Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009

Tornado Warning 23, NWS Atlanta, GA

February 18, 2009Jasper County, Putnam County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Feb 18, 2009, 6:50 PM EST for Jasper County, Putnam County, Georgia. It was in force for 55 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, 6:50 PM EST (23:50 UTC)
Expired
Feb 18, 2009, 7:45 PM EST
In force
55 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Jasper County, GA, Putnam County, GA

The radar

The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:50 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, 7:00 PM ESTHAIL 1.25Monticello, GAHALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL REPORTED.
Feb 18, 7:15 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG6 Wsw Eatonton, GA*** 1 INJ *** POSSIBLE TORNADO. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM WILLARD TO EATONTON...ESPECIALLY ON THE WEST AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY. ONE BUSINESS IN EATONTON COMPLETELY DESTROYED. DOZENS OF HOMES DAMAGED. ONE PERSON INJURED FROM DEBRIS. SOME PEOPLE BRIEFLY TRAPPED
Feb 18, 7:15 PM ESTHAIL 1.75Eatonton, GA
Feb 18, 7:15 PM ESTTORNADO 17 Wsw Eatonton, GA*** 1 INJ *** EF1 - SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM WILLARD TO EATONTON ON A FIVE MILE LONG PATH. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 3/4 MILE. MAXIMUM WINDS ESTIMATED TO BE 110 MPH. ONE RESTAURANT COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TWO OTHER BUILDINGS DESTROYED. NUMEROUS TREES UPROOTED. AT LEA
Feb 18, 7:15 PM ESTTORNADO 27 Wsw Eatonton, GA*** 1 INJ *** SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM WILLARD TO EATONTON...ESPECIALLY THE WEST AND SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY. ONE RESTAURANT COMPLETELY DESTROYED. SEVERAL HOMES...BOTH MOBILE AND SITE-BUILT HOMES SUSTAINED MODERATE TO MAJOR DAMAGE. NUMEROUS TREES UPROOTED. AT LE
Feb 18, 7:20 PM ESTTORNADO 14 E Monticello, GAEF1 - BEGINNING ONE MILE WEST OF SMITHBORO ALONG GEORGIA HIGHWAY 16...ENDING APPROXIMATLY TWO MILES EAST OF SMITHBORO. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS 100 MPH. PATH LENGTH APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AND MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 1/4 MILE. DAMAGE TO SEVERAL HOMES ALONG GEORGIA HIG

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, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 95 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 182350
TORFFC
GAC159-237-190045-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0023.090218T2350Z-090219T0045Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN JASPER COUNTY IN CENTRAL GEORGIA
  PUTNAM COUNTY IN CENTRAL GEORGIA

* UNTIL 745 PM EST

* AT 644 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 18 MILES WEST OF
  MONTICELLO...MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SHADY
  DALE...EATONTON AND PHOENIX.

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.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
BASEBALL SIZED HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

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 3319 8330 3324 8372 3351 8368 3350 8362
      3344 8353 3346 8341 3343 8327
TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 277DEG 51KT 3337 8390

$$
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 190008
SVSFFC

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

GAC159-237-190045-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-090219T0045Z/
PUTNAM GA-JASPER GA-
708 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EST FOR EASTERN
JASPER AND PUTNAM COUNTIES...

AT 707 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MONTICELLO...MOVING
EAST AT 45 MPH. PERSONS IN MONTICELLO SHOULD MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE 
NOW HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SHADY
DALE...PIEDMONT...CENTRAL GEORGIA EXPERIMENT STATION...WILLARD...
STANFORDVILLE...ROCK EAGLE 4-H CENTER...EATONTON...WARFIELD...FLAT
ROCK...PHOENIX AND PLANT HARLEE BRANCH.

TAKE COVER NOW TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

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 3319 8330 3324 8372 3343 8369 3344 8350
      3345 8350 3344 8347 3345 8346 3345 8344
      3346 8340 3343 8327
TIME...MOT...LOC 0008Z 279DEG 39KT 3331 8367

$$
000 
WWUS52 KFFC 190020
SVSFFC

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

GAC159-237-190045-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0023.000000T0000Z-090219T0045Z/
PUTNAM GA-JASPER GA-
720 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EST FOR EAST
CENTRAL JASPER AND WESTERN PUTNAM COUNTIES...

AT 716 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED ABOUT 3 MILES WEST OF 
WILLARD...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.  HAIL TO THE SIZE OF GOLF BALLS IS 
ALSO POSSIBLE.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ROCK
EAGLE 4-H CENTER...EATONTON...WARFIELD...FLAT ROCK...PLANT HARLEE
BRANCH AND PHOENIX.

TAKE COVER NOW TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

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 3330 8329 3319 8330 3328 8365 3343 8359
      3344 8350 3344 8347 3345 8346 3346 8340
      3343 8327
TIME...MOT...LOC 0020Z 275DEG 39KT 3331 8350

$$

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, 6:21 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, 6:54 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.