Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 20, NWS Atlanta, GA

March 2, 20127 counties in Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 9:11 PM EST for 7 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 49 min. 3 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, 9:11 PM EST (02:11 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 2012, 10:00 PM EST
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Cherokee County, GA, Cobb County, GA, DeKalb County, GA, Forsyth County, GA, Fulton County, GA, Gwinnett County, GA, Hall County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 88 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:14 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, 9:14 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, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 85 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.

099 
WFUS52 KFFC 030211
TORFFC
GAC057-067-089-117-121-135-139-030300-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0020.120303T0211Z-120303T0300Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  NORTHEASTERN COBB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  EXTREME NORTHWESTERN DEKALB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  SOUTHWESTERN FORSYTH COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  NORTHEASTERN FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  NORTHERN GWINNETT COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA
  EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN HALL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA

* UNTIL 1000 PM EST

* AT 905 PM EST...A DEBRIS SIGNATURE INDICATED BY DOPPLER RADAR      
  CONFIRMED A TORNADO NEAR MARIETTA...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  WOODSTOCK...MOUNTAIN PARK...ROSWELL...ALPHARETTA...MILTON...
  BERKELEY LAKE...JOHNS CREEK...DULUTH...CUMMING...SUWANEE AND SUGAR
  HILL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS 
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG 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 3428 8417 3403 8392 3391 8454 3408 8460
TIME...MOT...LOC 0209Z 253DEG 40KT 3400 8452

$$
2 follow-up statements
768 
WWUS52 KFFC 030224
SVSFFC

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

GAC067-139-030233-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120303T0300Z/
COBB GA-HALL GA-
924 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN HALL AND NORTHEASTERN
COBB COUNTIES 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 3428 8417 3403 8392 3396 8438 3397 8438
      3398 8437 3400 8439 3413 8445
TIME...MOT...LOC 0223Z 256DEG 41KT 3403 8433

$$

GAC057-089-117-121-135-030300-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120303T0300Z/
CHEROKEE GA-DEKALB GA-FORSYTH GA-GWINNETT GA-FULTON GA-
924 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EST FOR
NORTHEASTERN FULTON...NORTHERN GWINNETT...SOUTHWESTERN FORSYTH...
EXTREME NORTHWESTERN DEKALB AND SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES...

AT 919 PM EST...DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE DEBRIS 
ASSOCIATED WITH A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR 
ROSWELL...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL IS ALSO 
POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
BIRMINGHAM...ALPHARETTA...MILTON...HOLBROOK...DUCKTOWN...JOHNS
CREEK...DREW...BROOKWOOD...DULUTH...CUMMING...SUWANEE...BUFORD
DAM-LAKE LANIER PARKS AND SUGAR HILL.

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 3428 8417 3403 8392 3396 8438 3397 8438
      3398 8437 3400 8439 3413 8445
TIME...MOT...LOC 0223Z 256DEG 41KT 3403 8433

$$
638 
WWUS52 KFFC 030234
SVSFFC

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

GAC057-089-030244-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120303T0300Z/
CHEROKEE GA-DEKALB GA-
934 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME NORTHWESTERN DEKALB AND 
SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES 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 3403 8393 3397 8427 3397 8430 3399 8432
      3403 8433 3409 8433 3428 8417
TIME...MOT...LOC 0234Z 256DEG 41KT 3406 8418

$$

GAC117-121-135-030300-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0020.000000T0000Z-120303T0300Z/
FORSYTH GA-GWINNETT GA-FULTON GA-
934 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EST FOR
NORTHEASTERN FULTON...NORTHERN GWINNETT AND SOUTHWESTERN FORSYTH
COUNTIES...

AT 928 PM EST...DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE DEBRIS 
ASSOCIATED WITH A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR 
ALPHARETTA...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
BROOKWOOD...DULUTH...CUMMING...SUWANEE...BUFORD DAM-LAKE LANIER PARKS
AND SUGAR HILL.

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 3403 8393 3397 8427 3397 8430 3399 8432
      3403 8433 3409 8433 3428 8417
TIME...MOT...LOC 0234Z 256DEG 41KT 3406 8418

$$

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, 8:40 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCCherokee, Cobb, Paulding50 min
Mar 2, 8:52 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCFloyd53 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.