Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2023
Tornado Warning 8, NWS Atlanta, GA
NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Jan 12, 2023, 4:00 PM EST for Meriwether County, Pike County, Spalding County, Georgia. It was in force for 45 min. 12 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, 4:00 PM EST (21:00 UTC)
- Expired
- Jan 12, 2023, 4:45 PM EST
- In force
- 45 min
- Issued by
- NWS Atlanta, GA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 1.0 in
Counties Meriwether County, GA, Pike County, GA, Spalding County, GA
The radar
The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 20 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12, 4:11 PM EST | TORNADO | 1 W Hollonville, GA | *** 18 Inj *** A long-track EF-3 tornado touched down in northern Pike County and tracked 31.9 miles before lifting in Henry County. Numerous trees were downed, and many homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. |
| Jan 12, 4:11 PM EST | TORNADO | 1 W Hollonville, 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, 4:17 PM EST | TORNADO | 3 Wsw Zetella, GA | THE LONG-TRACK AND POWERFUL EF-2 TORNADO THAT FORMED WITHIN MERIWETHER COUNTY, CONTINUED THROUGH NORTHWEST PIKE AND INTO SOUTHWEST SPALDING COUNTIES. END OF DAMAGE PATH EAST OF BLANTON MILL RD NORTH OF THE PIKE-SPALDING COUNTY LINE. |
| Jan 12, 4:19 PM EST | TORNADO | 3 Sw Zetella, GA | An EF-1 tornado touched down in southwest Spalding County and tracked 3.7 miles. Trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. |
| Jan 12, 4:19 PM EST | TORNADO | 3 Sw Zetella, GA | PER BOTH 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-1 TORNADO BRIEFLY SPUN UP NEAR THE PIKE AND SPALDING COUNT |
| Jan 12, 4:22 PM EST | TORNADO | 1 Ese Zetella, GA | AS THE EF-1 TORNADO TRACKED EAST IT BECAME ABSORBED INTO THE CIRCULATION THAT WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY TRACKING NE OUT OF PIKE COUNTY, JUST TO THE WEST OF THE KENDALL DRIVE AREA. IT WAS AS THIS TORNADO AND THE OTHER CIRCULATION CAME TOGETHER THE OVERALL INTENSITY PE |
| Jan 12, 4:26 PM EST | TORNADO | Experiment, GA | SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN THE TOWN OF GRIFFIN. NUMEROUS STRUCTURES REPORTED DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. |
| Jan 12, 4:26 PM EST | TORNADO | Highland Mills, GA | SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE HOBBY LOBBY ROOF IN GRIFFIN GA. NEAR RIEGAL ST AND PINE DR. |
| Jan 12, 4:27 PM EST | TORNADO | 3 Nne Orchard Hill, GA | *** 2 FATAL, 10 INJ *** STARTING DAMAGE LOCATION OF THE LONG TRACK EF-2 TORNADO THAT BEGAN A FEW MILES SOUTHEAST OF GRIFFIN, GA THROUGH BUTTS, NEWTON, AND INTO JASPER COUNTIES. |
| Jan 12, 4:28 PM EST | TORNADO | 1 Ene Griffin, GA | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN ROAD IN GRIFFIN NEAR JACKSON ROAD ELEMENTARY AND PINELEA RD. |
| Jan 12, 4:28 PM EST | TORNADO | 3 Ese Griffin, GA | TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST EAST OF GRIFFIN ON HWY 16 NEAR BARROW RD. NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AND SEMI FLIPPED. |
| Jan 12, 4:45 PM EST | TORNADO | Highland Mills, GA | MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO SHOPPING CENTER ACROSS FROM WALMART. DEBRIS ON STREET. (W MCINTOSH RD AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PKWY). |
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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12, 1:06 PM EST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 18 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
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
793
WFUS52 KFFC 122100
TORFFC
GAC199-231-255-122145-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0008.230112T2100Z-230112T2145Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
400 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023
The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Spalding County in west central Georgia...
Northeastern Meriwether County in west central Georgia...
