Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 19, NWS Tallahassee, FL

March 3, 2012Decatur County, Grady County, Mitchell County, Georgia

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at Mar 3, 2012, 8:29 AM EST for Decatur County, Grady County, Mitchell County, Georgia. It was in force for 31 min. 6 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 3, 2012, 8:29 AM EST (13:29 UTC)
Expired
Mar 3, 2012, 9:00 AM EST
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Decatur County, GA, Grady County, GA, Mitchell County, GA

The radar

The Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:30 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 3, 8:30 AM ESTTORNADO2 Ssw Vada, GAAN NWS SURVEY CONFIRMED AN EF0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR VADA ROAD AND MOVED NORTHEASTWARD AROUND 3.37 MILES WITH INTERMITTENT DAMAGE BEFORE LIFTING NEAR 31.07N AND 84.38W AT AROUND 835 AM. THE MAX WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AROUND 80 MPH WITH A WIDTH AROUND 25 YARD
Mar 3, 8:36 AM ESTFUNNEL CLOUDVada, GAFUNNEL CLOUD SPOTTED BY PUBLIC.
Mar 3, 8:36 AM ESTTORNADO1 Ssw Vada, GA4635 VADA RD. METAL FRAME HOME, CAMPER, AND MULTIPLE SHEDS DESTROYED. VEHICLE AND IRRIGATION PIVOTS OVERTURNED.
Mar 3, 8:36 AM ESTTORNADOVada, GAPOSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE CONFIRMED.
Mar 3, 8:40 AM ESTTSTM WND DMG4 E Vada, GAMULTIPLE REPORTS OF TREES DOWN FOR BIG SLOUGH RD, VADA RD 4600 BLOCK, NEW HOME CHURCH RD, COUNTY LINE RD, AND RED BUD RD.
Mar 3, 8:55 AM ESTTSTM WND DMG3 S Pelham, GATREES REPORTED DOWN AT 2100 SPENCE RD.

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 3, 7:35 AM ESTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), launched 12:00Z, 1.5 hours before the alert went out and 77 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, Tallahassee Rgnl, FL at 12:00Z on 2012-03-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 499 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Tallahassee Rgnl, FL at 12:00Z on 2012-03-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 257 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
499 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
472 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
61 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
257 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
283 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
4.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

290 
WFUS52 KTAE 031329
TORTAE
GAC087-131-205-031400-
/O.NEW.KTAE.TO.W.0019.120303T1329Z-120303T1400Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
829 AM EST SAT MAR 3 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN DECATUR COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA...
  NORTHWESTERN GRADY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA...
  SOUTHWESTERN MITCHELL COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA...

* UNTIL 900 AM EST

* AT 826 AM EST...A DEVELOPING TORNADO HAS BEEN DETECTED BY THE
  NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEAR MOUNT PLEASANT...MOVING EAST AT 35
  MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  VADA...HARRELLS STILL AND SPENCE

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES FOR SAFER STRUCTURES.
MOVE TO A HALLWAY OR CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND
OUTSIDE WALLS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. IF A TORNADO
IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY
STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.

&&

LAT...LON 3118 8416 3100 8414 3100 8446 3109 8447
TIME...MOT...LOC 1329Z 261DEG 30KT 3105 8444

$$

BARRY
1 follow-up statement
771 
WWUS52 KTAE 031347
SVSTAE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
847 AM EST SAT MAR 3 2012

GAC087-031355-
/O.CAN.KTAE.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-120303T1400Z/
DECATUR GA-
847 AM EST SAT MAR 3 2012

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

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM EST SATURDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND CENTRAL FLORIDA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3118 8416 3100 8414 3100 8437 3108 8438
      3108 8447 3109 8447
TIME...MOT...LOC 1345Z 261DEG 30KT 3107 8429

$$

GAC131-205-031400-
/O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-120303T1400Z/
MITCHELL GA-GRADY GA-
847 AM EST SAT MAR 3 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 AM EST FOR
NORTHWESTERN GRADY AND SOUTHWESTERN MITCHELL COUNTIES...

