Severe thunderstorms were responsible for numerous reports of wind damage across portions of southwest and south central Georgia. A funnel cloud was sighted north of Valdosta along Interstate 75.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.
Severe thunderstorms were responsible for numerous reports of wind damage across portions of southwest and south central Georgia. A funnel cloud was sighted north of Valdosta along Interstate 75.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 28, 9:25 AM EST, 4 hours 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 925 AM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 .DISCUSSION...AT 9AM EST...THE LATEST MSAS ANALYSIS SHOWS A SURFACE LOW JUST NORTH OF MONTGOMERY WITH A SOUTHWEST TRAILING COLD FRONT THROUGH SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. MOST CONVECTION HAS SKIRTED JUST TO THE NORTH OF OUR CWA EARLY THIS MORNING BUT THAT WILL CHANGE BY LATE MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON AS THE COLD FRONT PRESSES FURTHER TO THE SOUTH AND EAST. WE ARE STILL EXPECTING AN ACTIVE DAY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. MOST LIKELY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO UPDATE ZONES TO INCLUDE AT LEAST A PORTION OF OUR CWA IN A CONVECTIVE WATCH BEFORE THE SCHEDULED LATE AFTERNOON ISSUANCE. OTHERWISE...NO CHANGES TO GRIDS OR ZONES ANTICIPATED. .AVIATION...BUSY TAFS THIS MORNING WITH IFR CIGS WEST OF APALACHICOLA RIVER IN ADVANCE OF RAPIDLY APPROACHING COLD FRONT. EAST OF APALACHICOLA RIVER...CIGS ARE AT MVFR LEVELS. MOST OF THE WORST WEATHER REMAINS NORTH OF OUR AREA ACROSS CENTRAL AL...MS AND GA ALONG A WARM FRONT WHERE RAIN AND TSTMS HAVE BEEN GOING ALL NIGHT LONG. SEVERE TSTMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP NEAR THE WARM FRONT THIS MORNING. THE COLD FRONT...NOW IN CENTRAL MS...WILL STRENGTHEN AND MOVE RAPIDLY EAST TODAY AS A VERY STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM DEEPENS ACROSS ALABAMA AND GEORGIA IN THE NEXT 12 HOURS. STRONG TSTMS WILL CONTINUE DEVELOP OUT AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT INCREASING IN COVERAGE FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON FROM NW TO SE AS DAY PROGRESSES. PRE-FRONTAL SHOWERS AND TSTMS WILL REACH KDHN AND KABY THIS MORNING AND KPFN AND KTLH EARLY AFTERNOON. BREEZY DAY WITH 12 TO 15 KT WINDS FROM THE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AND GUSTS UP TO 25 KNOTS. THE MAIN FRONT WITH POSSIBLE HAIL AND STRONG WINDS AND A SHARP WIND SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST...WILL PUNCH THROUGH KDHN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND KPFN AND KTLH THIS EVENING AND EASTWARD THROUGH VALDOSTA OVERNIGHT. HOWEVER...CIG RESTRICTIONS AND SCT SHWRS WILL LINGER BEHIND THE FRONT WELL INTO SUNDAY AS THIS POTENT UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE PASSES OVER THE REGION. && .MARINE...WINDS AND SEAS WERE WELL BELOW ADVISORY CONDITIONS THIS MORNING...AND THIS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY BASED ON THE LATEST NUMERICAL GUIDANCE. HOWEVER...ADVISORY CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN LATER TONIGHT BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...AND CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY. IN FACT...FREQUENT GUSTS TO GALE FORCE ARE LIKELY SO WE WILL ISSUE A GALE WATCH. && .TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. GA...NONE. FL...NONE. GM...GALE WATCH TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. && LANIER/BARRY
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 603 AM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 ALZ065>069-FLZ007>019-026>029-034-GAZ120>131-142>148-155>161- GMZ730-750-755-765-770-775-011115- COFFEE-DALE-HENRY-GENEVA-HOUSTON-INLAND WALTON-COASTAL WALTON- HOLMES-WASHINGTON-JACKSON-BAY-CALHOUN-GULF-FRANKLIN-GADSDEN-LEON- JEFFERSON-MADISON-LIBERTY-WAKULLA-TAYLOR-LAFAYETTE-DIXIE-QUITMAN- CLAY-RANDOLPH-TERRELL-DOUGHERTY-LEE-WORTH-TURNER-TIFT-BEN HILL- IRWIN-EARLY-MILLER-BAKER-MITCHELL-COLQUITT-COOK-BERRIEN-SEMINOLE- DECATUR-GRADY-THOMAS-BROOKS-LOWNDES-LANIER- APALACHEE BAY OR COASTAL WATERS FROM KEATON BEACH TO OCHLOCKONEE RIVER FL OUT TO 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM OCHLOCKONEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL OUT TO 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM SUWANNEE RIVER TO KEATON BEACH OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM APALACHICOLA TO DESTIN FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM SUWANNEE RIVER TO APALACHICOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 603 AM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 /503 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2009/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA... SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...AND THE FLORIDA BIG BEND AND PANHANDLE...AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER TODAY AND TONIGHT... ...GALE WATCH TONIGHT AND SUNDAY... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST TODAY...BRINGING NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BE SEVERE...ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO CAN NOT BE RULED OUT. THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TODAY ALONG THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE BEACHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... THUNDERSTORMS WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. LIGHT RAIN WILL LINGER INTO SUNDAY AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY IN GEORGIA AND ALABAMA. THERE MAY BE ENOUGH COLD AIR FOR SOME OF THE RAIN TO MIX WITH OR CHANGE TO LIGHT SNOW...MAINLY FROM ALBANY AND DOTHAN NORTHWARD. NO SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED DUE TO THE RELATIVELY WARM GROUND TEMPERATURES. