Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2023

Tornado Warning 12, NWS Atlanta, GA

January 12, 20234 counties in Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Jan 12, 2023, 4:32 PM EST for 4 counties in Georgia. It was in force for 32 min. 5 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
Jan 12, 2023, 4:32 PM EST (21:32 UTC)
Expired
Jan 12, 2023, 5:04 PM EST
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Butts County, GA, Henry County, GA, Newton County, GA, Spalding County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:31 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jan 12, 4:35 PM ESTTORNADO4 Wsw Mckibben, GAAPPROXIMATE START OF DAMAGE PATH OF THE EF-1 BUTTS COUNTY TORNADO, INITIALLY TOUCHING DOWN WEST OF I-75 ALONG WINDY LANE NEAR MIDWAY DR. THIS TORNADO WAS PART OF A LARGE AND LONG TRACK MESOCYCLONE WHICH SPAWNED NUMEROUS TORNADOES DURING ITS LIFECYCLE.
Jan 12, 4:38 PM ESTTORNADO1 Ene Mckibben, GAAPPROXIMATE END OF DAMAGE PATH OF THE EF-1 BUTTS COUNTY TORNADO. THE TORNADO LIFTED AFTER CROSSING JOE LANE RD AND AROUND HIGH FALLS RD.
Jan 12, 4:44 PM ESTTORNADO4 Sw Fincherville, GA*** 18 INJ *** PER RADAR DATA, AERIAL, AND GROUND SURVEYS, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE 3 TORNADOES ON THE GROUND SIMULTANEOUSLY IN SOUTHWEST SPALDING AND NORTHWESTERN PIKE COUNTIES. THIS PARTICULAR EF-3 TORNADO WOULD BECOME THE DOMINANT CIRCULATION
Jan 12, 4:49 PM ESTTORNADO3 Ssw Fincherville, GASTART OF DAMAGE PATH OF THE EF-1 BUTTS/NEWTON COUNTY TORNADO TRACK, JUST WEST OF FINCHERVILLE RD.
Jan 12, 4:57 PM ESTTORNADO1 Nnw North Alcovy, GAAPPROXIMATE END OF DAMAGE PATH OF THE EF-1 BUTTS/NEWTON COUNTY TORNADO TRACK, NEAR HWY 212 APPROACHING THE ALCOVY RIVER.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jan 12, 1:06 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 54 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2023-01-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 27 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2023-01-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 220 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
27 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-67 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
709 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
220 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
190 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

651 
WFUS52 KFFC 122132
TORFFC
GAC035-151-217-255-122215-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0012.230112T2132Z-230112T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
432 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Eastern Spalding County in west central Georgia...
  Southeastern Henry County in north central Georgia...
  Butts County in central Georgia...
  South central Newton County in north central Georgia...

* Until 515 PM EST.
    
* At 432 PM EST, a tornado producing storm was located over Walker
  Mill, or 7 miles northeast of Griffin, moving northeast at 65 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Griffin, Jackson, Locust Grove, Jenkinsburg, East Griffin, Stewart,
  Towalaga, Worthville, Walker Mill, McKibben, Luella, Fincherville
  and Stark.

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 3347 8395 3345 8382 3342 8383 3341 8385
      3340 8384 3340 8385 3339 8383 3337 8386
      3334 8386 3333 8384 3329 8384 3321 8424
      3333 8425
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 243DEG 55KT 3330 8418 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$
1 follow-up statement
678 
WWUS52 KFFC 122204 RRA
SVSFFC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
504 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023

GAC035-151-217-255-122214-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0012.000000T0000Z-230112T2215Z/
Spalding GA-Henry GA-Butts GA-Newton GA-
504 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN SPALDING...SOUTHEASTERN HENRY...
BUTTS AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEWTON COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.  However heavy rain is
still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EST for central, north
central and west central Georgia.