AT 839 AM EST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 
TOUCH DOWN IN NORTHERN DECATUR COUNTY WITH DAMAGE. THE TORNADO HAS 
SINCE MOVED OUT OF DECATUR COUNTY BUT THE WARNING CONTINUES FOR 
GRADY AND MITCHELL COUNTIES UNTIL 9 AM EST. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 
NEAR HARRELLS STILL...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SPENCE

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED
BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW
SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 200 PM EST SATURDAY AFTERNOON
FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA AND CENTRAL FLORIDA AND SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA.

&&

LAT...LON 3118 8416 3100 8414 3100 8437 3108 8438
      3108 8447 3109 8447
TIME...MOT...LOC 1345Z 261DEG 30KT 3107 8429

$$

22-BARRY

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tallahassee, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 2, 8:27 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementTAECalhoun, Early48 min
Mar 2, 9:02 PM ESTTornado WarningTAEEarly28 min
Mar 2, 9:03 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEBaker, Calhoun, Early27 min
Mar 2, 9:15 PM ESTTornado WarningTAEBaker, Calhoun, Dougherty10 min
Mar 2, 10:52 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementTAEDougherty38 min
Mar 2, 11:26 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementTAELee49 min
Mar 3, 12:24 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEBaker, Miller36 min
Mar 3, 12:43 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementTAEBaker, Dougherty47 min
Mar 3, 3:40 AM ESTFlood WatchTAEBaker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Colquitt, Cook and 13 more14 hr
Mar 3, 3:51 AM ESTFire Weather WatchTAEBaker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay and 20 more18 hr
Mar 3, 7:18 AM ESTTornado WarningTAEBaker, Miller, Mitchell42 min
Mar 3, 7:42 AM ESTTornado WarningTAEDougherty, Mitchell, Worth33 min
Mar 3, 8:20 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEBaker, Early, Miller, Mitchell40 min
Mar 3, 9:13 AM ESTTornado WarningTAEBen Hill, Irwin, Tift32 min
Mar 3, 9:54 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEGrady, Thomas36 min
Mar 3, 9:57 AM ESTTornado WarningTAEDecatur48 min
Mar 3, 10:36 AM ESTTornado WarningTAEBrooks, Thomas24 min
Mar 3, 10:43 AM ESTTornado WarningTAEDecatur, Grady, Thomas32 min
Mar 3, 10:59 AM ESTTornado WarningTAEBrooks, Lowndes31 min
Mar 3, 11:13 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEDecatur, Grady, Thomas32 min
Mar 3, 11:28 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEGrady, Thomas32 min
Mar 3, 11:31 AM ESTTornado WarningTAEBerrien, Brooks, Cook, Lanier, Lowndes29 min
Mar 3, 11:48 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEGrady, Thomas27 min
Mar 3, 12:04 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryTAEBrooks, Colquitt, Decatur, Grady, Seminole, Thomas3 hr
Mar 3, 12:16 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementTAEBrooks29 min
Mar 3, 12:23 PM ESTTornado WarningTAEBrooks, Lowndes37 min
Mar 3, 12:34 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningTAEBaker, Decatur, Early, Miller, Seminole3 hr
Mar 3, 12:45 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEBerrien, Cook, Lanier, Lowndes30 min
Mar 3, 12:53 PM ESTTornado WarningTAEBerrien, Cook, Lanier, Lowndes37 min
Mar 3, 1:28 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEBerrien, Brooks, Lanier, Lowndes, Thomas62 min
Mar 3, 1:29 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningTAEDecatur, Seminole3 hr
Mar 3, 1:34 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningTAEBerrien, Brooks, Cook, Decatur, Grady, Lanier and 2 more3 hr
Mar 3, 2:28 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEBrooks, Lanier, Lowndes, Thomas47 min
Mar 3, 3:13 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTAEBrooks, Lanier, Lowndes62 min
Mar 3, 4:11 PM ESTAreal Flood AdvisoryTAELowndes3 hr
Mar 3, 4:29 PM ESTFlash Flood WarningTAEBerrien, Brooks, Cook, Lanier, Lowndes83 min
Mar 3, 5:38 PM ESTAreal Flood WarningTAEBaker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Colquitt and 16 more10 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.