. THESE TORNADO PRODUCING
STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM EVERETT SPRINGS TO
ARMUCHEE TO ROME...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

A ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF A HOME NEAR HOLLAND THIS IS A DANGEROUS LINE 
OF STORMS.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SHANNON
AND PINSON.

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR SMALL ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR
PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF YOU ARE IN A MOBILE HOME OR VEHICLE...LEAVE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL 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 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 3458 8519 3458 8508 3454 8507 3451 8509
      3444 8509 3442 8511 3440 8509 3439 8500
      3435 8500 3434 8502 3422 8502 3422 8504
      3420 8505 3417 8533 3420 8536
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 241DEG 45KT 3457 8509 3441 8514
          3428 8523

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 062242
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
542 PM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

GAC055-115-062250-
/O.EXP.KFFC.TO.W.0002.000000T0000Z-090106T2245Z/
FLOYD GA-CHATTOOGA GA-
540 PM EST TUE JAN 6 2009

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN CHATTOOGA AND FLOYD COUNTIES
EXPIRES AT 545 PM EST...

AT 537 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT ROTATION WAS DECREASING WITHIN THE LINE OF STORMS THAT PROMPTED 
THE WARNING. THUS...THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. 

IF YOU OBSERVED WIND DAMAGE 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.

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH GEORGIA UNTIL 11 PM EST AND 
CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER.

LAT...LON 3458 8519 3458 8508 3454 8507 3451 8509
      3444 8509 3442 8511 3440 8509 3439 8500
      3435 8500 3434 8502 3422 8502 3422 8504
      3420 8505 3417 8533 3420 8536
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 241DEG 45KT 3462 8492 3447 8497
          3434 8506

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 6, 6:45 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningFFCForsyth24 hr
Jan 6, 6:51 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCForsyth, Fulton57 hr
Jan 6, 7:57 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCDawson, Forsyth15 hr
Jan 6, 8:46 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningFFCBartow, Chattooga, Cherokee, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon and 1 more24 hr
Jan 6, 9:40 AM ESTAreal Flood WarningFFCBanks, Dawson, Fannin, Hall, Lumpkin, Towns and 2 more22 hr
Jan 6, 10:56 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCCherokee33 hr
Jan 6, 12:20 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCPolk13 hr
Jan 6, 12:33 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCDade47 hr
Jan 6, 12:46 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningFFCCatoosa, Murray, Walker, Whitfield24 hr
Jan 6, 3:15 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattooga, Dade, Walker45 min
Jan 6, 3:19 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCDade, Walker17 min
Jan 6, 3:37 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCGilmer15 hr
Jan 6, 4:41 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattooga, Floyd64 min
Jan 6, 5:23 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Gordon, Murray, Walker, Whitfield52 min
Jan 6, 5:33 PM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCGordon, Murray, Whitfield4 days

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.