Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Atlanta, GA

February 28, 2011Douglas County, Fulton County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Feb 28, 2011, 5:55 PM EST for Douglas County, Fulton County, Georgia. It was in force for 35 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Feb 28, 2011, 5:55 PM EST (22:55 UTC)
Expired
Feb 28, 2011, 6:30 PM EST
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Douglas County, GA, Fulton County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:55 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.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 28, 1:29 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 30 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 2011-02-28Temperature 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 2011-02-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 229 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
1162 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
229 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
350 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.

034 
WFUS52 KFFC 282255
TORFFC
GAC097-121-282330-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0003.110228T2255Z-110228T2330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
555 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  DOUGLAS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  SOUTHWESTERN FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA

* UNTIL 630 PM EST

* AT 550 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NORTHWEST OF 
  CHATTAHOOCHEE HILLS...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  FAIRBURN...UNION CITY...HAPEVILLE...EAST POINT AND COLLEGE PARK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

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!

DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. CARS ARE EASILY
TOSSED AROUND BY TORNADO WINDS. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE PATH OF A
TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG BUILDING. IF NO SAFE
STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER
YOUR HEAD.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EST MONDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3359 8490 3376 8490 3372 8435 3365 8435
      3365 8444 3364 8445 3365 8446 3355 8446
      3352 8458 3356 8483 3357 8482 3357 8491
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 278DEG 32KT 3366 8484

$$
2 follow-up statements
612 
WWUS52 KFFC 282315
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
615 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

GAC097-282323-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-110228T2330Z/
DOUGLAS GA-
615 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

THUNDERSTORMS WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH OCCASIONAL 
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHERN AND 
EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR SO...BUT 
THUNDERSTORMS IN THIS AREA NO LONGER INDICATE STRONG ROTATION.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EST MONDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHERN GEORGIA.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EST
MONDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3363 8475 3365 8471 3366 8467 3374 8459
      3372 8435 3365 8435 3364 8446 3355 8446
      3355 8447 3352 8458 3356 8482 3357 8481
TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 278DEG 32KT 3364 8465

$$

GAC121-282330-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-110228T2330Z/
FULTON GA-
615 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM EST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN FULTON COUNTY...

AT 609 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO NEAR CAMPBELLTON...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
FAIRBURN...UNION CITY...CASCADE HEIGHTS...LAKEWOOD 
PARK...HAPEVILLE...EAST POINT AND COLLEGE PARK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EST MONDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHERN GEORGIA.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EST
MONDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3363 8475 3365 8471 3366 8467 3374 8459
      3372 8435 3365 8435 3364 8446 3355 8446
      3355 8447 3352 8458 3356 8482 3357 8481
TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 278DEG 32KT 3364 8465

$$



19
210 
WWUS52 KFFC 282330
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
630 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

GAC121-282338-
/O.EXP.KFFC.TO.W.0003.000000T0000Z-110228T2330Z/
FULTON GA-
630 PM EST MON FEB 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN FULTON COUNTY WILL BE 
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 630 PM EST...

AT 623 PM EST...THUNDERSTORMS HAVE WEAKENED AND MOVED FURTHER SOUTH. 

AT 623 PM EDT...THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM THE ATLANTA 
HARTSFIELD-JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO UNION CITY. MODERATE TO 
HEAVY RAIN AND OCCASIONAL CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING WILL CONTINUE 
ACROSS CENTRAL FULTON COUNTY DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EST MONDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHERN GEORGIA.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EST
MONDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3363 8475 3365 8471 3366 8467 3374 8459
      3372 8435 3365 8435 3364 8446 3355 8446
      3355 8447 3352 8458 3356 8482 3357 8481
TIME...MOT...LOC 2328Z 278DEG 32KT 3362 8449

$$



19

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 28, 4:04 AM ESTWind AdvisoryFFCBaldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley and 90 more15 hr
Feb 28, 2:25 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCatoosa, Dade, Walker50 min
Feb 28, 2:45 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMurray, Whitfield45 min
Feb 28, 3:08 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattooga, Dade, Floyd, Walker37 min
Feb 28, 3:13 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFannin, Gilmer32 min
Feb 28, 3:29 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCTowns, Union31 min
Feb 28, 3:42 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon48 min
Feb 28, 3:50 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Floyd, Polk25 min
Feb 28, 4:09 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee, Pickens51 min
Feb 28, 4:17 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Floyd13 min
Feb 28, 4:32 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Paulding28 min
Feb 28, 4:40 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDawson, Forsyth, Hall50 min
Feb 28, 4:56 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCCherokee, Cobb, Forsyth, Fulton35 min
Feb 28, 5:04 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Haralson, Paulding, Polk41 min
Feb 28, 5:16 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and 3 more44 min
Feb 28, 5:49 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton, Paulding41 min
Feb 28, 6:12 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClayton, DeKalb, Henry, Newton, Rockdale33 min
Feb 28, 6:36 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMeriwether, Troup39 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.