Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2009
Tornado Warning 5, NWS Tallahassee, FL
NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at Feb 19, 2009, 12:56 AM EST for Grady County, Thomas County, Georgia. It was in force for 49 min. 7 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 19, 2009, 12:56 AM EST (05:56 UTC)
- Expired
- Feb 19, 2009, 1:45 AM EST
- In force
- 49 min
- Issued by
- NWS Tallahassee, FL
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Grady County, GA, Thomas County, GA
The radar
The Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:56 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 19, 1:05 AM EST | TORNADO 2 | 5 Wsw Thomasville, GA | LONG TRACK TORNADO ENTERED THOMAS COUNTY ALONG LOWER CAIRO ROAD IN A PINE TREE PLANTATION. DAMAGE WIDTH INCREASED TO 300 TO 400 YARDS IN THIS AREA WITH OVER 95 PERCENT OF PINE TREES IN THE PATH OF THE TORNADO SNAPPED. THREE HOMES SUFFERED MINOR TO MODERATE DAM |
| Feb 19, 1:05 AM EST | TORNADO | 1 S Thomasville, GA | WDIESPREAD TREES AND POWER LINES FELLED BY CONFIRMED TORNADO AT THE INTERSTION OF 319 AND PINE TREE ROAD. |
| Feb 19, 1:06 AM EST | TORNADO | 2 Ssw Thomasville, GA | WCTV WEB REPORTS 170 HOMES RECEIVED MINOR TO MODERATE DAMAGE FROM TORNADO LAST NIGHT IN AN AREA SOUTH OF THOMASVILLE. WCTV REPORTS 4200 RESIDENTS ARE WITHOUT POWER. |
| Feb 19, 1:09 AM EST | TORNADO 1 | 1 Ssw Thomasville, GA | WIDESPREAD TREES SNAPPED AND UPROOTED ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 319 NEAR METCALF ROAD AND CINDY ROAD. MANY HOMES WERE DAMAGED OR RENDERED INHABITABLE BY FALLEN TREES. DAMAGE IN THIS AREA WAS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-1 TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 90 MPH. |
| Feb 19, 1:11 AM EST | TORNADO 1 | 2 Sse Thomasville, GA | EF-1 TORNADO PASSES JUST SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN THOMASVILLE AT THE SOUTHWEST GEORGIA STATE HOSPITAL ALONG PINE TREE BLVD. NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED WITHIN THE HOSPITAL COMPLEX WITH TWO AIR CONDITIONING UNITS WERE REMOVED FROM THE TOP OF ONE BUILDING. WINDS AT THIS POR |
| Feb 19, 1:20 AM EST | TORNADO | Boston, GA | WIDESPREAD TREES DOWN THAT WERE TWISTED AND SNAPPED OFF. WIDESPREAD POWERLINES DOWN AND MANY ROADS IMPASSIBLE. |
| Feb 19, 1:23 AM EST | TORNADO 3 | 3 Nnw Boston, GA | SECOND TORNADO TOUCHDOWN WITHIN THOMAS COUNTY FROM LONG TRACKED SUPERCELL. TORNADO TOUCHES DOWN ON FIVE FORKS ROAD AND CONTINUES EASTWARD TOWARD SALEM ROAD. THE TORNADO REACHES ITS MAXIMUM INTENSITY ALONG SALEM ROAD WHERE SEVERAL PINE TREES WERE SNAPPED AND CO |
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, 10:14 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), launched 00:00Z, 5.9 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 177 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -19 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 515 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 67 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 371 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 426 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.4
- Supercell composite
- 2.3
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WFUS52 KTAE 190556 TORTAE GAC131-275-190645- /O.NEW.KTAE.TO.W.0005.090219T0556Z-090219T0645Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 1256 AM EST THU FEB 19 2009 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... CENTRAL THOMAS COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF THOMASVILLE... EAST CENTRAL GRADY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA... * UNTIL 145 AM EST * AT 1250 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A DEVELOPING TORNADO 15 MILES WEST OF THOMASVILLE...OR NEAR CAIRO... MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH. * THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... THOMASVILLE BY 105 AM EST... BOSTON BY 115 AM EST... IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EST THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA. LAT...LON 3075 8413 3094 8415 3095 8373 3072 8374 TIME...MOT...LOC 0555Z 272DEG 51KT 3083 8415 $$ 38-GODSEY
2 follow-up statements
000 WWUS52 KTAE 190607 SVSTAE SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 107 AM EST THU FEB 19 2009 GAC131-275-190645- /O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090219T0645Z/ THOMAS GA-GRADY GA- 105 AM EST THU FEB 19 2009 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM EST FOR EAST CENTRAL GRADY AND CENTRAL THOMAS COUNTIES... AT 101 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PINE PARK...OR 7 MILES WEST OF THOMASVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... THOMASVILLE BY 110 AM EST... DILLON...THOMASVILLE MUNI A/P AND 9 MILES SOUTH OF MERRILLVILLE BY 115 AM EST... EASON...BOSTON AND FIVE POINTS BY 120 AM EST... BARWICK BY 125 AM EST... THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF THOMASVILLE AND CENTRAL THOMAS COUNTY. A VERY LARGE AND VIOLENT TORNADO IS LIKELY ON THE GROUND. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH. 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 LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EST THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA. LAT...LON 3075 8413 3094 8415 3095 8373 3072 8374 TIME...MOT...LOC 0605Z 270DEG 45KT 3082 8404 $$ 38-GODSEY
000 WWUS52 KTAE 190616 SVSTAE SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 116 AM EST THU FEB 19 2009 GAC131-275-190645- /O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0005.000000T0000Z-090219T0645Z/ THOMAS GA-GRADY GA- 115 AM EST THU FEB 19 2009 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM EST FOR EAST CENTRAL GRADY AND CENTRAL THOMAS COUNTIES... AT 112 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR THOMASVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO DILLON...THOMASVILLE MUNI A/P...MERRILLVILLE...EASON...FIVE POINTS... BOSTON AND BARWICK. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE HAVE BEEN RECEIVED ACROSS GRADY AND WESTERN THOMAS COUNTY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM YOU MUST SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY SHELTER IMMEDIATELY THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 80 MPH. 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 LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. RELAY REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM EST THURSDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA. LAT...LON 3075 8413 3094 8415 3095 8373 3072 8374 TIME...MOT...LOC 0615Z 273DEG 36KT 3081 8394 $$ 38-GODSEY
The office that day
Everything else NWS Tallahassee, FL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18, 11:45 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TAE | Decatur, Seminole | 45 min |
| Feb 18, 11:50 PM EST | Tornado Warning | TAE | Seminole | 25 min |
| Feb 19, 12:22 AM EST | Tornado Warning | TAE | Decatur | 23 min |
| Feb 19, 12:31 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | TAE | Colquitt, Decatur, Grady, Thomas | 44 min |
| Feb 19, 12:40 AM EST | Tornado Warning | TAE | Grady | 35 min |
| Feb 19, 1:20 AM EST | Tornado Warning | TAE | Brooks | 40 min |
| Feb 19, 1:49 AM EST | Tornado Warning | TAE | Lanier, Lowndes | 41 min |
| Feb 19, 2:07 AM EST | Lake Wind Advisory | TAE | Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay and 20 more | 16 hr |
| Feb 19, 2:19 AM EST | Tornado Warning | TAE | Lanier, Lowndes | 26 min |
| Feb 19, 9:08 AM EST | Red Flag Warning | TAE | Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay and 20 more | 34 hr |
| Feb 19, 2:49 PM EST | Fire Weather Watch | TAE | Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay and 20 more | 38 hr |
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.