Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 16, NWS Atlanta, GA

March 16, 2026Bibb County, Jones County, Georgia

NWS Atlanta, GA issued this tornado warning at Mar 16, 2026, 7:52 AM EDT for Bibb County, Jones County, Georgia. It was in force for 23 min. 2 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
Mar 16, 2026, 7:52 AM EDT (11:52 UTC)
Expired
Mar 16, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT
In force
23 min
Issued by
NWS Atlanta, GA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

Counties Bibb County, GA, Jones County, GA

The radar

The Robins AFB radar (KJGX), 29 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:52 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
Mar 16, 7:58 AM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 Ene Payne City, GAEmergency Manager relayed preliminary reports of numerous trees down in mid-town Macon, centered around the 2000 block of Riverside Drive.
Mar 16, 7:58 AM EDTTORNADO2 Ene Payne City, GAan EF0 tornado with max winds of 85mph touched down inside the city limits of Macon GA. numerous trees were uprooted and several homes sustained siding or minor roof damage along its 2 mile path. A TDS was present on KJGX radar.

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
Mar 16, 4:10 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 103 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 2026-03-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 18 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 2026-03-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 110 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
18 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-5 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1562 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
110 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
252 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

174 
WFUS52 KFFC 161152
TORFFC
GAC021-169-161215-
/O.NEW.KFFC.TO.W.0016.260316T1152Z-260316T1215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
752 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Bibb County in central Georgia...
  South central Jones County in central Georgia...

* Until 815 AM EDT.

* At 752 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located over Lake Tobesofkee, or near Macon, moving east at 35
  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...
  Macon, Payne, Payne City, Cross Keys, Wesleyan, Postell, Lizella,
  Lake Tobesofkee, Griswoldville, and Franklinton.

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 3279 8382 3287 8384 3297 8357 3289 8347
      3286 8347 3285 8351 3282 8349 3282 8350
      3281 8349 3277 8355
TIME...MOT...LOC 1152Z 259DEG 32KT 3284 8376 

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

$$
2 follow-up statements
936 
WWUS52 KFFC 161158
SVSFFC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
758 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

GAC021-169-161215-
/O.CON.KFFC.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260316T1215Z/
Bibb GA-Jones GA-
758 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 AM EDT FOR CENTRAL
BIBB AND SOUTH CENTRAL JONES COUNTIES...

At 758 AM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Payne City, or over Macon, moving east at 35 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...
Macon, Payne, Payne City, Cross Keys, Wesleyan, Postell,
Griswoldville, and Franklinton.

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 3279 8377 3289 8380 3297 8357 3289 8347
      3286 8347 3285 8351 3282 8349 3282 8350
      3281 8349 3277 8355
TIME...MOT...LOC 1158Z 259DEG 32KT 3285 8369 

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

$$
360 
WWUS52 KFFC 161208
SVSFFC

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
808 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

GAC021-169-161217-
/O.EXP.KFFC.TO.W.0016.000000T0000Z-260316T1215Z/
Bibb GA-Jones GA-
808 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL BIBB AND SOUTH CENTRAL JONES
COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 815 AM EDT...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has broadened 
out and pushed out of the area. Therefore, the warning will be 
allowed to expire.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 AM EDT for central
Georgia. A Tornado Watch also remains in effect until 200 PM EDT for
central Georgia.

Remember, a Tornado Warning still remains in effect for Southern 
Jones County until 730 AM ET.

&&

LAT...LON 3279 8377 3289 8380 3297 8357 3289 8347
      3286 8347 3285 8351 3282 8349 3282 8350
      3281 8349 3277 8355
TIME...MOT...LOC 1207Z 259DEG 32KT 3287 8360 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 16, 2:20 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCatoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker40 min
Mar 16, 2:57 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCatoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker48 min
Mar 16, 3:36 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, Murray and 2 more39 min
Mar 16, 3:39 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCWhitfield21 min
Mar 16, 4:13 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCFannin, Gilmer, Murray, Whitfield47 min
Mar 16, 4:19 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Floyd, Gordon, Pickens41 min
Mar 16, 4:29 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCHaralson, Polk20 min
Mar 16, 4:47 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Douglas, Haralson, Paulding, Polk28 min
Mar 16, 4:48 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCDawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, Towns and 2 more27 min
Mar 16, 4:52 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Cherokee, Dawson, Gordon, Pickens26 min
Mar 16, 5:16 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb and 5 more44 min
Mar 16, 5:17 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Hall and 5 more43 min
Mar 16, 5:22 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCarroll, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Meriwether, Troup38 min
Mar 16, 5:54 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClayton, Coweta, Fayette, Harris, Heard, Henry and 5 more36 min
Mar 16, 5:59 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Barrow, Clayton, DeKalb, Forsyth, Gwinnett and 5 more46 min
Mar 16, 6:02 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCLumpkin, Towns, White13 min
Mar 16, 6:10 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCDeKalb, Rockdale20 min
Mar 16, 6:27 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks, Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and 6 more48 min
Mar 16, 6:35 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCButts, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton and 2 more40 min
Mar 16, 6:37 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattahoochee, Harris, Lamar, Marion, Meriwether, Muscogee and 3 more38 min
Mar 16, 6:44 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBanks16 min
Mar 16, 6:59 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCLamar, Pike, Talbot, Upson31 min
Mar 16, 7:03 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCClarke, Greene, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe42 min
Mar 16, 7:08 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCChattahoochee, Marion, Muscogee, Schley, Talbot, Taylor37 min
Mar 16, 7:08 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCJohnson, Laurens, Washington, Wilkinson39 min
Mar 16, 7:10 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCButts, Jasper, Lamar, Monroe, Morgan, Newton and 1 more35 min
Mar 16, 7:13 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCCrawford, Lamar, Monroe, Pike, Talbot, Taylor and 1 more32 min
Mar 16, 7:20 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCStewart, Webster40 min
Mar 16, 7:39 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBaldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Macon and 4 more51 min
Mar 16, 7:41 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGreene, Jasper, Jones, Monroe, Morgan, Putnam34 min
Mar 16, 7:49 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGreene, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Wilkes26 min
Mar 16, 8:00 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMarion, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Webster30 min
Mar 16, 8:05 AM EDTTornado WarningFFCJones8 min
Mar 16, 8:18 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCGreene, Hancock, Putnam, Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes42 min
Mar 16, 8:29 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCBaldwin, Bleckley, Hancock, Houston, Jones, Laurens and 4 more31 min
Mar 16, 8:33 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCMacon, Schley, Sumter, Webster12 min
Mar 16, 8:44 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFFCEmanuel, Jefferson, Johnson31 min
Mar 16, 9:01 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCGlascock, Jefferson, Johnson, Warren, Washington44 min
Mar 16, 9:14 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCWheeler31 min
Mar 16, 9:16 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCWilcox29 min
Mar 16, 9:22 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCDodge, Laurens, Pulaski23 min
Mar 16, 9:35 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCJefferson25 min
Mar 16, 10:24 AM EDTWind AdvisoryFFCBaldwin, Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley and 80 more16 hr
Mar 16, 10:54 AM EDTWinter Weather AdvisoryFFCBartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Dawson and 13 more4 min
Mar 16, 10:58 AM EDTWinter Weather AdvisoryFFCBartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Dade, Dawson and 13 more9 hr
Mar 16, 11:53 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementFFCTelfair37 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes in 2026

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.