Alert archive / Georgia / Special Weather Statements in 2020
Special Weather Statement, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this special weather statement at Mar 24, 2020, 12:02 PM EDT for Oglethorpe County, Wilkes County, Georgia. It was in force for 28 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 24, 2020, 12:02 PM EDT (16:02 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 24, 2020, 12:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 28 min
- Issued by
- NWS Atlanta, GA
Counties Oglethorpe County, GA, Wilkes County, GA
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 132 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:03 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 4.0 hours before the alert went out and 161 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 50 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -168 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 667 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 68 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 112 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 158 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
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</html>What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this special weather statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Mar 24, 10:49 AM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 24, 10:49 AM EDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 1049 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020 .UPDATE... Initial upper impulse has allowed for some isolated strong convection tracking eastward across north GA this morning along with some training of heavier rain in the far northern tier. Will monitor for any increased flash flood potential accordingly, and then could have a lull in coverage/activity this afternoon across portions of north GA ahead of next stronger wave progged for this evening. Overall grid trends look to be on track so have not needed to adjust aside from ingesting near term obs. Previous discussion follows... Baker && .PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 739 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020/ SHORT TERM /Today through Wednesday/... .Flash Flood Watch For Far North GA... A challenging forecast with a myriad of hazard concerns starting with dense fog. No slam dunk by any means on this one but considering it was in the metro, did not get too cute with it and just ran through the morning hours. Entirely possible that increased lift and rain chances will allow visibility to increase prior to hazard end time, but hazard can be cancelled if that ends up being the case. Embedded shortwaves in zonal flow are increasing lift across the area in vicinity of warm front. This has already allowed for the development of showers and coverage and intensity should increase through the morning hours very rapidly. Models continue to increase QPF with not only this feature but multiple rounds as second more vigorous shortwave moves through the Tennessee Valley this evening. Now have storm total in excess of 3 inches across portions of North GA, north of the metro in general. Based on the latest QPF and area now being in moderate risk of Excessive Rainfall, have chosen to go with a Flash Flood Watch for areas that line up with high QPF axis. Instability will be primarily elevated early on, but will need to watch for potential severe storms by afternoon across the Northwest portions. SPC has slight risk for this area which looks to be on target. With frontal position. low level helicity will be off the charts with STP approaching 4 on the NAM. Pretty much an all included with potential hazards of damaging winds, hail and even isolated tornadoes. Finally some clearing for tonight and especially into Wed to help dry things out. A very nice day in store for Wed with a drying northerly flow and temperatures in the lower 70s north to lower 80s for portions of Central GA. Deese && .LONG TERM /Wednesday Night through Monday/... The long term period begins on Wednesday night with northwest flow aloft and subsidence settling in on the backside of an exiting shortwave. Mid- and upper-level high pressure will build in across the Southeast from the northern Gulf of Mexico on Thursday and Friday, making for dry weather and a mostly to partly sunny sky. Mid- and upper-level flow will turn southwesterly on Saturday as a low pressure system tracks across the Central U.S. and Ohio River Valley, dragging a cold front across the South. The GFS and ECMWF currently keep Saturday dry and have rain moving into northwestern Georgia by late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. The cold front passage looks to be quick, as models move rain out of the CWA by late Sunday night. The QPF on Sunday ranges from less than 0.01 inch to 0.25 inch, with the higher totals across northwestern Georgia. Also, given non-zero instability (MUCAPE <1000 J/kg), have included a slight chance of thunder for Saturday night into Sunday morning. Models are forecasting an upper-level trough taking shape across the Southwest on Sunday into Monday, generating an area of surface low pressure somewhere across the South Central states. There are timing differences, however, as the GFS is faster with more zonal upper-level flow, and the ECMWF is slower with more amplified upper-level flow. This translates to uncertainty with the timing of rain associated with this system on Monday and Tuesday. Highs will be around 5 to 15 degrees above average through the period, aside from Sunday and Monday (during and after the cold front passage). Lows will be around 10 to 20 degrees above average through much of the period. Martin && .AVIATION... 12Z UPDATE...LIFR conditions continue but quickly abating from north to south as line of SHRA develops. Will be a challenging forecast as waves of SHRA and even embedded TSRA interrupts the low cigs and vsby from time to time. First of these waves will be mid morning around 15Z and then another late evening into the first part of the overnight period. Cigs may recover briefly late this evening with the second wave of TSRA but will quickly go down again for the Tue night timeframe. Winds will be very light through mid morning before becoming SW and remaining there for the remainder of this TAF period. //ATL CONFIDENCE...12Z UPDATE... Medium on LIFR duration and precip timing. High on remaining elements. Deese && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 65 59 75 50 / 80 80 30 5 Atlanta 72 61 73 52 / 60 80 30 0 Blairsville 58 54 66 45 / 90 90 40 5 Cartersville 70 59 72 50 / 90 90 30 5 Columbus 79 65 80 56 / 20 60 30 0 Gainesville 61 56 71 49 / 90 90 30 5 Macon 78 64 80 54 / 20 60 30 0 Rome 70 58 72 49 / 90 90 20 5 Peachtree City 75 61 76 52 / 50 70 30 0 Vidalia 82 67 83 57 / 10 40 40 5 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch through late tonight for the following zones: Catoosa...Chattooga...Dade...Dawson...Fannin...Gilmer...Gordon... Lumpkin...Murray...Pickens...Towns...Union...Walker...White... Whitfield. && SHORT TERM...Deese/Baker LONG TERM....Martin AVIATION...Deese
