Alert archive / Georgia / Flash Flood Watches in 2012

Flash Flood Watch 2, NWS Atlanta, GA

January 26, 201222 counties in Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this flash flood watch at Jan 26, 2012, 3:49 AM EST for 22 counties in Georgia. It took effect at Jan 26, 2012, 7:00 PM EST. It was in force for 4 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 26, 2012, 3:49 AM EST (08:49 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 26, 2012, 7:00 PM EST
Expired
Jan 26, 2012, 11:20 PM EST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Flood severity
None
All 22 counties

Bartow County, GA, Catoosa County, GA, Chattooga County, GA, Cherokee County, GA, Cobb County, GA, Dade County, GA, Dawson County, GA, Fannin County, GA, Floyd County, GA, Gilmer County, GA, Gordon County, GA, Haralson County, GA, Lumpkin County, GA, Murray County, GA, Paulding County, GA, Pickens County, GA, Polk County, GA, Towns County, GA, Union County, GA, Walker County, GA, White County, GA, Whitfield County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 126 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:51 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 nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 8.8 hours before the alert went out and 126 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 00:00Z on 2012-01-26Temperature 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 00:00Z on 2012-01-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 191 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1169 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
191 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
357 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.

419 
WGUS62 KFFC 260849
FFAFFC

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
349 AM EST THU JAN 26 2012

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>021-030>032-041-271000-
/O.NEW.KFFC.FF.A.0002.120127T0000Z-120127T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
DADE-WALKER-CATOOSA-WHITFIELD-MURRAY-FANNIN-GILMER-UNION-TOWNS-
CHATTOOGA-GORDON-PICKENS-DAWSON-LUMPKIN-WHITE-FLOYD-BARTOW-
CHEROKEE-POLK-PAULDING-COBB-HARALSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CALHOUN...DAHLONEGA...CLEVELAND...
ROME...CARTERSVILLE...MARIETTA
349 AM EST THU JAN 26 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA... 
  NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND NORTHWEST GEORGIA. 

* FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING
  COLD FRONT WILL SPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IN THE
  WATCH AREA THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.

* RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE AREA OF
  CONCERN DURING THE PAST 7 DAYS. MOIST SOIL CONDITIONS CONTINUE
  TO EXIST FROM PREVIOUS RAIN EVENTS. THIS WILL ALLOW RUN OFF INTO
  NEARBY STREAMS...CREEKS...AND RIVERS CAUSING RAPID RISES AND
  MINOR FLOODING OF SMALLER CREEKS...STREAMS...AND LOW-LYING
  FLOOD-PRONE AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY QUICKLY DEVELOP
THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS
SITUATION. NEVER DRIVE INTO OR PLAY IN FLOODED AREAS...TURN AROUND
AND DONT DROWN.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$

10
3 follow-up statements
117 
WGUS62 KFFC 262006
FFAFFC

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
306 PM EST THU JAN 26 2012

GAZ001>009-011>016-019>021-030>032-041-270415-
/O.CON.KFFC.FF.A.0002.120127T0000Z-120127T1000Z/
/00000.0.OT.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
DADE-WALKER-CATOOSA-WHITFIELD-MURRAY-FANNIN-GILMER-UNION-TOWNS-
CHATTOOGA-GORDON-PICKENS-DAWSON-LUMPKIN-WHITE-FLOYD-BARTOW-
CHEROKEE-POLK-PAULDING-COBB-HARALSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CALHOUN...DAHLONEGA...CLEVELAND...
ROME...CARTERSVILLE...MARIETTA
306 PM EST THU JAN 26 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING
THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND 
  NORTHWEST GEORGIA. 

* FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING 
  COLD FRONT WILL SPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IN 
  THE WATCH AREA THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. 

* RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE AREA 
  OF CONCERN DURING THE PAST 7 DAYS. MOIST SOIL CONDITIONS 
  CONTINUE TO EXIST FROM PREVIOUS RAIN EVENTS. THIS WILL ALLOW 
  RUN OFF INTO NEARBY STREAMS...CREEKS...AND RIVERS CAUSING 
  RAPID RISES AND MINOR FLOODING OF SMALLER CREEKS...STREAMS... 
  AND LOW-LYING FLOOD-PRONE AREAS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY QUICKLY DEVELOP
THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS
SITUATION. NEVER DRIVE INTO OR PLAY IN FLOODED AREAS...TURN
AROUND AND DONT DROWN.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$
410 
WGUS62 KFFC 270206
FFAFFC

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
906 PM EST THU JAN 26 2012

GAZ005>009-011>016-019>021-030>032-041-270315-
/O.CAN.KFFC.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-120127T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
MURRAY-FANNIN-GILMER-UNION-TOWNS-CHATTOOGA-GORDON-PICKENS-DAWSON-
LUMPKIN-WHITE-FLOYD-BARTOW-CHEROKEE-POLK-PAULDING-COBB-HARALSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CALHOUN...DAHLONEGA...CLEVELAND...
ROME...CARTERSVILLE...MARIETTA
906 PM EST THU JAN 26 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH GEORGIA HAS BEEN
CANCELLED.

WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 0.25 TO 0.50 INCH HAS OCCURRED 
SO FAR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING OVER MOST OF THE PREVIOUS WATCH
AREA. SCATTERED SHOWERS IN ALABAMA ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF A COLD
FRONT WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH NORTH GEORGIA DURING THE NIGHT. AN
ADDITIONAL HALF INCH OF RAIN OR SO CAN BE EXPECTED BEFORE THE 
RAIN ENDS BY MORNING. 

THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN LESS THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST SO
NO FLOODING PROBLEMS ARE NOW EXPECTED OVERNIGHT.

16

$$

GAZ001>004-271000-
/O.CON.KFFC.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-120127T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
DADE-WALKER-CATOOSA-WHITFIELD-
906 PM EST THU JAN 26 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EST FRIDAY...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* A PORTION OF NORTHWEST GEORGIA.

* UNTIL 500 AM EST FRIDAY

* RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1.5 TO 2 INCHES HAS OCCURRED SO FAR OVER
  DADE COUNTY. THIS HAS CAUSED THE LOOKOUT CREEK NEAR NEW ENGLAND
  TO GO INTO MINOR FLOOD. OTHERWISE...0.50 TO 1 INCH OF RAIN HAS
  OCCURRED OVER WALKER...CATOOSA AND WHITFIELD COUNTIES.
  
  SCATTERED SHOWERS WITH BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE ALONG AND JUST
  AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT IN EAST ALABAMA THIS EVENING. THE FRONT
  WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST THROUGH THE WATCH AREA BY MIDNIGHT
  WITH AN ADDITIONAL HALF INCH OR SO OF RAIN.

* SINCE THE SOIL CONDITIONS IN THE WATCH AREA ARE VERY WET FROM
  PREVIOUS RAIN DURING THE PAST WEEK...FLASH FLOODING OF THE
  SMALLER STREAMS...CREEKS AND LOW-LYING FLOOD PRONE AREAS WILL
  STILL BE POSSIBLE UNTIL THE RAIN ENDS EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY QUICKLY DEVELOP
THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS
SITUATION. NEVER DRIVE INTO OR PLAY IN FLOODED AREAS...TURN
AROUND AND DONT DROWN.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$

16
311 
WGUS62 KFFC 270420
FFAFFC

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1120 PM EST THU JAN 26 2012

GAZ001>004-270530-
/O.CAN.KFFC.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-120127T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
DADE-WALKER-CATOOSA-WHITFIELD-
1120 PM EST THU JAN 26 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR A PORTION OF NORTHWEST GEORGIA HAS BEEN
CANCELLED. WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT THROUGH EXTREME
NORTHWEST GEORGIA...RAIN SHOWERS WILL BEGIN TO SUBSIDE AND SWOLLEN
RIVERS...CREEKS...AND STREAMS WILL BEGIN TO FALL.

$$

10

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 26, 3:28 AM ESTDense Fog AdvisoryFFCBaldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Chattahoochee, Clarke and 58 more6 hr
Jan 26, 5:18 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCDade6 hr
Jan 26, 5:33 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCCoweta27 min
Jan 26, 6:07 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCCrawford, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Schley, Sumter and 4 more23 min
Jan 26, 6:25 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCCrawford, Macon, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, Upson35 min
Jan 26, 6:41 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCBibb, Macon, Peach, Sumter34 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in Georgia, 2012Every flash flood watch in 2012

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.