Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2019

Tornado Warning 71, NWS Tallahassee, FL

December 17, 2019Baker County, Early County, Miller County, Georgia

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this tornado warning at Dec 17, 2019, 9:24 AM EST for Baker County, Early County, Miller County, Georgia. It was in force for 36 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: Dec 17, 2019, 9:24 AM EST (14:24 UTC)
Expired: Dec 17, 2019, 10:00 AM EST
In force: 36 min
Issued by: NWS Tallahassee, FL
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

Counties Baker County, GA, Early County, GA, Miller County, GA

The radar

The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 82 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:23 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
Dec 17, 9:27 AM EST	TSTM WND DMG	2 Ene Colquitt, GA	CORRECTS TIME OF PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 2 ENE COLQUITT. BARNS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY STRONG WINDS FROM A POTENTIAL TORNADO. IRRIGATION SYSTEM TIPPED AND BENT. TREES DOWN IN THAT AREA.
Dec 17, 9:27 AM EST	TORNADO	2 Sse Jeterville, GA	AN EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ALONG PHILLIPSBURG ROAD NORTH OF COLQUITT AND MOVED NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE NORTHEAST PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY BEFORE LIFTING JUST PAST KELLEY ROAD. DAMAGE TO BARNS, FARM EQUIPMENT, AND TREES WAS NOTED AND CONSISTENT WITH ESTIMATED W
Dec 17, 9:52 AM EST	TSTM WND DMG	3 Se Elmodel Wma, GA	REPORT OF A HOME DAMAGE ALONG TRAVELERS REST ROAD.
Dec 17, 10:00 AM EST	TORNADO	3 Se Elmodel Wma, GA	NWS SURVEY FOUND EF-0 TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 70 MPH. DAMAGE TO A HOME AND IRRIGATION PIVOT IN THE AREA.

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 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
Dec 17, 7:54 AM EST	Tornado Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Tallahassee Rgnl, FL (KTLH), launched 12:00Z, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 101 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: 155 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 589 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 318 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 284 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.1
Supercell composite: 1.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

502 
WFUS52 KTAE 171424
TORTAE
GAC007-099-201-171500-
/O.NEW.KTAE.TO.W.0071.191217T1424Z-191217T1500Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
924 AM EST Tue Dec 17 2019

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northeastern Miller County in southwestern Georgia...
  Northwestern Baker County in southwestern Georgia...
  East central Early County in southwestern Georgia...

* Until 1000 AM EST.
    
* At 924 AM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 3 miles north of Colquitt, moving northeast at 30 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.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  northeastern Miller, northwestern Baker and east central Early
  Counties, including the following locations... Hawkinstown,
  Milford, Mimsville, Crestview, Harmony Church Rd/hwy 45,
  Jeterville, Elmodel Wma, Bethany and Patmos.

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 3118 8473 3124 8478 3143 8448 3127 8441
TIME...MOT...LOC 1424Z 243DEG 27KT 3123 8473 

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

$$

38-GODSEY

1 follow-up statement

359 
WWUS52 KTAE 171437
SVSTAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
937 AM EST Tue Dec 17 2019

GAC099-171447-
/O.CAN.KTAE.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-191217T1500Z/
Early GA-
937 AM EST Tue Dec 17 2019

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL EARLY 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 200 PM EST for southwestern
Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3143 8448 3127 8441 3121 8464 3133 8464
TIME...MOT...LOC 1437Z 252DEG 33KT 3128 8459 

$$

GAC007-201-171500-
/O.CON.KTAE.TO.W.0071.000000T0000Z-191217T1500Z/
Miller GA-Baker GA-
937 AM EST Tue Dec 17 2019

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM EST FOR
NORTHEASTERN MILLER AND NORTHWESTERN BAKER COUNTIES...
    
At 937 AM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 11 miles northeast of Colquitt, moving east at 40 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.

Locations impacted include...
Hawkinstown, Milford, Mimsville, Crestview, Elmodel Wma, Bethany and
Patmos.

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 3143 8448 3127 8441 3121 8464 3133 8464
TIME...MOT...LOC 1437Z 252DEG 33KT 3128 8459 

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

$$

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 Dec 17, 6:33 AM EST, 2 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 17, 6:33 AM EST, 2 hours 51 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
633 AM EST Tue Dec 17 2019

.AVIATION...
[Through 12Z Wednesday]

Conditions will be MVFR with patchy IFR this morning. A line of
strong storms will move through the region this morning into early
afternoon, followed by showers or a steady rain. Rain will move out
of the region this evening. MVFR CIGs will persist for most of the
day. Winds will increase and become northwesterly or northerly by
this afternoon. Gusts up to 20 mph are possible. Higher gusts are
possible near thunderstorms.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION [252 AM EST]...

.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...