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 24, 11:30 AM EDT, 32 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 1130 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-251530- Baldwin-Banks-Barrow-Bartow-Bibb-Bleckley-Butts-Carroll-Catoosa- Chattahoochee-Chattooga-Cherokee-Clarke-Clayton-Cobb-Coweta- Crawford-Crisp-Dade-Dawson-DeKalb-Dodge-Dooly-Douglas-Emanuel- Fannin-Fayette-Floyd-Forsyth-Gilmer-Glascock-Gordon-Greene- Gwinnett-Hall-Hancock-Haralson-Harris-Heard-Henry-Houston-Jackson- Jasper-Jefferson-Johnson-Jones-Lamar-Laurens-Lumpkin-Macon- Madison-Marion-Meriwether-Monroe-Montgomery-Morgan-Murray- Muscogee-Newton-North Fulton-Oconee-Oglethorpe-Paulding-Peach- Pickens-Pike-Polk-Pulaski-Putnam-Rockdale-Schley-South Fulton- Spalding-Stewart-Sumter-Talbot-Taliaferro-Taylor-Telfair-Toombs- Towns-Treutlen-Troup-Twiggs-Union-Upson-Walker-Walton-Warren- Washington-Webster-Wheeler-White-Whitfield-Wilcox-Wilkes- Wilkinson- 1130 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight... Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue across north Georgia through tonight. A few storms could be strong to severe, especially across northwestern Georgia. The main hazards with any storms will be strong to damaging winds, hail, and a brief tornado or two. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday... Thunderstorms will be possible over North Georgia on Saturday and across the entire area on Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Mar 24, 10:35 AM EDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1035 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
GAZ001>005-241500-
Whitfield GA-Catoosa GA-Walker GA-Dade GA-Murray GA-
1035 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WHITFIELD...CATOOSA...WALKER...
DADE AND MURRAY COUNTIES UNTIL 1100 AM EDT...
At 1035 AM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near Cooper Heights, or 8
miles west of Lafayette...moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Frequent cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. If you can
hear thunder...you are close enough to be struck by
lightning. Heavy rain may cause temporary street flooding
especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Dalton, Lafayette, Chatsworth, Ringgold, Trenton, Fort Oglethorpe,
Rossville, Chickamauga, Varnell, Lookout Mountain, Eton, Tunnel Hill,
Cohutta, Crandall, Sumac, Gregory, Blue Spring, Fairview, Conasauga
Lake and Linwood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3499 8462 3486 8462 3482 8458 3478 8464
3475 8465 3460 8553 3498 8560
TIME...MOT...LOC 1435Z 246DEG 43KT 3474 8542Special weather statement, Mar 24, 11:01 AM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1101 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
GAZ006>008-241530-
Gilmer GA-Union GA-Fannin GA-
1101 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GILMER...UNION AND FANNIN
COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 AM EDT...
At 1100 AM EDT...a line of strong thunderstorms was along a line
extending from near Epworth to near Cartecay...and moving east at 50
mph.
HAZARD...Frequent cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. If you can
hear thunder...you are close enough to be struck by
lightning. Heavy rain may cause temporary street flooding
especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of these storms include
Blue Ridge, Blairsville, East Ellijay, Morganton, Hemp, Margret,
Higdon, Nottely Dam, Hurst, Ivy Log, Loving, Jones Creek, Epworth,
Dial, Cartecay, Pisgah, Mineral Bluff, Cherry Log, Stover Creek
Shelter and Hawk Mountain Shelter.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3473 8396 3458 8432 3458 8433 3457 8433
3455 8439 3455 8441 3474 8447 3497 8446
3499 8441 3499 8394
TIME...MOT...LOC 1500Z 250DEG 43KT 3494 8444 3459 8438Special weather statement, Mar 24, 11:12 AM EDT, 50 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1112 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
GAZ022-023-033-034-241545-
Hall GA-North Fulton GA-Forsyth GA-Gwinnett GA-
1112 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN HALL...NORTH
FULTON...FORSYTH AND NORTHEASTERN GWINNETT COUNTIES UNTIL 1145 AM
EDT...
At 1112 AM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Brookwood, or near
Cumming...moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...pea sized hail...frequent lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Minor damage to exposed surfaces is possible. Heavy rain
may cause temporary street flooding especially in poor
drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Gainesville, Cumming, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Milton, Sugar Hill,
Suwanee, Buford, Braselton, Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Rest Haven,
Drew, Buford Dam-Lake Lanier Parks, Brookwood, Aqualand Park,
Chestnut Mountain, Oscarville, Road Atlanta-Lanier Speedway and Lake
Lanier Islands.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. If you can hear
thunder...you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3433 8384 3415 8378 3413 8382 3407 8384
3403 8428 3418 8431 3419 8428 3419 8426
3420 8426
TIME...MOT...LOC 1512Z 254DEG 47KT 3413 8418
HAIL...0.25INSpecial weather statement, Mar 24, 11:25 AM EDT, 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1125 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
GAZ027-036>038-047-049-050-241600-
Madison GA-Morgan GA-Walton GA-Oglethorpe GA-Clarke GA-Greene GA-
Oconee GA-
1125 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MADISON...MORGAN...