LAT...LON 3347 8395 3345 8382 3342 8383 3341 8385
      3340 8384 3340 8385 3339 8383 3337 8386
      3334 8386 3333 8384 3329 8384 3321 8424
      3333 8425
TIME...MOT...LOC 2203Z 243DEG 55KT 3352 8365 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 12, 3:39 AM ESTWind AdvisoryFFCBaldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley and 90 more19 hr
Jan 12, 11:06 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDade, Walker39 min
Jan 12, 11:44 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCatoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker31 min
Jan 12, 12:06 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCMurray, Whitfield24 min
Jan 12, 12:17 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFannin, Gilmer, Murray, Whitfield28 min
Jan 12, 12:27 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCChattooga33 min
Jan 12, 12:43 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCMurray, Whitfield32 min
Jan 12, 1:01 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCFloyd, Gordon29 min
Jan 12, 1:20 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCFannin, Murray25 min
Jan 12, 1:27 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCBartow, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon33 min
Jan 12, 1:43 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFloyd, Haralson, Paulding, Polk32 min
Jan 12, 1:47 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCFannin28 min
Jan 12, 1:51 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCCrawford, Taylor39 min
Jan 12, 2:07 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCTaylor38 min
Jan 12, 2:07 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Crawford, Monroe, Upson38 min
Jan 12, 2:16 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Paulding, Polk29 min
Jan 12, 2:20 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCBibb, Crawford, Monroe25 min
Jan 12, 2:36 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHaralson24 min
Jan 12, 2:44 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Putnam34 min
Jan 12, 2:44 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, Heard46 min
Jan 12, 2:52 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCBaldwin, Jones23 min
Jan 12, 2:58 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCCherokee, Cobb, Forsyth, Paulding32 min
Jan 12, 3:12 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCWhite18 min
Jan 12, 3:13 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBaldwin, Hancock, Jones, Putnam, Washington47 min
Jan 12, 3:13 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCHeard, Troup47 min
Jan 12, 3:19 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHarris, Meriwether, Troup41 min
Jan 12, 3:21 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Coweta, Fulton, Heard, Troup39 min
Jan 12, 3:31 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth and 2 more44 min
Jan 12, 3:36 PM ESTTornado Warning Tornado observedFFCMeriwether, Troup39 min
Jan 12, 3:46 PM ESTTornado Warning Tornado observedFFCDeKalb, Fulton6 min
Jan 12, 3:49 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClayton, Coweta, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, Henry and 3 more41 min
Jan 12, 3:56 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHancock, Taliaferro, Warren34 min
Jan 12, 3:56 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Barrow, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson49 min
Jan 12, 4:00 PM ESTTornado Warning Tornado observedFFCMeriwether, Pike, Spalding45 min
Jan 12, 4:04 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHarris, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Talbot, Taylor and 1 more41 min
Jan 12, 4:07 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBarrow, Clarke, Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry and 4 more38 min
Jan 12, 4:13 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCClayton, Henry, Newton, Rockdale19 min
Jan 12, 4:15 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCHancock, Warren33 min
Jan 12, 4:16 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCHancock, Warren29 min
Jan 12, 4:22 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCButts, Clayton, DeKalb, Fayette, Henry, Jasper and 5 more38 min
Jan 12, 4:28 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJasper, Lamar, Monroe36 min
Jan 12, 4:39 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCJackson, Madison36 min
Jan 12, 4:41 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCMonroe, Upson34 min
Jan 12, 4:44 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHarris, Talbot31 min
Jan 12, 4:46 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBarrow, Clarke, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Walton29 min
Jan 12, 4:49 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCButts, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Morgan, Putnam26 min
Jan 12, 4:55 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCButts, Jasper, Morgan, Newton, Putnam20 min
Jan 12, 4:56 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDade, Walker31 min
Jan 12, 5:04 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattahoochee, Marion, Muscogee41 min
Jan 12, 5:14 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGreene, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro46 min
Jan 12, 5:19 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBaldwin, Greene, Hancock, Jones, Putnam, Taliaferro41 min
Jan 12, 5:26 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCTaylor34 min
Jan 12, 5:39 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattahoochee, Crawford, Macon, Marion, Schley, Taylor36 min
Jan 12, 5:45 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGlascock, Hancock, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes45 min
Jan 12, 5:48 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrisp, Dooly, Sumter42 min
Jan 12, 6:02 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCBibb, Crawford, Peach28 min
Jan 12, 6:15 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Houston, Peach, Twiggs, Wilkinson45 min
Jan 12, 6:21 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrisp, Dooly, Pulaski, Wilcox24 min
Jan 12, 6:27 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrisp, Wilcox33 min
Jan 12, 6:41 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCCrisp, Dooly, Pulaski, Wilcox19 min
Jan 12, 6:47 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCWashington, Wilkinson28 min
Jan 12, 6:48 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrisp, Dodge, Pulaski, Wilcox27 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2023Every tornado warning in 2023Tornadoes in 2023

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.