Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2015

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Atlanta, GA

April 20, 20155 counties in Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Apr 20, 2015, 2:07 PM EDT for 5 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 38 min. 9 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 20, 2015, 2:07 PM EDT (18:07 UTC)
Expired: Apr 20, 2015, 2:45 PM EDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Atlanta, GA
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

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

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 73 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:10 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 20, 2:08 PM EDT	HAIL 1	Marietta, GA	HAIL WAS GETTING LARGER DURING THE CALL.
Apr 20, 2:18 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Sandy Springs, GA	TREE DOWN IN NORTH SANDY SPRINGS
Apr 20, 2:20 PM EDT	HAIL 1.75	Roswell, GA	THE HAIL OCCURRED AT HOLCOMB BRIDGE AND 400.
Apr 20, 2:21 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Johns Creek, GA	TREE DOWN IN JOHNS CREEK AREA.
Apr 20, 2:26 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Wnw Spalding Hills, GA	TREE DOWN ON THE ROADWAY AT SPAULDING DRIVE AND BALL CREEK WAY
Apr 20, 2:29 PM EDT	HAIL 1	Roswell, GA	TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES WERE ALSO REPORTED DOWN.
Apr 20, 2:30 PM EDT	HAIL 1	2 Sw Alpha Park, GA
Apr 20, 2:38 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Roswell, GA	LARGE TREE FELL ON HOUSE IN ROSWELL.
Apr 20, 2:49 PM EDT	HAIL 1.25	1 Nw Newtown, GA

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 20, 1:23 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 6.1 hours before the alert went out and 71 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 694 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -36 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 689 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 222 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 284 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.

408 
WFUS52 KFFC 201807
TORFFC
GAC067-089-117-121-135-201845-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0007.150420T1807Z-150420T1845Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
207 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL GWINNETT COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...
  NORTHWESTERN DEKALB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...
  SOUTHWESTERN FORSYTH COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...
  NORTHEASTERN FULTON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...
  NORTHEASTERN COBB COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...

* UNTIL 245 PM EDT
    
* AT 207 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A
  TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER MARIETTA...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

  HAZARD...TORNADO AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL. 

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

  IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
           SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. 
           DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE 
           DAMAGE IS LIKELY. 

* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
  MARIETTA...LAWRENCEVILLE...SANDY SPRINGS...ROSWELL...JOHNS CREEK...
  ALPHARETTA...SMYRNA...DUNWOODY...DULUTH...SUGAR HILL...SUWANEE...
  BUFORD...LILBURN...CHAMBLEE...NORCROSS...DORAVILLE...BERKELEY
  LAKE...FAIR OAKS...DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE AND HOG MOUNTAIN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A
MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

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 OR TWEET US YOUR REPORT AT NWSATLANTA.

&&

LAT...LON 3390 8457 3399 8458 3413 8409 3406 8387
      3389 8402
TIME...MOT...LOC 1807Z 255DEG 32KT 3396 8450 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

3 follow-up statements

723 
WWUS52 KFFC 201821
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
221 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

GAC067-089-117-121-135-201845-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-150420T1845Z/
GWINNETT GA-DEKALB GA-FORSYTH GA-FULTON GA-COBB GA-
221 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
GWINNETT...NORTHWESTERN DEKALB...SOUTHWESTERN FORSYTH...NORTHEASTERN
FULTON AND NORTHEASTERN COBB COUNTIES...
    
AT 220 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED OVER ROSWELL...OR 11 MILES EAST OF MARIETTA...MOVING EAST
AT 35 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
LAWRENCEVILLE...SANDY SPRINGS...ROSWELL...JOHNS CREEK...ALPHARETTA...
DUNWOODY...DULUTH...SUGAR HILL...SUWANEE...BUFORD...LILBURN...
CHAMBLEE...NORCROSS...DORAVILLE...BERKELEY LAKE...MOUNT BETHEL...
BROOKWOOD...HOG MOUNTAIN AND MECHANICSVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A
MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

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 OR TWEET US YOUR REPORT AT NWSATLANTA.

&&

LAT...LON 3390 8444 3403 8444 3413 8409 3406 8387
      3389 8402
TIME...MOT...LOC 1820Z 255DEG 32KT 3399 8436 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

918 
WWUS52 KFFC 201828
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
228 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

GAC067-089-201838-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-150420T1845Z/
DEKALB GA-COBB GA-
228 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN DEKALB AND NORTHEASTERN COBB
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
    
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT 
OF THE WARNED AREA. THEREFORE THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR NORTH CENTRAL
GEORGIA.

LAT...LON 3406 8387 3392 8400 3397 8436 3406 8435
      3413 8409
TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 255DEG 32KT 3401 8427 

$$

GAC117-121-135-201845-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-150420T1845Z/
GWINNETT GA-FORSYTH GA-FULTON GA-
228 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
GWINNETT...SOUTHWESTERN FORSYTH AND NORTHEASTERN FULTON COUNTIES...
    
