Alert archive / Alabama / Tornado Warnings in 2019

Tornado Warning 32, NWS Tallahassee, FL

March 3, 2019Geneva County, Houston County, Alabama; Holmes County, Jackson County, Florida

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at Mar 3, 2019, 4:50 PM CST for Geneva County, Houston County, Alabama; Holmes County, Jackson County, Florida. It was in force for 25 min. 4 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, 2019, 4:50 PM CST (22:50 UTC)
Expired: Mar 3, 2019, 5:15 PM CST
In force: 25 min
Issued by: NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Geneva County, AL, Houston County, AL, Holmes County, FL, Jackson County, FL

The radar

The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:49 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
Mar 3, 4:53 PM CST	TORNADO	3 Wnw Fadette, AL	NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN BETWEEN SLOCOMB AND FADETTE. DUAL-POL TORNADIC DEBRIS SIGNATURE IN THE SAME AREA.
Mar 3, 4:55 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	2 S Slocomb, AL	MULTIPLE TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN WITH TREES ON HOUSES REPORTED.
Mar 3, 5:03 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	2 Ne Garretts Crossroad, AL	TREE FELL ON A HOME.
Mar 3, 5:05 PM CST	TSTM WND DMG	1 Ese Hodgesville, AL	A SMALL SHED COLLAPSED WITH SOME OF THE TIN STREWN ACROSS THE ROAD.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 3 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Mar 3, 11:24 AM CST	Tornado Watch	SPC	10 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 139 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: 260 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -48 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 677 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 43 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 60 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 94 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

415 
WFUS52 KTAE 032250
TORTAE
ALC061-069-FLC059-063-032315-
/O.NEW.KTAE.TO.W.0032.190303T2250Z-190303T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
450 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2019

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Geneva County in southeastern Alabama...
  South central Houston County in southeastern Alabama...
  North central Jackson County in the Panhandle of Florida...
  Northeastern Holmes County in the Panhandle of Florida...

* Until 515 PM CST.
    
* At 449 PM CST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Slocomb, or 8 miles northwest of Graceville,
  moving east at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  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.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Cottonwood around 515 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Fadette, Grangeburg, Garretts Crossroads, Esto, Enon, Rehobeth,
Lovetown, Wilson Mill, Avon and Southern Junction.

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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3108 8573 3124 8524 3097 8521 3098 8570
TIME...MOT...LOC 2249Z 266DEG 40KT 3103 8561 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

11-NGUYEN

2 follow-up statements

506 
WWUS52 KTAE 032254
SVSTAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
454 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2019

ALC061-069-FLC059-063-032315-
/O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-190303T2315Z/
Geneva AL-Houston AL-Jackson FL-Holmes FL-
454 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GENEVA...SOUTH CENTRAL HOUSTON...NORTH CENTRAL JACKSON
AND NORTHEASTERN HOLMES COUNTIES...
        
At 454 PM CST, a confirmed tornado was located near Graceville,
moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

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.

This tornado will be near...
  Cottonwood around 510 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Fadette, Grangeburg, Garretts Crossroads, Enon, Rehobeth, Lovetown,
Wilson Mill, Avon, Southern Junction and Sealy Springs.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3124 8524 3097 8521 3098 8560 3111 8564
TIME...MOT...LOC 2254Z 266DEG 40KT 3103 8554 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

11-NGUYEN

251 
WWUS52 KTAE 032302
SVSTAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
502 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2019

FLC059-032312-
/O.CAN.KTAE.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-190303T2315Z/
Holmes FL-
502 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2019

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN HOLMES COUNTY 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 700 PM CST for southeastern
Alabama...and the Panhandle of Florida.

LAT...LON 3113 8556 3124 8524 3097 8521 3098 8551
      3099 8550 3100 8552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2302Z 266DEG 40KT 3104 8543 

$$

ALC061-069-FLC063-032315-
/O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-190303T2315Z/
Geneva AL-Houston AL-Jackson FL-
502 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM CST FOR
SOUTHEASTERN GENEVA...SOUTH CENTRAL HOUSTON AND NORTH CENTRAL JACKSON
COUNTIES...
        
At 502 PM CST, a confirmed tornado was located near Graceville,
moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

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.

