2/18/09 NOW: KY, TN, MS, AL, GA

[Dustin Wilcox]

WTF? No ground confirmation and a TE?

This has occurred a couple times today, not sure what the deal is. Kind of minimizing the "power" of a TE. You would think you would reserve it until you have confirmation, esp given how these have been near populated areas and interstates, if anything major touched down I am sure they would have confirmation in a matter of seconds. The Text in the TE mentioned no ground truth...

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Serious hook and 3.75" hail in close proximity right over Selma. Lot of populated areas there--hope all are sheltered.

 

[John Farley]

Watching on radar, I see a very impressive hook echo and velocity couplet moving in the general direction of Montgomery.

 

[Jeff Russell]

Tornado sirens just activated in Henry County where I live. I'm between Lovejoy, Stockbridge, and McDonough.

edit: 6:19PM local dime size hell
edit: 6:25PM local nickel size hell

 

[BrianBaker]

I guess the following statement justifies to them their reason for the TE:

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS
STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!

They are really being wreckless in my opinion with their warnings.

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Selma radar at 5:10 CST:

 

[Tony Laubach]

Looks like Brett Adair is done for the day as he's sitting in traffic, but I've seen several emergency vehicles fly by him on the right shoulder so I wonder if he's happening upon a common accident, or something weather-related. Guess we'll see shortly.

 

[Dave Gallaher]

If this holds together, it will track across heavily populated Montgomery suburbs:

 

[Dave Holder]

I agree guys... it's absolutely ridiculous to use "Tornado Emergency" when a tornado hasn't even been confirmed by spotters.

That's an obvious no-no IMO!

 

[Adam Lucio]

The cell north of Jackson, GA has a very nice couplet on radar. Currently tor warned. Track will take it right towards Monticello. O boy...

 

[Dave Gallaher]

I agree it's strange, but we may need to wait and see regarding the TE: remember that spotting/viewing conditions in the South are much different than TX/OK etc.

Also--this discussion should perhaps be carried on outside the NOW thread, yes?

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Rotation appears to have slackened a bit while approaching Montgomery--hope it stays this way...

 

[Tony Laubach]

The Denver-based mother of woman who lives in Newnan, GA called us here at our station saying her daughter had baseball sized hail in the cell southwest of Atlanta. That's some big hail for that part of the country.

 

[Dave Holder]

Looks like a new tor warning has been issued for that cell currently over Montgomery, AL. It's moving into an area that just had some storms go through previously... we'll see!

By the way Adam, I think you meant Jackson and Monticello, Georgia, not Alabama.

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Looks like it's cycling back up---couplet is not too tight yet. Hope it can hold off a little longer.