Thunderstorm Wind — Jenkins, Georgia

2013-03-18 · near Millen, Jenkins, Georgia

Event narrative

The Jenkins County 911 Call Center reported a tree limb went through a roof at the 600 block of Walnut Street.

Wider weather episode

A line of thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front started developing and intensifying in the mid to late afternoon hours across northern Georgia and Alabama. There were also discrete supercells developing ahead of the main line during peak heating. The line approached the western part of the forecast area around 9 pm as the line was beginning to interact and consolidate with the discrete cells out ahead of it. The line swept across the entire forecast area with numerous reports of wind damage and a smaller collection of large hail. The near storm environment was marked by impressive mid levels with 500-700 mb lapse rates less than -7 C/km and LI's as low as -3 to -4 C. The presence of an elevated mixed layer resulted in DCAPE values in the 800-1000 J/kg range. The upstream convective line was forced by strong ambient shear (on the order of 50-60 kts in the 0-6 km layer) with adequate surface based instability (CAPE in the 500-750 J/kg range). The supercell elements upstream yielded a tornado threat which subsequently diminished into the forecast area with less instability present and a convective mode favoring linear segments. The Storm Prediction Center hoisted a Severe Thunderstorm Watch around 7:30 pm for all of southeast Georgia and the portion of South Carolina that bordered the Savannah river. The line not only maintained its strength but intensified with base velocities upwards of 70 knots at times as it entered the area.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.8100, -81.9400)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 438234. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.