Pike County in west central Georgia...
* Until 445 PM EST.
* At 400 PM EST, a tornado producing storm was located over Wooster,
or 7 miles northeast of Greenville, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.
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, Zebulon, Williamson, Orchard Hill, Meansville, Gay, East
Griffin, Concord, Highland Mills, Rocky Mount, Experiment, Hilltop,
Vaughn, Hollonville, Alvaton, Rover, Digbey, Zetella and Wooster.
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 3322 8458 3322 8451 3325 8451 3326 8450
3326 8443 3329 8442 3332 8435 3329 8418
3318 8421 3319 8425 3304 8425 3305 8473
3316 8475
TIME...MOT...LOC 2100Z 248DEG 45KT 3313 8465
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$2 follow-up statements
521
WWUS52 KFFC 122123
SVSFFC
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
423 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023
GAC199-231-122132-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-230112T2145Z/
Meriwether GA-Pike GA-
423 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN MERIWETHER AND PIKE COUNTIES
IS CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EST for north central
and west central Georgia.
LAT...LON 3326 8450 3326 8443 3329 8442 3332 8435
3329 8418 3318 8421 3319 8425 3319 8437
3321 8440 3321 8445 3320 8447 3319 8448
3319 8450 3320 8449 3325 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 2122Z 252DEG 51KT 3323 8434
$$
GAC255-122145-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-230112T2145Z/
Spalding GA-
423 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM EST FOR SPALDING
COUNTY...
At 422 PM EST, a confirmed tornado was located over Rover, or near
Griffin, moving east at 60 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.
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, Orchard Hill, East Griffin, Highland Mills, Rover, Digbey,
Experiment, Zetella and Vaughn.
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 3326 8450 3326 8443 3329 8442 3332 8435
3329 8418 3318 8421 3319 8425 3319 8437
3321 8440 3321 8445 3320 8447 3319 8448
3319 8450 3320 8449 3325 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 2122Z 252DEG 51KT 3323 8434
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$530
WWUS52 KFFC 122124 RRB
SVSFFC
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
424 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023
GAC255-122145-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0008.000000T0000Z-230112T2145Z/
Spalding GA-
424 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM EST FOR SPALDING
COUNTY...
At 424 PM EST, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located over Griffin, moving east at 60 mph.
This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may
be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes
will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes,
businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction
is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Griffin, Orchard Hill, East Griffin, Highland Mills, Rover, Digbey,
Experiment, Zetella and Vaughn.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move
to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!
&&
LAT...LON 3326 8450 3326 8443 3329 8442 3332 8435
3329 8418 3318 8421 3319 8425 3319 8437
3321 8440 3321 8445 3320 8447 3319 8448
3319 8450 3320 8449 3325 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 248DEG 53KT 3325 8431
TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$The office that day
Everything else NWS Atlanta, GA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12, 3:39 AM EST | Wind Advisory | FFC | Baldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley and 90 more | 19 hr |
| Jan 12, 11:06 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Dade, Walker | 39 min |
| Jan 12, 11:44 AM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker | 31 min |
| Jan 12, 12:06 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Murray, Whitfield | 24 min |
| Jan 12, 12:17 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Whitfield | 28 min |
| Jan 12, 12:27 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Chattooga | 33 min |
| Jan 12, 12:43 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Murray, Whitfield | 32 min |
| Jan 12, 1:01 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Floyd, Gordon | 29 min |
| Jan 12, 1:20 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Fannin, Murray | 25 min |
| Jan 12, 1:27 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Bartow, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon | 33 min |
| Jan 12, 1:43 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Floyd, Haralson, Paulding, Polk | 32 min |
| Jan 12, 1:47 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Fannin | 28 min |
| Jan 12, 1:51 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Crawford, Taylor | 39 min |
| Jan 12, 2:07 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Taylor | 38 min |
| Jan 12, 2:07 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bibb, Crawford, Monroe, Upson | 38 min |
| Jan 12, 2:16 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bartow, Paulding, Polk | 29 min |