NORTHEASTERN WALTON...OGLETHORPE...CLARKE...NORTHWESTERN GREENE AND
OCONEE COUNTIES UNTIL NOON EDT...
At 1124 AM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Farmington, or 7
miles south of Watkinsville...moving east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Frequent cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. If you can
hear thunder...you are close enough to be struck by
lightning. Heavy rain may cause temporary street flooding
especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Madison, Watkinsville, Lexington, Athens, Comer, Winterville,
Crawford, North High Shoals, Bostwick, Arnoldsville, Good Hope,
Carlton, Bishop, Maxeys, Whitehall, Athens-Clarke County, Stephens,
Smithonia, Beechwood Hills and Wrayswood.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3387 8292 3385 8293 3384 8295 3381 8296
3380 8298 3378 8298 3375 8296 3355 8350
3388 8367 3408 8305 3388 8291
TIME...MOT...LOC 1524Z 250DEG 47KT 3376 8345Special weather statement, Mar 24, 11:37 AM EDT, 25 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1137 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
GAZ005-007-012>014-241600-
Gilmer GA-Dawson GA-Gordon GA-Pickens GA-Murray GA-
1137 AM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GILMER...NORTHWESTERN DAWSON...
NORTHEASTERN GORDON...NORTHWESTERN PICKENS AND SOUTHEASTERN MURRAY
COUNTIES UNTIL NOON EDT...
At 1137 AM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was over Oakman, or 13 miles
southwest of Ellijay...moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Frequent lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. If you can
hear thunder...you are close enough to be struck by
lightning. Heavy rain may cause temporary street flooding
especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Ellijay, East Ellijay, Talking Rock, Fairmount, Ranger, Sequoyah
Lake, Carters, Talona, Tails Creek, Ramhurst, Cartecay, Blaine,
Oakman, Mountaintown, Roy, Hinton, Roundtop and Audubon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3456 8425 3442 8468 3463 8488 3484 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 1537Z 252DEG 35KT 3457 8467Special weather statement, Mar 24, 12:02 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1202 PM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
GAZ038-039-241630-
Wilkes GA-Oglethorpe GA-
1202 PM EDT Tue Mar 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WILKES AND OGLETHORPE COUNTIES
UNTIL 1230 PM EDT...
At 1202 PM EDT...a strong thunderstorm was near Rayle, or 8 miles
southeast of Lexington...moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Frequent lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. If you can
hear thunder...you are close enough to be struck by
lightning. Heavy rain may cause temporary street flooding
especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Washington, Lexington, Tignall, Maxeys, Rayle, Stephens, Jacksons
Crossroads, Mallorysville, Delhi, Norman, Floral Hill, Newtown,
Danburg, Celeste and Philomath.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3371 8293 3373 8295 3370 8299 3369 8302
3371 8305 3370 8310 3375 8318 3388 8314
3399 8283 3397 8278 3399 8272 3399 8265
3386 8261 3387 8258 3387 8257 3383 8260
3378 8257
TIME...MOT...LOC 1602Z 250DEG 56KT 3382 8298The office that day
Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 2:41 AM EDT | Dense Fog Advisory | FFC | Baldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts and 57 more | 7 hr |
| Mar 24, 6:06 AM EDT | Flash Flood Watch | FFC | Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer and 9 more | 21 hr |
| Mar 24, 8:55 AM EDT | River Flood Warning | FFC | Whitfield | 3 days |
| Mar 24, 9:50 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Catoosa, Dade, Murray, Walker, Whitfield | 40 min |
| Mar 24, 10:21 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | DeKalb, Gwinnett | 24 min |
| Mar 24, 10:35 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Catoosa, Dade, Murray, Walker, Whitfield | 25 min |
| Mar 24, 11:01 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Fannin, Union | 29 min |
| Mar 24, 11:12 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Forsyth | 33 min |
| Mar 24, 11:25 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Clarke, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe | 35 min |
| Mar 24, 11:37 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Gilmer | 23 min |
| Mar 24, 12:40 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | FFC | Murray, Whitfield | 52 hr |
| Mar 24, 12:57 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Madison | 33 min |
| Mar 24, 3:47 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | FFC | Catoosa | 55 hr |
| Mar 24, 3:47 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | FFC | Gordon, Murray, Whitfield | 4 days |
| Mar 24, 3:47 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | FFC | Forsyth, Fulton | 46 hr |
| Mar 24, 3:57 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | FFC | Chattooga | 29 hr |
| Mar 24, 5:29 PM EDT | River Flood Warning | FFC | Catoosa | 21 days |
Nearby
Special Weather Statements in Georgia, 2020Every special weather statement in 2020
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.