Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2019

Tornado Warning 40, NWS Tallahassee, FL

March 3, 2019Decatur County, Seminole County, Georgia

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at Mar 3, 2019, 7:12 PM EST for Decatur County, Seminole County, Georgia. It was in force for 33 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, 7:12 PM EST (00:12 UTC)
Expired: Mar 3, 2019, 7:45 PM EST
In force: 33 min
Issued by: NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.0 in

Counties Decatur County, GA, Seminole County, GA

The radar

The Tallahassee radar (KTLH), 57 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:16 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, 7:12 PM EST	TSTM WND DMG	1 Ne Bethany, GA	TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ALONG SOUTH SPRING CREEK ROAD. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
Mar 3, 7:20 PM EST	TSTM WND DMG	4 Sw Bainbridge, GA	TREE DOWN RESULTING IN A POWER OUTAGE ALONG RIVER OAKS DRIVE.
Mar 3, 7:21 PM EST	TORNADO	3 S Hanover, GA	* 1 INJ * NWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMS TORNADO IN DECATUR COUNTY SW OF BAINBRIDGE. NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED WITH DAMAGE TO SHEDS. 1 INJURY WHEN ONE PERSON IN A SHED WAS TOSSED 60 FEET AWAY FROM THE SHED. STORM SURVEY REPORT SOON TO FOLLOW.
Mar 3, 7:21 PM EST	TORNADO	3 S Hanover, GA	CORRECTS PREVIOUS TORNADO REPORT FROM 3 S HANOVER. NWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMS TORNADO IN DECATUR COUNTY SW OF BAINBRIDGE. NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED WITH DAMAGE TO SHEDS.

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 2 storm reports to this tornado warning; the first came 9 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, 12:24 PM EST	Tornado Watch	SPC	10 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 hours before the alert went out and 58 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: 231 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 904 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 290 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 403 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.4
Supercell composite: 6.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

081 
WFUS52 KTAE 040012
TORTAE
GAC087-253-040045-
/O.NEW.KTAE.TO.W.0040.190304T0012Z-190304T0045Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Decatur County in southwestern Georgia...
  East central Seminole County in southwestern Georgia...

* Until 745 PM EST.
    
* At 712 PM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 9 miles west of West Bainbridge, or 10 miles west of
  Bainbridge, moving east at 40 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...
  Bainbridge and West Bainbridge around 725 PM EST.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Hanover, Reynoldsville, Fowlstown, Cyrene, Climax, Decatur Co A/P and
Ausmac.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3079 8438 3079 8480 3094 8480 3107 8438
TIME...MOT...LOC 0012Z 259DEG 36KT 3088 8474 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...0.00IN

$$

38-GODSEY

1 follow-up statement

225 
WWUS52 KTAE 040024
SVSTAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
724 PM EST SUN MAR 3 2019

GAC253-040033-
/O.CAN.KTAE.TO.W.0040.000000T0000Z-190304T0045Z/
Seminole GA-
724 PM EST SUN MAR 3 2019

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL SEMINOLE 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 1000 PM EST for southwestern
Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3079 8438 3080 8468 3096 8465 3107 8438
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 260DEG 40KT 3090 8457 

$$

GAC087-040045-
/O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0040.000000T0000Z-190304T0045Z/
Decatur GA-
724 PM EST SUN MAR 3 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EST FOR
NORTHEASTERN DECATUR COUNTY...
    
At 723 PM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Bainbridge, 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 tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
northeastern Decatur County, including the following locations...
Hanover, Fowlstown and Climax.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3079 8438 3080 8468 3096 8465 3107 8438
TIME...MOT...LOC 0023Z 260DEG 40KT 3090 8457 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...0.00IN

$$

38-GODSEY

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, 6:58 PM EST, 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 3, 6:58 PM EST, 14 minutes before

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

.AVIATION...
[Through 00Z Tuesday]

A squall line bringing multiple confirmed tornadoes and wind gusts
over 50 knots continues to march across the region this evening.
In the wake of the squall line, MVFR ceilings will overspread the
region, lowering to IFR through the night. It won't be until early
tomorrow afternoon that restrictions clear and all sites return to
VFR.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION [333 PM EST]...

.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.

.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 not requested. However, spotters are always
encouraged to safely report significant weather conditions when they
occur 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...Harrigan
MARINE...Wool
FIRE WEATHER...Harrigan
HYDROLOGY...Wool

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 3, 5:29 PM EST, 1 hour 43 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, 5:31 PM EST, 1 hour 41 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, 5:33 PM EST, 1 hour 39 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

Local storm report, Mar 3, 6:08 PM EST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

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

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

0543 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 ENE PLEASANT RIDGE    30.70N 86.15W
03/03/2019                   WALTON             FL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            BOB SIKES ROAD NEAR HIGHWAY 331 CLOSED WITH
            TREES OVER THE ROAD. DEBRIS NEAR WALMART.

&&

DH

Local storm report, Mar 3, 6:12 PM EST, 1 hour before

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

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

0540 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 NNE PLEASANT RIDGE    30.71N 86.16W
03/03/2019                   WALTON             FL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ALL I-10 EASTBOUND LANES CLOSED NEAR MM 83
            DUE TO DOWNED TREES.

&&

DH

Local storm report, Mar 3, 6:16 PM EST, 56 minutes before

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

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

0613 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SE NEWTON             31.32N 85.59W
03/03/2019                   DALE               AL   911 CALL CENTER

            POWER POLE DOWN ON HARTFORD STREET IN DALE
            COUNTY.

&&

EB

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 3, 7:03 PM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Baker, Decatur, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole	42 min
Mar 3, 7:31 PM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Decatur, Grady	44 min
Mar 3, 7:36 PM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Grady, Mitchell and 1 more	39 min
Mar 3, 7:38 PM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Berrien, Irwin, Tift, Worth	52 min
Mar 3, 7:41 PM EST	Areal Flood Advisory	TAE	Tift	2 hr
Mar 3, 7:51 PM EST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Grady	24 min
Mar 3, 8:04 PM EST	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TAE	Grady, Thomas	28 min
Mar 3, 8:07 PM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Grady, Thomas	38 min
Mar 3, 8:12 PM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Brooks, Thomas	33 min
Mar 3, 8:21 PM EST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Colquitt	20 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 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.