Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2023

Tornado Warning 19, NWS Atlanta, GA

March 3, 2023Cherokee County, Forsyth County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Mar 3, 2023, 4:05 PM EST for Cherokee County, Forsyth County, Georgia. It was in force for 25 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 3, 2023, 4:05 PM EST (21:05 UTC)
Expired
Mar 3, 2023, 4:30 PM EST
In force
25 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.0 in

Counties Cherokee County, GA, Forsyth County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:09 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 watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 3, 11:34 AM ESTTornado WatchSPC5 hr
Mar 3, 2:41 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 94 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 2023-03-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 7 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 2023-03-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 475 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
7 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
521 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
71 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
475 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
638 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

039 
WFUS52 KFFC 032105
TORFFC
GAC057-117-032130-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0019.230303T2105Z-230303T2130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
405 PM EST Fri Mar 3 2023

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Cherokee County in north central Georgia...
  West central Forsyth County in north central Georgia...

* Until 430 PM EST.
    
* At 404 PM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Bridgemill, or near Canton, moving east at 50 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.

* Locations impacted include...
  Canton, Holly Springs, Buffington, Free Home, Little River Landing,
  Hickory Flat, Union Hill, Holbrook, Lathemtown, Ducktown,
  Bridgemill and Drew.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Motorists should not take shelter under highway overpasses. If you
cannot safely drive away from the tornado, as a last resort, either
park your vehicle and stay put, or abandon your vehicle and lie down
in a low lying area and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3425 8417 3417 8426 3419 8426 3419 8433
      3418 8434 3418 8435 3416 8436 3415 8459
      3420 8460 3431 8427
TIME...MOT...LOC 2104Z 258DEG 43KT 3418 8456 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN

$$
2 follow-up statements
705 
WWUS52 KFFC 032116
SVSFFC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
416 PM EST Fri Mar 3 2023

GAC057-117-032130-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-230303T2130Z/
Cherokee GA-Forsyth GA-
416 PM EST Fri Mar 3 2023

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM EST FOR EAST
CENTRAL CHEROKEE AND WEST CENTRAL FORSYTH COUNTIES...
    
At 416 PM EST, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 
was located near Buffington, or 3 miles east of Canton, moving east 
at 50 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.

Locations impacted include...
Free Home, Lathemtown and Ducktown. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Motorists should not take shelter under highway overpasses. If you
cannot safely drive away from the tornado, as a last resort, either
park your vehicle and stay put, or abandon your vehicle and lie down
in a low lying area and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3421 8441 3426 8442 3431 8427 3425 8417
      3423 8419
TIME...MOT...LOC 2116Z 252DEG 44KT 3425 8438 

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

$$
435 
WWUS52 KFFC 032123
SVSFFC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
423 PM EST Fri Mar 3 2023

GAC057-117-032133-
/O.EXP.KFFC.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-230303T2130Z/
Cherokee GA-Forsyth GA-
423 PM EST Fri Mar 3 2023

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL CHEROKEE AND WEST CENTRAL
FORSYTH COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 430 PM EST...
    
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been 
cancelled. However, hail and damaging winds remain likely and a 
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

A Tornado Watch also remains in effect until 800 PM EST for north 
central Georgia.

LAT...LON 3421 8441 3426 8442 3431 8427 3425 8417
      3423 8419
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 258DEG 43KT 3427 8429 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 3, 3:27 AM ESTHigh Wind WarningFFCBartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb and 18 more14 hr
Mar 3, 1:28 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFFCCatoosa, Dade, Walker62 min
Mar 3, 2:05 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFFCChattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Polk, Walker55 min
Mar 3, 2:27 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFFCCatoosa, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, Murray, Walker and 1 more48 min
Mar 3, 2:44 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Pickens61 min
Mar 3, 2:51 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCBartow, Floyd, Gordon24 min
Mar 3, 3:06 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Floyd, Haralson, Paulding, Polk39 min
Mar 3, 3:14 PM ESTTornado WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee, Dawson, Gilmer, Gordon, Pickens31 min
Mar 3, 3:16 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFFCBartow, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon and 4 more44 min
Mar 3, 3:45 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Cobb, Haralson, Paulding and 1 more45 min
Mar 3, 3:52 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, Towns and 2 more38 min
Mar 3, 4:06 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Douglas, Haralson, Heard39 min
Mar 3, 4:11 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett and 2 more49 min
Mar 3, 4:29 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHall, White31 min
Mar 3, 4:31 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Paulding44 min
Mar 3, 4:34 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCLumpkin, White26 min
Mar 3, 4:44 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHeard46 min
Mar 3, 4:55 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHall, Lumpkin, White18 min
Mar 3, 5:00 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCherokee, Cobb, Dawson, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett and 1 more27 min
Mar 3, 5:09 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCClayton, DeKalb, Fulton36 min
Mar 3, 5:23 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCClayton, Coweta, Fayette37 min
Mar 3, 5:26 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCBanks, Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson34 min
Mar 3, 5:29 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCTroup31 min
Mar 3, 5:29 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCWhite16 min
Mar 3, 5:46 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCClayton, Rockdale29 min
Mar 3, 5:59 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCFayette, Henry, Meriwether, Spalding, Troup31 min
Mar 3, 6:04 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCBarrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Walton26 min
Mar 3, 6:14 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHenry, Newton, Rockdale, Walton31 min
Mar 3, 6:30 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCClarke, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe30 min
Mar 3, 6:42 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementFFCMorgan, Newton, Oconee33 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.