As of 2AM ET, a few showers/storms are developing in the central FL
panhandle and SE AL. A secondary batch is moving into the western FL
panhandle now with a rotating storm offshore. The main line of
storms is east of Montgomery, AL to the north and then stretched SW
back through SE Louisiana. There is some instability still present,
MUCAPE around 500 J/KG according to LAPS with 25 kts of 0-1KM shear
and 50 kts of 0-6km shear. According to LAPS soundings, there is
still some warming in the mid levels, probably inhibiting the storm
growth but that is decaying and actually increasing instability.
This can be seen with our first lightning strikes in the last 15
minutes. The second main inhibiting factor is the lift. The
strongest lift is well to the north and west with the main low but
the lift associated with the line of storms won't reach our SE AL
counties until around 9-13z. So through the morning, cannot rule out
a rotating shower or a strong thunderstorm, similar to what is
occurring offshore near Pensacola, with brief tornadoes and a
damaging wind gust or two being the greatest threat.

Moving forward, hires guidance is somewhat in good
agreement that these overnight storms will merge with the line and
move into our western counties around 3-5AM CT and move east,
reaching Tallahassee near 9-11AM ET and out near Valdosta by 12-2PM
ET. The southwesterly surface winds will continue to keep moisture
over the region ahead of the line with sfc CAPE of 500-1500 J/KG
depending on your model choice (NAM is the higher end). Low level
shear will remain high, 20-30 knots (but weakening through day). The
limiting factor really is the deep layer lift. There will be strong
thunderstorms with the line and with abundant low level moisture and
a boundary, weak rotations and possibly brief tornadoes are
possible. A severe storm with damaging wind gusts is also a
possibility, especially if we start to see any bowing segments. We
will also have to monitor the Big Bend where the line will meet with
peak heating and increased instability.

Low level moisture/clouds will remain through the afternoon but our
western areas should be dry by early afternoon with gusty and cooler
northwest flow. Highs will range from upper 60s in the NW to upper
70s in SE.

.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Thursday]...

In the upper levels, a trough will be over the region until nearly
zonal flow or weak ridging moves in on Thursday. At the surface, a
cold front will move through the region by this evening. High
pressure will move into the region late tonight. Northerly winds
will bring cold, dry air into the region. Showers and thunderstorms
will move out of the region mostly by midnight tonight. Otherwise,
POPs will be near zero. Highs will be in the 50s. Lows will be in
the 30s on tonight. Lows will be near 30 on Wednesday night.

.LONG TERM [Thursday Night Through Tuesday]...

In the upper levels, a ridge will be over the region until a trough
moves in on Saturday. At the surface, high pressure will be over the
region until a Gulf Low approaches on Saturday. This will likely
bring some cloudiness and rain over the weekend. The best chance for
rain will be Saturday and Sunday with POPs of 30 to 45 percent.
Highs will be in the 50s and 60s. Lows will be in the 30s and 40s.

.MARINE...

Moderate southerly winds will become strong and northerly as a cold
front moves through this afternoon and evening. A Small Craft
Advisory has been issued for this afternoon through Thursday
morning. Then moderate to strong northeasterly winds are expected
through Sunday morning.

.FIRE WEATHER...

Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to move across
the region from west to east today with tonight being dry. Drier
and cooler conditions on Wednesday but minimum RH values remain
above minimum values. With mixing heights above 3000ft Wednesday
and transport winds of 20 to 25 MPH, dispersions will be well
above 75 across the entire region.

.HYDROLOGY...

The best chance for rain is today as a cold front moves through.
There is another chance for rain this weekend as a Gulf Low
approaches the region. Forecast rainfall totals are around one inch
or less. Widespread flooding is not expected.

.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   73  39  54  30  57 /  90  20   0   0   0
Panama City   70  39  54  35  56 /  80   0   0   0   0
Dothan        67  34  50  30  52 /  80   0   0   0   0
Albany        69  36  52  31  53 /  90   0   0   0   0
Valdosta      74  39  53  31  56 /  90  30   0   0   0
Cross City    75  42  57  33  60 /  90  60   0   0   0
Apalachicola  72  40  54  35  56 /  90  10   0   0   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through late Wednesday night for Coastal
     Gulf.

GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 1 PM EST Thursday
     for Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to
     Ochlockonee River FL out to 20 Nm-Coastal Waters From
     Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl out to 20 Nm-Coastal
     waters from Suwannee River to Keaton Beach FL out 20 NM-
     Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60
     NM.

     Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to noon CST
     Thursday for Coastal waters from Mexico Beach to
     Apalachicola FL out 20 NM-Coastal waters from Mexico Beach
     to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL out 20 NM-Waters from
     Apalachicola to Mexico Beach FL from 20 to 60 NM-Waters
     from Mexico Beach to Okaloosa Walton County Line FL from 20
     to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...LN
SHORT TERM...McD
LONG TERM...McD
AVIATION...McD
MARINE...McD
FIRE WEATHER...LN
HYDROLOGY...McD

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 17, 3:57 AM EST, 5 hours 27 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
257 AM CST Tue Dec 17 2019

ALZ065-066-068-170945-
Dale AL-Coffee AL-Geneva AL-
257 AM CST Tue Dec 17 2019

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN DALE...SOUTHERN
COFFEE AND NORTHWESTERN GENEVA COUNTIES UNTIL 345 AM CST...

At 257 AM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Samson, or 12 miles southwest of Enterprise,
moving northeast at 30 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Daleville, Enterprise, Fort Rucker, Level Plains, Samson, New
Brockton, Clayhatchee, Kinston, Coffee Springs, Chancellor, Perry
Store, Lucile, Gerald, Ino, Turner Crossroads, Central City, Logan
Field Municipal A/P, Clintonville, Goodman and Camp Alaflo Bsa.

LAT...LON 3145 8581 3123 8569 3122 8569 3104 8619
      3128 8620
TIME...MOT...LOC 0857Z 239DEG 39KT 3121 8598

13-LN

Special weather statement, Dec 17, 9:07 AM EST, 17 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
907 AM EST Tue Dec 17 2019

GAZ120-122-124-171445-
Quitman GA-Randolph GA-Terrell GA-
907 AM EST Tue Dec 17 2019

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RANDOLPH...SOUTHEASTERN QUITMAN
AND CENTRAL TERRELL COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA UNTIL 945 AM
EST...

At 906 AM EST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles west of Cuthbert, moving east at 45 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Dawson, Cuthbert, Shellman, Bronwood, Parrott, Crossroads, Randolph
Co A/p, Dawson Municipal A/P, Chambliss, Morris, Benevolence,
Springvale, Wades, Springvale Station, Pachitla, Bridges Crossroad,
Peterson Hill, Coles, White House and Yeomans.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 PM EST for southwestern
Georgia.

LAT...LON 3191 8438 3173 8433 3167 8494 3172 8496
      3178 8496 3178 8500 3189 8501 3193 8481
      3192 8480 3192 8469 3193 8468 3192 8465
      3192 8445 3196 8444
TIME...MOT...LOC 1406Z 255DEG 41KT 3177 8492

38-GODSEY

Special weather statement, Dec 17, 9:14 AM EST, 10 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
914 AM EST Tue Dec 17 2019

GAZ121>123-171500-
Randolph GA-Calhoun GA-Clay GA-
914 AM EST Tue Dec 17 2019

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN CLAY...SOUTHERN RANDOLPH
AND NORTHERN CALHOUN COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA UNTIL 1000 AM
EST...

At 913 AM EST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Fort Gaines, moving east at 50 mph.

Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Fort Gaines, Edison, Bellville, Bluffton, Harrisons Mill, Zetto,
Carnegie, Moye, Cordrays Mill, Fountain Bridge, Goffs Mill, Shivers
Mill, Aycock Mill, Jones Crossing, Martins Crossroads, Suttons
Corner, Dickey and Coleman.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 200 PM EST for southeastern
Alabama...and southwestern Georgia.

LAT...LON 3166 8454 3162 8455 3162 8452 3156 8450
      3149 8503 3152 8503 3152 8505 3154 8504
      3157 8506 3162 8506 3175 8457
TIME...MOT...LOC 1413Z 253DEG 43KT 3156 8504

38-GODSEY

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Dec 17, 7:30 AM EST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Clay, Early	17 min
Dec 17, 8:57 AM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Early, Miller	48 min
Dec 17, 9:07 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	TAE	Quitman, Randolph, Terrell	38 min
Dec 17, 9:14 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	TAE	Clay	46 min
Dec 17, 9:51 AM EST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Baker, Mitchell	39 min
Dec 17, 10:03 AM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Baker, Early, Miller	42 min
Dec 17, 10:26 AM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Dougherty, Mitchell, Worth	49 min
Dec 17, 10:28 AM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Decatur	47 min
Dec 17, 11:09 AM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Irwin, Tift, Turner, Worth	36 min
Dec 17, 11:16 AM EST	Special Weather Statement	TAE	Grady	44 min
Dec 17, 11:33 AM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Ben Hill, Irwin, Tift, Turner	42 min
Dec 17, 11:40 AM EST	Tornado Warning	TAE	Ben Hill, Irwin	35 min
Dec 17, 12:06 PM EST	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	TAE	Ben Hill, Irwin	24 min
Dec 17, 12:33 PM EST	Special Weather Statement	TAE	Thomas	42 min
Dec 17, 1:12 PM EST	Special Weather Statement	TAE	Brooks, Cook, Lanier, Lowndes	63 min
Dec 17, 1:47 PM EST	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	TAE	Brooks, Lanier, Lowndes	43 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.