Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009
Tornado Warning 36, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Feb 18, 2009, 10:48 PM EST for 5 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 42 min. 2 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, 10:48 PM EST (03:48 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 18, 2009, 11:30 PM EST
- In force
- 42 min
- Issued by
- NWS Atlanta, GA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Glascock County, GA, Hancock County, GA, Jefferson County, GA, Warren County, GA, Washington County, GA
The radar
The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 106 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:49 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, 10:48 PM EST | TSTM WND DMG | 3 E Sparta, GA | *** 2 INJ *** POSSIBLE TORNADO. EMA DIRECTOR REPORTS THAT A HOME WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED EAST OF SPARTA BETWEEN THERE AND THE WARREN COUNTY LINE. TWO RESIDENTS IN THE HOME WERE INJURED. |
| Feb 18, 11:00 PM EST | TORNADO 3 | 5 Ese Sparta, GA | *** 1 FATAL, 3 INJ *** EF3 - TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 5 ESE MI. OF SPARTA AND CONTINUED TO INTO WARREN...ENDING 0.25 MILE N OF SHOALS IN EXTREME SW WARREN COUNTY. TOTAL PATH LENGTH 8 MILES. MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH 500 YARDS WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 140 MPH. A CH |
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 |
| Feb 18, 10:14 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 188 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
- 185 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -4 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 831 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 94 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 479 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 475 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.6
- Supercell composite
- 2.4
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WFUS52 KFFC 190348
TORFFC
GAC125-141-163-301-303-190430-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0036.090219T0348Z-090219T0430Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1048 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
GLASCOCK COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
EAST CENTRAL HANCOCK COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
SOUTHERN WARREN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA
* UNTIL 1130 PM EST
* AT 1044 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR SPARTA...
MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
MITCHELL...GIBSON...AVERA...STAPLETON AND WRENS.
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.
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 SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EST
THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN 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 3313 8227 3321 8299 3339 8297 3338 8254
3336 8254 3335 8250 3335 8244 3332 8239
3332 8234 3325 8224 3323 8223
TIME...MOT...LOC 0348Z 274DEG 39KT 3329 8287
$$1 follow-up statement
000
WWUS52 KFFC 190425
SVSFFC
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1125 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
GAC125-141-163-301-303-190434-
/O.EXP.KFFC.TO.W.0036.000000T0000Z-090219T0430Z/
WASHINGTON GA-JEFFERSON GA-GLASCOCK GA-HANCOCK GA-WARREN GA-
1124 PM EST WED FEB 18 2009
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN WARREN...EAST CENTRAL HANCOCK...
GLASCOCK...NORTHERN JEFFERSON AND EXTREME NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON
COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 1130 PM EST...
AT 1119 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A LINE OF SEVERE STORMS. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM WRENS TO AGRICOLA TO 8 MILES SOUTH OF HAMBURG
STATE PARK...MOVING EAST AT 65 MPH.
OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
MATTHEWS AND STELLAVILLE.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EST
THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERN GEORGIA.
IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...LARGE HAIL OR SIGNIFICANT FLOODING...WAIT
UNTIL AFTER THE STORM HAS PASSED...AND THEN CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1 8 6 6 7 6 3 4 4 6 6.
LAT...LON 3313 8227 3321 8299 3339 8297 3338 8254
3336 8254 3335 8250 3335 8244 3332 8239
3332 8234 3325 8224 3323 8223
TIME...MOT...LOC 0424Z 284DEG 57KT 3326 8228 3314 8259
3307 8273
$$The office that day
Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 7:07 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Haralson, Polk | 38 min |
| Feb 18, 7:21 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Clayton, Fayette, Fulton | 21 min |
| Feb 18, 7:22 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Greene, Hancock, Putnam | 53 min |
| Feb 18, 7:31 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Haralson, Paulding | 21 min |
| Feb 18, 7:38 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | DeKalb, Henry | 29 min |
| Feb 18, 7:40 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Carroll, Heard | 35 min |
| Feb 18, 7:53 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Warren, Washington | 56 min |
| Feb 18, 7:56 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Coweta, Heard | 29 min |
| Feb 18, 8:03 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Henry, Jasper, Morgan, Newton, Rockdale | 42 min |
| Feb 18, 8:11 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Jasper, Morgan, Newton | 33 min |
| Feb 18, 8:22 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Coweta, Meriwether, Spalding | 38 min |
| Feb 18, 8:27 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Heard, Troup | 34 min |
| Feb 18, 8:27 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Greene, Jasper, Morgan, Putnam | 38 min |
| Feb 18, 8:43 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Greene, Morgan, Oconee | 30 min |
| Feb 18, 8:55 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Coweta, Meriwether | 32 min |
| Feb 18, 8:56 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Fayette, Spalding | 29 min |
| Feb 18, 9:04 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Macon, Marion, Schley, Taylor | 27 min |
| Feb 18, 9:15 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Heard | 31 min |
| Feb 18, 9:20 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Butts, Henry, Jasper | 40 min |
| Feb 18, 9:23 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Fayette, Lamar, Spalding | 52 min |
| Feb 18, 9:24 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crawford, Houston, Macon, Peach, Taylor | 17 min |
| Feb 18, 9:38 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Coweta, Meriwether, Troup | 52 min |
| Feb 18, 9:58 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Butts, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Monroe | 37 min |
| Feb 18, 10:06 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Butts, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Putnam | 36 min |
| Feb 18, 10:10 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Greene, Hancock, Putnam | 28 min |
| Feb 18, 10:18 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Harris, Meriwether, Troup | 42 min |
| Feb 18, 10:37 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Baldwin, Hancock, Jones, Putnam, Washington | 35 min |
| Feb 18, 10:41 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Baldwin, Hancock, Jones, Putnam, Washington | 28 min |
| Feb 18, 10:46 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Warren, Washington | 44 min |
| Feb 18, 10:55 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Emanuel | 23 min |
| Feb 18, 11:11 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Washington | 45 min |
| Feb 18, 11:34 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Monroe | 30 min |
| Feb 19, 12:02 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Baldwin, Bibb, Jones, Twiggs, Wilkinson | 28 min |
| Feb 19, 12:25 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Johnson, Laurens, Washington, Wilkinson | 4 min |
| Feb 19, 2:03 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Toombs | 12 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.