This tornado will be near...
  Cottonwood around 510 PM CST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Grangeburg, Garretts Crossroads, Enon, Rehobeth, Lovetown, Wilson
Mill, Avon, Southern Junction, Sealy Springs and Malvern.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 3113 8556 3124 8524 3097 8521 3098 8551
      3099 8550 3100 8552
TIME...MOT...LOC 2302Z 266DEG 40KT 3104 8543 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

11-NGUYEN

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Mar 3, 2:33 PM CST, 2 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 3, 2:33 PM CST, 2 hours 17 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
333 PM EST Sun Mar 3 2019

...ONGOING OUTBREAK OF SEVERE WEATHER TO CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT...

.NEAR TERM [Through Tonight]...

At 19Z, regional radar imagery shows a quasi- linear convective
system (QLCS) stretching southwestward from east- central AL down
to southwest AL and along the MS and southeast LA coastline. Ahead
of this line, several discrete supercells have formed in
southeast AL and southwest GA. Our 18Z TAE sounding showed SBCAPE
of 1600 J/kg, with over 25 kts of 0-1 km shear and over 35 kts 0-6
km shear. In this environment, the main threat for the afternoon
and evening will be tornadoes in the supercells ahead of the QLCS
as well as the potential for tornadoes embedded in the QLCS when
it pushes eastward into the area tonight. The supercells ahead of
the line will also be capable of producing hail and thunderstorms
along the line will be capable of producing damaging wind gusts in
excess of 58 mph. The SPC has highlighted the vast majority of
the tri-state area in enhanced and slight risks for severe
thunderstorms. There is a tornado watch in effect for southeast AL
along with southwest and south-central GA and most of the FL
Panhandle through 8 PM this evening.

.SHORT TERM [Monday Through Tuesday Night]...

The cold front will exit the forecast area Monday morning with
drier and much cooler air moving in behind it. The main focus for
this period continues to be the potential freeze Tuesday night. A
light freeze is forecast across most inland counties with
durations of perhaps 2-3 hours north of U.S. Route 84. There
hasn't been a freeze since January 31. Any plants or crops that
got an early start due to the very warm February will be
susceptible to damage from this freeze.

.LONG TERM [Wednesday Through Sunday]...

The chilly air mass will remain in place through Thursday with
another light freeze possible that morning. The next frontal
system will bring increasing rain chances to the forecast from
Friday night through the weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...
[Through 18Z Monday]

MVFR CIGs will lift this afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms
will develop ahead of a cold front. A Tornado Watch is in effect
until this evening. A squall line will move through the region
late this afternoon and into tonight. Overnight IFR CIGs will
return before dry air moves into the region in the morning.

&&

.MARINE...

Onshore winds will increase to cautionary levels ahead of a cold
front and then shift to offshore with frontal passage later
tonight into Monday morning. Winds will diminish somewhat Monday
night before increasing to advisory levels behind another cold
front Tuesday night. These offshore winds will then drop below
headline criteria by Wednesday afternoon before shifting to the
east for Thursday. Onshore winds return Friday.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...

Red flag conditions are not expected for the next several days.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...

Areas north of U.S. 84 remain in a slight risk for excessive
rainfall. However, this would be isolated in areas that get good
rain rates in any training thunderstorms. Antecedent dry conditions
should keep the rivers in check for the most part. The Kinchafoonee
Creek and Apalachicola River are the only ones forecast to reach
flood stage at this time.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is requested. Spotters should safely report
significant weather conditions and/or damage by calling the office or
tweeting us @NWSTallahassee.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

Tallahassee   50  64  43  60  33 /  80  20  20  20   0
Panama City   48  61  43  56  36 /  80  20  20  10   0
Dothan        41  56  37  53  29 /  90  10  10   0   0
Albany        44  59  39  55  30 / 100  10  10   0   0
Valdosta      52  63  43  58  32 /  90  20  10  20   0
Cross City    62  70  46  62  34 /  60  30  10  20   0
Apalachicola  53  64  46  59  37 /  80  20  20  20   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk until 1 AM EST /midnight CST/ Monday for
     Coastal Bay-Coastal Franklin-Coastal Gulf-South Walton.

GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...None.
&&

NEAR TERM...Nguyen
SHORT TERM...Wool
LONG TERM...Wool
AVIATION...Nguyen
MARINE...Wool
FIRE WEATHER...Harrigan
HYDROLOGY...Wool

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 3, 3:15 PM CST, 1 hour 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
415 PM EST SUN MAR 3 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     HAIL             CHULA                   31.55N 83.55W
03/03/2019  E1.50 INCH       TIFT               GA   PUBLIC

            ACCUMULATED QUARTER TO PING PONG SIZE HAIL
            ON INTERSTATE 75 BETWEEN EXITS 67 AND 69.
            HAIL ACCUMULATED UP TO AN INCH ON THE SIDE
            OF A ROAD.

&&

EB

Local storm report, Mar 3, 3:35 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
435 PM EST SUN MAR 3 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     HAIL             3 SSW PINETTA           31.56N 83.38W
03/03/2019  E1.00 INCH       IRWIN              GA   PUBLIC

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN THE PLEASURE
            LAKE AREA.

&&

DH

Local storm report, Mar 3, 3:55 PM CST, 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
455 PM EST SUN MAR 3 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0450 PM     HAIL             ASHBURN                 31.71N 83.65W
03/03/2019  E1.00 INCH       TURNER             GA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN ASHBURN GEORGIA.

&&

EB

Local storm report, Mar 3, 4:29 PM CST, 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
529 PM EST SUN MAR 3 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0434 PM     HAIL             2 NW ALAPAHA            31.40N 83.24W
03/03/2019  E1.00 INCH       BERRIEN            GA   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE DOWN BLOCKING 129 N AND QUARTER SIZE
            HAIL.

&&

DH

Local storm report, Mar 3, 4:31 PM CST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
531 PM EST SUN MAR 3 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0404 PM     HAIL             3 SSW ABBA              31.72N 83.38W
03/03/2019  E1.75 INCH       IRWIN              GA   PUBLIC

            GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL REPORTED.

&&

EB

Local storm report, Mar 3, 4:33 PM CST, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
533 PM EST SUN MAR 3 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0432 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ENIGMA                  31.41N 83.33W
03/03/2019                   BERRIEN            GA   911 CALL CENTER

            POWER POLES SNAPPED AND TRACTOR TRAILER
            TIPPED OVER IN MEDIAN OF HIGHWAY 82 NEAR
            ENIGMA. QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED AS WELL.

&&

DH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 3, 12:20 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Geneva, Houston	25 min
Mar 3, 12:26 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Geneva	14 min
Mar 3, 12:34 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Geneva	26 min
Mar 3, 12:37 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Dale, Geneva, Houston	38 min
Mar 3, 12:47 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Henry	28 min
Mar 3, 12:53 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Geneva	37 min
Mar 3, 3:12 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Coffee, Dale	48 min
Mar 3, 3:23 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Coffee, Dale	37 min
Mar 3, 3:37 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Geneva	38 min
Mar 3, 3:53 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston	52 min
Mar 3, 4:04 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Geneva	41 min
Mar 3, 4:11 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Henry	49 min
Mar 3, 4:39 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston	51 min
Mar 3, 4:39 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Henry	36 min
Mar 3, 5:10 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Houston	35 min
Mar 3, 5:27 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Houston	33 min
Mar 3, 5:37 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Houston	23 min
Mar 2, 7:16 PM CST	Special Weather Statement	TAE	Madison	44 min
Mar 3, 1:39 AM CST	Rip Current Statement	TAE	Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Walton	22 hr
Mar 3, 7:48 AM CST	River Flood Warning	TAE	Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Liberty	60 hr
Mar 3, 11:42 AM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Walton	33 min
Mar 3, 12:04 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Holmes, Walton	26 min
Mar 3, 4:24 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Holmes, Walton, Washington	36 min
Mar 3, 4:37 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Bay, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, Washington	53 min
Mar 3, 5:23 PM CST	Special Marine Warning	TAE		67 min
Mar 3, 5:24 PM CST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Liberty and 1 more	36 min
Mar 3, 5:29 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Jackson, Washington	31 min
Mar 3, 5:45 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Bay, Calhoun, Liberty, Washington	30 min
Mar 3, 5:45 PM CST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Bay, Calhoun	30 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Alabama, 2019 Tornado Warnings in Florida, 2019 Every tornado warning in 2019 Tornadoes in 2019

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.