Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Atlanta, GA

March 2, 2012Cherokee County, Cobb County, Paulding County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 8:40 PM EST for Cherokee County, Cobb County, Paulding County, Georgia. It was in force for 50 min. 5 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
Mar 2, 2012, 8:40 PM EST (01:40 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 2012, 9:30 PM EST
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Cherokee County, GA, Cobb County, GA, Paulding County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 74 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:42 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 2, 9:05 PM ESTHAIL 1.75Acworth, GAGOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED NEAR ACWORTH ON SUGAR MAPLE LANE.
Mar 2, 9:08 PM ESTHAIL 12 W Woodstock, GACHEROKEE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RELAYED A TRAINED SPOTTER REPORT OF QUARTER-SIZED HAIL 2 MILES WEST OF WOODSTOCK AT 908 PM EST.
Mar 2, 9:14 PM ESTTSTM WND DMG5 Nw Sandy Springs, GACOBB COUNTY 911 REPORTED TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN AT ROSWELL ROAD AND PROVIDENCE ROAD.
Mar 2, 9:14 PM ESTTORNADO 15 Ene Marietta, GAAN NWS SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED AN EF1 TORNADO WITH A MAXIMUM WIND SPEED OF 100 MPH OCCURRED IN COBB COUNTY. THE PATH WAS 1.4 MILES LONG AND 150 YARDS WIDE. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT 913 PM AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROSWELL RD AND OLD CANTON RD...TRACKED EAST ALO
Mar 2, 9:14 PM ESTTORNADO 15 Nw Sandy Springs, GAAN NWS STORM SURVEY TEAM DETERMINED THAT AN EF1 TORNADO WITH A MAXIMUM WIND SPEED OF 100 MPH OCCURRED IN COBB COUNTY. THE PATH LENGTH WAS ONE MILE WITH A PATH WIDTH OF 150 YARDS. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT 914 PM NEAR EAST COBB PARK ALONG ROSWELL RD. IT CONTI

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
Mar 2, 3:19 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC8 hr
Mar 2, 5:37 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 1.7 hours before the alert went out and 73 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 2012-03-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 540 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 00:00Z on 2012-03-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 212 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
540 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-34 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
948 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
62 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
212 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
274 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.8
Supercell composite
4.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

506 
WFUS52 KFFC 030140
TORFFC
GAC057-067-223-030230-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0018.120303T0140Z-120303T0230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
840 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  COBB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  NORTHEASTERN PAULDING COUNTY IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 930 PM EST

* AT 837 PM EST...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR                 
  DALLAS...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE HAS BEEN        
  CONFIRMED WITH THIS TORNADO INCLUDING POSSIBLE HOUSE COLLAPSE.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  HIRAM...POWDER SPRINGS...ACWORTH...KENNESAW...MARIETTA...SMYRNA AND
  WOODSTOCK.

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...HAIL OR FLOODING...WAIT UNTIL 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. YOU CAN ALSO TWEET YOUR REPORT USING HASHTAG GAWX.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
100 AM EST SATURDAY MORNING FOR NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3406 8490 3408 8480 3408 8466 3412 8466
      3418 8442 3411 8440 3410 8442 3406 8442
      3398 8437 3392 8444 3388 8444 3385 8446
      3387 8488
TIME...MOT...LOC 0139Z 262DEG 42KT 3392 8490

$$
3 follow-up statements
455 
WWUS52 KFFC 030158
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
858 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

GAC223-030208-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120303T0230Z/
PAULDING GA-
858 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN PAULDING COUNTY IS 
CANCELLED...

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...HAIL OR FLOODING...WAIT UNTIL 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. YOU CAN ALSO TWEET YOUR REPORT USING HASHTAG GAWX.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
100 AM EST SATURDAY MORNING FOR NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3408 8466 3412 8466 3418 8442 3411 8440
      3410 8442 3406 8442 3402 8440 3401 8440
      3398 8437 3390 8446 3392 8473 3407 8474
TIME...MOT...LOC 0158Z 259DEG 39KT 3397 8466

$$

GAC057-067-030230-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120303T0230Z/
CHEROKEE GA-COBB GA-
858 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM EST FOR NORTHERN
COBB AND SOUTHWESTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES...

AT 856 PM EST...THE PUBLIC HAS REPORTED A TORNADO WITH SIGNIFICANT 
STRUCTURE DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LOST MOUNTAIN 
PARK...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
KENNESAW...OAK GROVE...KELLOGG CREEK...KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY...
MARIETTA...HOBGOOD PARK...DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE...WHITE WATER
PARK...WOODSTOCK...SANDY PLAINS...LEBANON...SWEAT MOUNTAIN AND MOUNT
BETHEL.

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...HAIL OR FLOODING...WAIT UNTIL 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. YOU CAN ALSO TWEET YOUR REPORT USING HASHTAG GAWX.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
100 AM EST SATURDAY MORNING FOR NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3408 8466 3412 8466 3418 8442 3411 8440
      3410 8442 3406 8442 3402 8440 3401 8440
      3398 8437 3390 8446 3392 8473 3407 8474
TIME...MOT...LOC 0158Z 259DEG 39KT 3397 8466

$$
754 
WWUS52 KFFC 030205
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
905 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

GAC057-067-030230-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120303T0230Z/
CHEROKEE GA-COBB GA-
905 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM EST FOR NORTHERN
COBB AND SOUTHWESTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES...

AT 900 PM EST...THE PUBLIC HAS REPORTED A TORNADO WITH SIGNIFICANT 
STRUCTURE DAMAGE ALSO REPORTED. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR DUE 
WEST...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. OUTSIDE THE TORNADO AREA...RESIDENTS 
CAN EXPECT QUARTER SIZED HAIL.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY...MARIETTA...HOBGOOD PARK...DOBBINS AIR
RESERVE BASE...WHITE WATER PARK...WOODSTOCK...SANDY PLAINS...
LEBANON...SWEAT MOUNTAIN AND MOUNT BETHEL.

