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2/18/09 DISC: MS/AL/GA

SPC is no currently showing any tornado reports for this event, and while I tracked it much of the evening, I didn't notice any confirmed touchdowns in the LSRs, just funnel clouds.

However, the YouTube video has a few moments where it's obvious that the rotation extended to the ground and was at least raising some dust for a bit.

I'm going to venture an opinion and say that the reason these storms had a hard time producing tornadoes was because the surface winds veered strongly to the southwest.
 
These storms looked rather elongated (West-East) from the start. Very interesting!

+1 on the lack of LSRs as I have seen a few videos from Henry County, GA (other than the two Andy posted) and another one from Taylor County, GA.
 
I'm sure by now we would have heard about something significant. Pretty sweet videos Andy posted, but nothing I've seen on youtube (so far) has shown anything more than an EF-0. Tornado Emergencies issued for EF-0's or based on radar without ground truth are unwarranted IMO. SPC's 5 percent and slight risk should have set the tone (along with what Bob said about SW sfc winds) for the warnings and will verify when things get sorted out. Now that same office is issuing tornado warnings for the developing squall line and likely cold, outflow dominant storms firing along the cold front.
 
There are no tornado reports on SPC as of now, but there are 7 "possible" tornadoes in the wind report section. A couple mentions "significant" damage and there was one injury. Obviously we won't know until later if these were actual tornadoes or just wind damage, but it looks like there may have been at least a few tornadoes today.

I completely agree with Dick about the tornado emergencies. Greensburg was an excellent time to use this wording, but today was not. Hopefully this term does not become overused.
 
3 reports so far and that tornadic cell is still cookin in S. Georgia near FL border.
0545 6 S CAIRO GRADY GA 3079 8421 CONFIRMED TORNADO WITH MANY TREES DOWN 6 MILES TO THE SOUTH OF CAIRO. SEMI-TRAILER TRUCK OVERTURNED. (TAE)
0545 6 S CAIRO GENEVA AL 3119 8571 CONFIRMED TORNADO WITH MANY TREES DOWN 6 MILES TO THE SOUTH OF CAIRO. (TAE)
0605 1 S THOMASVILLE THOMAS GA 3082 8398 WDIESPREAD TREES AND POWER LINES FELLED BY CONFIRMED TORNADO AT THE INTERSTION OF 319 AND PINE TREE ROAD. (TA

Is this getting much news coverage?
Also, can't resist adding since there's that other thread about .75 vs. 1.00 hail, note this storm has. . . .75 :)
IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
PENNY SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 80
MPH.
Just zipping along too, 60 mph.
 
My brother Paul witnessed a brief tornado in Valdosta, around 2:15am. He was rather surprised to be able to see it, but the city lights apparently lit the funnel enough for him to make it out. He was also able to see the ground circulation as the tornado skipped its way along. Looking forward to seeing his photos, but I can't imagine how well they would come out.
 
I'm really amazed that the storm that crossed over Selma, AL and went on to Montgomery didn't leave a confirmed damage path. Both the hook echo and strong durational couplet (I posted them in the NOW thread) were very convincing.

All this may just point up, yet one more time, how critical eyes in the field are and the role that chasers can play in properly indentifying weather situations, even with all the enhanced data and imagery we now enjoy from remote locations.

No reports thread yet, either....
 
I think without a doubt that some of these listed as wind reports will end up confirming TOR touch downs. I mean, if I look at some of the FFC LSR's which were reported by local EM's there is some pretty strong wording and some pretty significant damage to just be severe winds. Here are a couple of examples from two different cells as they tracked into Eastern GA....


Event: TSTM WND DMG
Magnitude: 0
Source: emergency mngr
Remark: possible tornado. ema director reports significant path of damage beginning in the tyrone community int he western part of the county near georgia highway 44 and continuing south toward georgia highway 47. one 3500 sq. ft. home completely demolished. five other buildings with minor to moderate damage. a chicken house was also destroyed. nine roads blocked with debris, downwed trees, or power lines at one time.



Event: TSTM WND DMG
Magnitude: 0
Source: emergency mngr
Remark: *** 1 fatal *** possible tornado...significant damage to several homes and a church destroyed in the hickory grove community. 1 fatality occurred when a person was thrown from his mobile home located in the hickory grove community. event time was based on radar.



Event: TSTM WND DMG
Magnitude: 0
Source: emergency mngr
Remark: *** 1 inj *** possible tornado. significant damage from willard to eatonton...especially on the west and south side of the city. one business in eatonton completely destroyed. dozens of homes damaged. one person injured from debris. some people briefly trapped in cars and homes. u.s. highway 129 closed from downed trees and a major power line.



Like I said, this is just a few of the more significant reports. We'll see today and tomorrow what comes out of all this.
 
I too was slightly disturbed buy the over-usage of "Tornado Emergencies". Some of these storms looked good on reflectivity, and there were some decent gate to gate values; however, nothing IMO that screamed "violent tornado".

I personally think there should be some sort of standard established for the usage of this term, and the person issuing these excessive emergencies instructed as to when and when not the term's usage is appropriate.
 
I was very suprised about the issuing of the Tornado Emergency yesterday. I know there were previous reports of large hail and damaging winds but I didnt see any immediate threat for a large destuctive tornado like it said in the text.
 
Yeah, I totally agree with all of you on the tornado emergency being unwarranted. The reason is that may cause panic among the public and cause more harm than good. Now if storm spotters and meteorologists had visual confirmation of a very large and likely violent tornado on the ground getting ready to affect a populated area, then I think a TE would then be necessary.
 
SPC reports currently show five tornadoes, all in Georgia: one in central Georgia and four along the Florida state line. No fatalities indicated at this point, but going by Josh's post, that will no doubt get updated soon.
 
Although a few of the storms yesterday had very impressive tight, concentric couplets ( speeds weren't off the charts), there was hardly any velocity couplets at base levels. Violent tornados, such as Greensburg, show up at base velocity just as strong, if not stronger, then at midlevels. Base level velocity for Greensburg was just insane!

I think that also shows, like Bob indicated, that low level sheer was not there yesterday to produce strong tornadoes, and I also think the NWS office issuing tornado emergencies for mid level mesocyclones was not warranted.
 
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