Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 34, NWS Atlanta, GA

May 3, 2025Newton County, Rockdale County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2025, 9:01 PM EDT for Newton County, Rockdale County, Georgia. It was in force for 20 min. 1 report 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
May 3, 2025, 9:01 PM EDT (01:01 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2025, 9:21 PM EDT
In force
20 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Newton County, GA, Rockdale County, GA

The radar

The Atlanta radar (KFFC), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:00 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
May 3, 9:02 PM EDTTORNADO1 W Oak Hill, GANWS storm survey confirms EF0 tornado with max winds 75mph. Trees downed along Buckingham Drive, hwy 20, hwy 212 east to Oak Hill Road.

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
May 3, 6:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 50 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 00:00Z on 2025-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 425 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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 00:00Z on 2025-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 115 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
425 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
837 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
115 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
153 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
2.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

572 
WFUS52 KFFC 040101
TORFFC
GAC217-247-040145-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0034.250504T0101Z-250504T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
901 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  South central Rockdale County in north central Georgia...
  West central Newton County in north central Georgia...

* Until 945 PM EDT.

* At 901 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Oak Hill, or 9 miles south of Conyers, moving east
  at 30 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...
  Porterdale, Oak Hill, Magnet, and Rocky Plains.

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 3353 8405 3354 8405 3354 8406 3357 8405
      3360 8391 3354 8387 3349 8392 3352 8405
      3353 8404
TIME...MOT...LOC 0101Z 280DEG 28KT 3354 8404 

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

$$
2 follow-up statements
090 
WWUS52 KFFC 040112
SVSFFC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
912 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

GAC247-040122-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0034.000000T0000Z-250504T0145Z/
Rockdale GA-
912 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL ROCKDALE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has  moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight EDT for
north central Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3350 8398 3359 8397 3360 8391 3354 8387
      3349 8392
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 280DEG 28KT 3352 8393 

$$

GAC217-040145-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0034.000000T0000Z-250504T0145Z/
Newton GA-
912 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM EDT FOR WEST
CENTRAL NEWTON COUNTY...

At 912 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Rocky Plains, or 7 miles southwest of Covington,
moving east at 30 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...
Porterdale and Rocky Plains.

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 3350 8398 3359 8397 3360 8391 3354 8387
      3349 8392
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 280DEG 28KT 3352 8393 

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

$$
244 
WWUS52 KFFC 040121
SVSFFC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
921 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

GAC217-040131-
/O.CAN.KFFC.TO.W.0034.000000T0000Z-250504T0145Z/
Newton GA-
921 PM EDT Sat May 3 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR WEST CENTRAL NEWTON COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has  moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight EDT for
north central Georgia.

&&

LAT...LON 3350 8398 3359 8397 3360 8391 3354 8387
      3349 8392
TIME...MOT...LOC 0120Z 280DEG 28KT 3351 8385 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 8:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCClayton, Coweta, Fayette37 min
May 3, 8:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCDeKalb34 min
May 3, 8:19 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHarris26 min
May 3, 8:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCoweta, Fayette23 min
May 3, 8:26 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCClayton, Henry19 min
May 3, 8:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHarris, Muscogee29 min
May 3, 8:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCMeriwether37 min
May 3, 8:44 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCFayette, Spalding9 min
May 3, 8:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHarris31 min
May 3, 8:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCHenry, Newton, Rockdale, Walton25 min
May 3, 8:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCButts, Clayton, Henry, Newton, Rockdale39 min
May 3, 8:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCButts, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Upson35 min
May 3, 9:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHarris, Marion, Muscogee, Talbot, Taylor40 min
May 3, 9:08 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCNewton, Rockdale16 min
May 3, 9:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCChattahoochee, Muscogee36 min
May 3, 9:15 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCButts, Henry, Jasper, Newton30 min
May 3, 9:18 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCNewton27 min
May 3, 9:21 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCTalbot, Upson39 min
May 3, 9:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCGreene, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe29 min
May 3, 9:31 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCJasper29 min
May 3, 9:39 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCJasper, Morgan, Newton18 min
May 3, 9:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCJasper, Jones, Monroe, Putnam32 min
May 3, 9:48 PM EDTTornado WarningFFCCrawford, Lamar, Monroe, Upson42 min
May 3, 10:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCChattahoochee, Marion, Stewart30 min
May 3, 10:07 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCGreene, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes53 min
May 3, 10:20 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBibb, Jones, Monroe25 min
May 3, 10:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCBaldwin, Jones30 min
May 4, 11:19 AM EDTRiver Flood WarningFFCWhitfield30 hr
May 4, 2:23 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningFFCMurray, Whitfield8 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2025Every tornado warning in 2025Tornadoes in 2025

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.