| Jan 12, 2:20 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Bibb, Crawford, Monroe | 25 min |
| Jan 12, 2:36 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Haralson | 24 min |
| Jan 12, 2:44 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bibb, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Putnam | 34 min |
| Jan 12, 2:44 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, Heard | 46 min |
| Jan 12, 2:52 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Baldwin, Jones | 23 min |
| Jan 12, 2:58 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Cherokee, Cobb, Forsyth, Paulding | 32 min |
| Jan 12, 3:12 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | White | 18 min |
| Jan 12, 3:13 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Baldwin, Hancock, Jones, Putnam, Washington | 47 min |
| Jan 12, 3:13 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Heard, Troup | 47 min |
| Jan 12, 3:19 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Harris, Meriwether, Troup | 41 min |
| Jan 12, 3:21 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Carroll, Coweta, Fulton, Heard, Troup | 39 min |
| Jan 12, 3:31 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth and 2 more | 44 min |
| Jan 12, 3:36 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Meriwether, Troup | 39 min |
| Jan 12, 3:46 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | DeKalb, Fulton | 6 min |
| Jan 12, 3:49 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Clayton, Coweta, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, Henry and 3 more | 41 min |
| Jan 12, 3:56 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Hancock, Taliaferro, Warren | 34 min |
| Jan 12, 3:56 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Banks, Barrow, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson | 49 min |
| Jan 12, 4:04 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Harris, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Talbot, Taylor and 1 more | 41 min |
| Jan 12, 4:07 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Barrow, Clarke, Clayton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry and 4 more | 38 min |
| Jan 12, 4:13 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Clayton, Henry, Newton, Rockdale | 19 min |
| Jan 12, 4:15 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Hancock, Warren | 33 min |
| Jan 12, 4:16 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Hancock, Warren | 29 min |
| Jan 12, 4:22 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Butts, Clayton, DeKalb, Fayette, Henry, Jasper and 5 more | 38 min |
| Jan 12, 4:28 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Jasper, Lamar, Monroe | 36 min |
| Jan 12, 4:32 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Butts, Henry, Newton, Spalding | 32 min |
| Jan 12, 4:39 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Jackson, Madison | 36 min |
| Jan 12, 4:41 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Monroe, Upson | 34 min |
| Jan 12, 4:44 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Harris, Talbot | 31 min |
| Jan 12, 4:46 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Barrow, Clarke, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Walton | 29 min |
| Jan 12, 4:49 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Butts, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Morgan, Putnam | 26 min |
| Jan 12, 4:55 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Butts, Jasper, Morgan, Newton, Putnam | 20 min |
| Jan 12, 4:56 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Dade, Walker | 31 min |
| Jan 12, 5:04 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Chattahoochee, Marion, Muscogee | 41 min |
| Jan 12, 5:14 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Greene, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro | 46 min |
| Jan 12, 5:19 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Baldwin, Greene, Hancock, Jones, Putnam, Taliaferro | 41 min |
| Jan 12, 5:26 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Taylor | 34 min |
| Jan 12, 5:39 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Chattahoochee, Crawford, Macon, Marion, Schley, Taylor | 36 min |
| Jan 12, 5:45 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Glascock, Hancock, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes | 45 min |
| Jan 12, 5:48 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crisp, Dooly, Sumter | 42 min |
| Jan 12, 6:02 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Bibb, Crawford, Peach | 28 min |
| Jan 12, 6:15 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Bibb, Houston, Peach, Twiggs, Wilkinson | 45 min |
| Jan 12, 6:21 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crisp, Dooly, Pulaski, Wilcox | 24 min |
| Jan 12, 6:27 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crisp, Wilcox | 33 min |
| Jan 12, 6:41 PM EST | Tornado Warning | FFC | Crisp, Dooly, Pulaski, Wilcox | 19 min |
| Jan 12, 6:47 PM EST | Special Weather Statement | FFC | Washington, Wilkinson | 28 min |
| Jan 12, 6:48 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FFC | Crisp, Dodge, Pulaski, Wilcox | 27 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.