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...HAIL OR FLOODING...WAIT UNTIL 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. YOU CAN ALSO TWEET YOUR REPORT USING HASHTAG GAWX.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
100 AM EST SATURDAY MORNING FOR NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3412 8466 3418 8442 3411 8440 3410 8442
      3406 8442 3401 8440 3398 8437 3390 8446
      3392 8467
TIME...MOT...LOC 0203Z 259DEG 39KT 3398 8460

$$
163 
WWUS52 KFFC 030222
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
922 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

GAC057-067-030232-
/O.EXP.KFFC.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-120303T0230Z/
CHEROKEE GA-COBB GA-
922 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN COBB AND SOUTHWESTERN CHEROKEE
COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 930 PM EST...

AT 919 PM EST...THE TORNADO HAS MOVED OUT OF THESE COUNTIES.

IF YOU SEE WIND DAMAGE...HAIL OR FLOODING...WAIT UNTIL 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. YOU CAN ALSO TWEET YOUR REPORT USING HASHTAG GAWX.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN GEORGIA. A TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
100 AM EST SATURDAY MORNING FOR NORTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3412 8466 3418 8442 3411 8440 3410 8442
      3406 8442 3401 8440 3398 8437 3390 8446
      3392 8467
TIME...MOT...LOC 0222Z 259DEG 39KT 3402 8436

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 2, 7:01 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCCoweta, Heard44 min
Mar 2, 7:24 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCatoosa, Murray, Walker, Whitfield21 min
Mar 2, 7:33 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCHaralson, Polk42 min
Mar 2, 7:37 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCFloyd38 min
Mar 2, 8:14 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCHaralson, Paulding, Polk46 min
Mar 2, 8:28 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCGordon32 min
Mar 2, 8:34 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFloyd41 min
Mar 2, 8:52 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCFloyd53 min
Mar 2, 9:11 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCCherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett and 1 more49 min
Mar 2, 9:26 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCBartow35 min
Mar 2, 9:39 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCBarrow, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson51 min
Mar 2, 9:43 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCFannin32 min
Mar 2, 10:14 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCGordon46 min
Mar 2, 10:17 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCBanks43 min
Mar 2, 10:23 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCPickens52 min
Mar 2, 10:30 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCherokee, Dawson, Forsyth, Pickens33 min
Mar 2, 10:35 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGordon40 min
Mar 2, 10:40 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCWhite50 min
Mar 2, 10:46 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGordon44 min
Mar 2, 10:53 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCDawson, Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin, White37 min
Mar 2, 10:59 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattooga, Floyd51 min
Mar 2, 11:19 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCChattooga, Floyd, Gordon4 hr
Mar 2, 11:31 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCWhite14 min
Mar 2, 11:42 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCPickens33 min
Mar 3, 12:11 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCGilmer, Pickens5 hr
Mar 3, 12:15 AM ESTTornado WarningFFCTroup45 min
Mar 3, 12:16 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCFloyd, Polk29 min
Mar 3, 12:51 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHaralson, Paulding, Polk39 min
Mar 3, 12:56 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCoweta, Meriwether11 min
Mar 3, 1:07 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCMadison23 min
Mar 3, 1:14 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCCarroll, Cobb, Douglas46 min
Mar 3, 1:21 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCDeKalb, Fulton24 min
Mar 3, 1:29 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDeKalb, Fulton31 min
Mar 3, 1:42 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGwinnett, Walton33 min
Mar 3, 1:44 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHeard31 min
Mar 3, 1:52 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCDeKalb, Fulton23 min
Mar 3, 1:58 AM ESTTornado WarningFFCBarrow, Gwinnett, Walton34 min
Mar 3, 2:02 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCDouglas28 min
Mar 3, 2:10 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCCoweta20 min
Mar 3, 2:25 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCCoweta, Fayette, Meriwether, Troup50 min
Mar 3, 2:26 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCClarke34 min
Mar 3, 2:34 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCClayton41 min
Mar 3, 2:48 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHenry, Newton, Rockdale, Spalding27 min
Mar 3, 3:10 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCButts, Henry, Jasper, Morgan, Newton, Oconee35 min
Mar 3, 3:31 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCOglethorpe14 min
Mar 3, 3:41 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCGreene, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Wilkes34 min
Mar 3, 3:47 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCDeKalb6 hr
Mar 3, 4:11 AM ESTFlash Flood WarningFFCGwinnett6 hr
Mar 3, 5:13 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCForsyth12 hr
Mar 3, 5:47 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCForsyth, Fulton36 hr
Mar 3, 6:44 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCMuscogee31 min
Mar 3, 7:12 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCChattahoochee33 min
Mar 3, 7:42 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCBibb, Chattahoochee, Crawford, Macon, Marion, Peach and 4 more33 min
Mar 3, 8:14 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCWheeler31 min
Mar 3, 8:36 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHouston, Twiggs24 min
Mar 3, 9:01 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHouston, Johnson, Twiggs, Wilkinson29 min
Mar 3, 9:30 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCBleckley, Dodge, Emanuel, Johnson, Laurens, Pulaski and 1 more30 min
Mar 3, 9:57 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCDodge, Emanuel, Johnson, Laurens, Treutlen48 min
Mar 3, 10:19 AM ESTRiver Flood WarningFFCCarroll, Coweta, Heard16 hr
Mar 3, 2:40 PM ESTFreeze WarningFFCDawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, Towns and 2 more18 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2012Every tornado warning in 2012Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.