Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 33, NWS Atlanta, GA

April 27, 2011Catoosa County, Walker County, Whitfield County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 7:59 PM EDT for Catoosa County, Walker County, Whitfield County, Georgia. It was in force for 46 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
Apr 27, 2011, 7:59 PM EDT (23:59 UTC)
Expired
Apr 27, 2011, 8:45 PM EDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Catoosa County, GA, Walker County, GA, Whitfield County, GA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Apr 27, 8:15 PM EDTTORNADO 41 Wsw Ringgold, GA*** 7 FATAL, 30 INJ *** NWS STORM SURVEY DETERMINED AN EF4 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ALONG DAVIS RIDGE ROAD AROUND 815 PM...TRAVELING THROUGH RINGGOLD TO COHUTTA AND INTO TENNESSEE AROUND 828 PM. PATH LENGTH WAS 13 MILES AND WIDTH ONE THIRD MILE. WORST DAMAGE ON CH
Apr 27, 8:45 PM EDTTORNADO1 Wsw Ringgold, GAWHITFIELD COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RELAYED REPORTS OF DAMAGE TO CARS AND TOSSED TRACTOR TRAILERS AT EXIT 348 ON I-75 OUTSIDE OF RINGGOLD IN CATOOSA COUNTY.

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
Apr 27, 2:42 PM EDTTornado Watch PDSSPC8 hr
Apr 27, 6:52 PM EDTTornado Watch PDSSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 12.0 hours before the alert went out and 173 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 2011-04-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 748 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2011-04-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 345 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
748 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-41 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
501 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
345 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
460 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.5
Supercell composite
5.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

812 
WFUS52 KFFC 272359
TORFFC
GAC047-295-313-280045-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0033.110427T2359Z-110428T0045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
759 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CATOOSA COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
  CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA
  NORTHERN WHITFIELD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 845 PM EDT

* AT 757 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 18 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF FORT OGLETHORPE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  RINGGOLD...TUNNEL HILL...DALTON...VARNELL AND COHUTTA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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!

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3497 8482 3493 8484 3487 8482 3484 8485
      3483 8485 3481 8486 3480 8484 3479 8484
      3467 8528 3498 8528 3499 8526 3499 8482
TIME...MOT...LOC 2359Z 235DEG 50KT 3475 8540

$$
2 follow-up statements
095 
WWUS52 KFFC 280023
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
823 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

GAC295-280033-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0033.000000T0000Z-110428T0045Z/
WALKER GA-
823 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL WALKER COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

THE TORNADO PRODUCING THUNDERSTORM HAS MOVED NORTHEAST OF THE COUNTY.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3497 8482 3493 8484 3491 8492 3486 8517
      3499 8522 3499 8482
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 241DEG 49KT 3492 8509

$$

GAC047-313-280045-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0033.000000T0000Z-110428T0045Z/
WHITFIELD GA-CATOOSA GA-
823 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
CATOOSA AND NORTHEASTERN WHITFIELD COUNTIES...

AT 820 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR RINGGOLD...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
SALEM...VARNELL AND COHUTTA.

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 FIRST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3497 8482 3493 8484 3491 8492 3486 8517
      3499 8522 3499 8482
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 241DEG 49KT 3492 8509

$$
073 
WWUS52 KFFC 280036
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
836 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

GAC047-313-280045-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0033.000000T0000Z-110428T0045Z/
WHITFIELD GA-CATOOSA GA-
836 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN CATOOSA AND NORTHEASTERN WHITFIELD 
COUNTIES WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 845 PM EDT...

AT 830 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE 
TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST OF THE GEORGIA STATE 
LINE... AND WAS ABOUT 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF COHUTTA...AND THE 
TORNADO THREAT WAS ENDING. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 AM EDT THURSDAY MORNING
FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3497 8482 3493 8484 3491 8492 3486 8517
      3499 8522 3499 8482
TIME...MOT...LOC 0034Z 241DEG 49KT 3499 8493

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 8:04 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Chattooga, Floyd, Haralson, Polk56 min
Apr 27, 8:16 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCCatoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, Whitfield44 min
Apr 27, 8:25 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCDade, Walker35 min
Apr 27, 8:28 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Haralson, Heard32 min
Apr 27, 8:35 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Gilmer, Gordon, Murray and 5 more55 min
Apr 27, 8:42 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCatoosa, Murray, Whitfield48 min
Apr 27, 8:51 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClayton, Coweta, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton29 min
Apr 27, 8:54 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCGilmer, Gordon, Murray, Whitfield51 min
Apr 27, 9:02 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCatoosa, Dade, Walker16 min
Apr 27, 9:26 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFannin, Gilmer, Murray39 min
Apr 27, 1:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDade, Walker61 min
Apr 27, 2:25 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCDade, Walker34 min
Apr 27, 2:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCatoosa, Whitfield25 min
Apr 27, 5:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDade, Walker38 min
Apr 27, 5:14 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCDade, Walker46 min
Apr 27, 5:51 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCCatoosa24 min
Apr 27, 5:53 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningFFCDade11 hr
Apr 27, 6:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCatoosa, Walker27 min
Apr 27, 6:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDade30 min
Apr 27, 7:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattooga, Dade, Walker55 min
Apr 27, 7:32 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCChattooga, Dade, Walker43 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.