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED...WITH GUSTS TO GALE FORCE OVER THE COASTAL WATERS. FAIR WEATHER IS EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK...WITH A LIGHT FREEZE POSSIBLE MONDAY AND TUESDAY MORNINGS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV...THEN CLICK ON YOUR AREA OF INTEREST ON THE NATIONAL MAP. FOURNIER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 1116 AM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 GAZ120-122-281645- QUITMAN-RANDOLPH- 1116 AM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR QUITMAN AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES... * UNTIL 1145 AM EST AT 1114 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GEORGETOWN...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS...AND IS ALSO PRODUCING NEARLY CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 12-WATSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 1148 AM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 ALZ065-281730- COFFEE- 1048 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2009 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR COFFEE COUNTY... * UNTIL 1130 AM CST AT 1044 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES EAST OF EODA...OR 10 MILES WEST OF ELBA...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR... ELBA BY 1055 AM CST. NEW BROCKTON BY 1105 AM CST. WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. ALSO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS. RELAY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 12-WATSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 1223 PM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 ALZ065-066-281815- COFFEE-DALE- 1123 AM CST SAT FEB 28 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR COFFEE AND DALE COUNTIES... * UNTIL 1215 PM CST AT 1118 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ARITON TO ENTERPRISE TO ESTOTHEL...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES NORTH OF OZARK TO ENTERPRISE TO 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ELBA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. ALSO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS. RELAY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 12-WATSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 114 PM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 ALZ068-069-281845- GENEVA-HOUSTON- 1214 PM CST SAT FEB 28 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR GENEVA AND HOUSTON COUNTIES... * UNTIL 1245 PM CST AT 1209 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF WEBB TO TAYLOR...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES EAST OF HEADLAND TO 9 MILES WEST OF DOWNTOWN DOTHAN...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. ALSO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS. RELAY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 12-WATSON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 130 PM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 GAZ142-281900- EARLY- 130 PM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 ...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IS IN EFFECT FOR EARLY COUNTY... * UNTIL 200 PM EST AT 1228 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR COLUMBIA...OR 11 MILES WEST OF BLAKELY... MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. ALSO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS. RELAY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 52-LANIER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL 138 PM EST SAT FEB 28 2009 ALZ068-069-FLZ007>011-281945- COASTAL WALTON-GENEVA-HOLMES-HOUSTON-INLAND WALTON-JACKSON-WASHINGTON- 1238 PM CST SAT FEB 28 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR GENEVA...HOLMES... HOUSTON...JACKSON...WALTON AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES... * UNTIL 145 PM CST AT 1231 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES WEST OF COTTONWOOD TO 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF DE FUNIAK SPRINGS...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. ALSO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING OF STREETS AND LOW LYING AREAS. RELAY REPORTS OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE AT (8 5 0) 9 4 2 8 8 3 3. OR...YOU MAY CONTACT THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THEY WILL RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 12-WATSON
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A few large trees were down on the 1800 block of Dawson Road. At Dawson Road and Greenwood Drive, the top of a large pine tree snapped and downed power lines and shattered a nearby street lamp.
Several roofs were damaged and vehicles were overturned. Trees and power lines were also down, with power outages and traffic lights out.
A few roofs were blown off homes and trees were down on Ty Ty Sycamore Road.
Several trees were blown down. A shed at Veazey Farms was destroyed. Power lines were suspended above a home on Leeann Drive when the pole snapped in half. A pine tree fell on power lines at another home on the same street.
Several trees were down across U.S. Highway 82 at Mile Marker 12.
Several trees were down.
Several trees were down.
A funnel cloud was sighted on Interstate 75 at Mile Marker 23.
A mobile home was moved off its foundation.
A roof was lifted off a home on Gleaton Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, February 2009
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 154943, 154944, 154945, 154946, 154947, 154948, 154949, 154950, 154951, 154952.