AT 228 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED NEAR ALPHARETTA...OR 15 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CUMMING...
MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
LAWRENCEVILLE...SANDY SPRINGS...ROSWELL...JOHNS CREEK...ALPHARETTA...
DUNWOODY...DULUTH...SUGAR HILL...SUWANEE...BUFORD...NORCROSS...
BERKELEY LAKE...BROOKWOOD AND HOG MOUNTAIN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A
MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. IF YOU
CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...AS A LAST RESORT...EITHER
PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN
IN A LOW LYING AREA AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

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 OR TWEET US YOUR REPORT AT NWSATLANTA.

&&

LAT...LON 3406 8387 3392 8400 3397 8436 3406 8435
      3413 8409
TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 255DEG 32KT 3401 8427 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

452 
WWUS52 KFFC 201837
SVSFFC

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
237 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

GAC117-121-135-201845-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-150420T1845Z/
GWINNETT GA-FORSYTH GA-FULTON GA-
237 PM EDT MON APR 20 2015

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 245 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
GWINNETT...SOUTHWESTERN FORSYTH AND NORTHEASTERN FULTON COUNTIES...
    
AT 237 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
WAS LOCATED OVER JOHNS CREEK...OR 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF
LAWRENCEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

HAZARD...TORNADO AND GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED ROTATION. 

IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WITHOUT 
         SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. DAMAGE 
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES WILL OCCUR.  TREE DAMAGE IS 
         LIKELY. 

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
LAWRENCEVILLE...JOHNS CREEK...ALPHARETTA...DULUTH...SUGAR HILL...
SUWANEE...BUFORD...BERKELEY LAKE...BROOKWOOD AND HOG MOUNTAIN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS...IN A
MOBILE HOME...OR IN A VEHICLE...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT TAKE SHELTER UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES. IF YOU
CANNOT SAFELY DRIVE AWAY FROM THE TORNADO...AS A LAST RESORT...EITHER
PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND STAY PUT...OR ABANDON YOUR VEHICLE AND LIE DOWN
IN A LOW LYING AREA AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

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 OR TWEET US YOUR REPORT AT NWSATLANTA.

&&

LAT...LON 3394 8398 3399 8427 3409 8425 3413 8409
      3406 8387
TIME...MOT...LOC 1837Z 255DEG 32KT 3403 8417 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.75IN

$$

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 19, 8:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Cherokee, Dawson, Pickens	34 min
Apr 19, 9:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Dawson, Lumpkin, White	30 min
Apr 20, 3:57 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Walker	48 min
Apr 20, 4:44 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Catoosa, Chattooga, Floyd, Walker, Whitfield	31 min
Apr 20, 5:10 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Bartow, Gordon, Murray	35 min
Apr 20, 5:30 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Gilmer, Gordon, Murray	30 min
Apr 20, 5:42 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Bartow, Haralson, Paulding	33 min
Apr 20, 6:03 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Pickens	27 min
Apr 20, 6:07 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Fannin, Towns, Union	23 min
Apr 20, 6:23 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Cherokee	37 min
Apr 20, 6:26 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Cherokee, Pickens	20 min
Apr 20, 6:30 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Lumpkin, Towns	30 min
Apr 20, 6:40 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Dawson	35 min
Apr 20, 6:57 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	White	19 min
Apr 20, 7:00 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Banks, Hall	30 min
Apr 20, 9:55 AM EDT	River Flood Warning	FFC	Johnson, Washington, Wilkinson	4 days
Apr 20, 12:38 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Cherokee, Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin, White	37 min
Apr 20, 12:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Stewart, Webster	32 min
Apr 20, 1:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Lumpkin, White	45 min
Apr 20, 1:08 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Cobb, Paulding	37 min
Apr 20, 1:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Cobb, Paulding	44 min
Apr 20, 1:27 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Cherokee, Forsyth	33 min
Apr 20, 1:32 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Houston, Macon, Peach	28 min
Apr 20, 1:33 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Cherokee, Dawson, Forsyth	42 min
Apr 20, 1:40 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Towns	35 min
Apr 20, 1:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Crawford	32 min
Apr 20, 1:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Cherokee, Cobb, Fulton	47 min
Apr 20, 2:01 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Paulding	29 min
Apr 20, 2:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Hall	31 min
Apr 20, 2:30 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Paulding	15 min
Apr 20, 2:35 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Banks	25 min
Apr 20, 2:44 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	FFC	Barrow, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson	46 min
Apr 20, 2:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Banks	45 min
Apr 20, 3:09 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Cobb	36 min
Apr 20, 3:18 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	FFC	Banks, Jackson, Madison	42 min
Apr 20, 3:23 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Jasper, Putnam	22 min
Apr 20, 3:28 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Gwinnett	47 min
Apr 20, 4:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Banks, Madison	15 min
Apr 20, 4:05 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Barrow, Jackson	40 min
Apr 20, 4:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison	47 min
Apr 20, 4:25 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Oglethorpe	20 min
Apr 20, 4:55 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Madison	35 min
Apr 20, 5:42 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Clarke	33 min
Apr 20, 5:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Madison	14 min
Apr 20, 5:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Clarke, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe	47 min
Apr 20, 6:45 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	FFC	Clarke, Oglethorpe	30 min
Apr 20, 7:10 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FFC	Oglethorpe, Wilkes	50 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2015 Every tornado warning in 2015 Tornadoes in 2015

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.