Tornado outbreak of March 14–15, 2008

Atlanta tornado event

In their 9:00 pm EDT outlook, the Storm Prediction Center issued a slight risk of severe weather across portions of the southern United States from Oklahoma to Georgia, with a 2% risk for tornadoes for the Atlanta area.^[3] A tornado warning was issued for Atlanta at 9:26 pm when the supercell that caused the tornado was 6 miles (10 km) northwest of downtown, although no watches were in effect for the area due to the low probability. The tornado moved to the southeast, which is unusual as most supercells have a strong northward component along (or ahead of) a cold front. It also was unusual because it was not associated with such a squall line at all, but was an independent supercell well ahead of the main storm system.^{[citation needed]}

March 15 tornado event

Another tornado outbreak struck the southeast the following day. A moderate risk for severe storms was issued in the morning, and maintained through the afternoon.^[4] However, by mid afternoon, areas of east-central Georgia and central South Carolina were upgraded to a high risk of severe storms due to the tornado threat.^[5][6] On March 11, forecasters noted potential of severe weather. The Global Forecast System (GFS) weather model predicted severe weather for the 15th of March. Confidence wasn’t high because the amount of CAPE and Wind shear was uncertain. Models had conflicting information. The GFS and the NAM had different locations of surface lows & convection. The NAM had a surface low pressure in North Carolina.^[7]

By the morning of the 15th, favorable ingredients appeared, which made severe weather likely. Instability values were over 1000 J/kg. The highest values were up to 2000 J/kg. Mid level lapse rates were above 7°C/km. A low & upper level jet were both present in South Carolina. At this time, 60 knot (69 mph) winds were observed at 850 hPa and 86 knots (98 mph) at 500 hPa. From the surface to 850 hPa, extremely moist layer was observed. The layer was capped by a temperature inversion. The surface had a temperature of around 70°f (21°c) while dew points remained around 65°f (18°c). Helicity values were up to 600 m²/s^2. A boundary started to draw dew points northward. Eventually, the inversion cooled which allowed for instability to release. This allowed for storms to fire.^[7] A warm front became the primary forcing mechanism for storms. Favorable instability, up to 404 J/kg in the hail growth zone. 10-30° C temperatures in the hail growth zone along with instability allowed for quarter sized hail, but some areas had >2 inch sized hail.

A linear line of thunderstorms had reached North Carolina and South Carolina. By 4:15 PM EDT, the storms had made it into South Carolina. The Storm Prediction Center issued a PDS tornado watch extending from Georgia to central North Carolina. ^[7]

March 14 event

March 15 event

Atlanta, Georgia

Quick facts Meteorological history, Formed ...

Atlanta, Georgia

Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel tornado damage; the other side of the building had even worse damage.
Meteorological history
Formed	March 14, 2008, 9:38 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00)
Dissipated	March 14, 2008, 9:50 p.m. EDT (UTC−04:00)
Duration	12 minutes
EF2 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Highest winds	130 mph (210 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities	1
Injuries	30

Close

CNN Center was severely damaged, including over 1,600 shattered windows and roof damage which resulted in flooding of the atrium. The Georgia World Congress Center also sustained serious damage to the roofs of all 3 buildings and to over 4,500 windows, as was the Omni Hotel, especially the skywalk between the two hotel towers over Andrew Young International Boulevard. This complex alone lost 476 windows, making it necessary to close the south tower to guests. The facades of the Georgia Dome and a Philips Arena parking garage were damaged while hosting basketball games.^[65]

Two of the giant columns in Centennial Olympic Park were knocked down, and insulation was stuck in trees.^[66] Trees on some other streets were blown completely down, despite being too early in spring to involve leaf drag. Glass was strewn across several streets, and Atlanta Police kept residents, hotel guests, and news crews away from buildings with falling glass, which continued to pose a danger into the night.^[65] Cars in the area were also damaged, and hotel and office furniture was found scattered about.

The Ritz Carlton, Westin Peachtree Plaza, Georgia-Pacific Building, SunTrust Plaza (where more than 60 people had to be relocated out of their offices), Equitable Building, and Georgia State University also had windows blown out (300 at Equitable alone), as did the Tabernacle (a former church with stained glass that is now a concert venue). The windows of the Westin continued to fall for days after the tornado, forcing police to keep several city blocks and MARTA's Peachtree Center station closed to pedestrians. The Georgia World Congress Center also sustained flooding while hosting a JROTC event and the Hinman Dental Meeting; Fox Sports Net took footage of a staircase in the new section of the complex that looked like a fountain with water cascading down it. The annual Atlanta Home Show and all other events were cancelled for the weekend in the GWCC complex, as was the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade scheduled for the next day. WRAS FM at Georgia State University was off the air for two days, though it was not stated whether its studio or tower sustained damage, or if this was due to security or safety concerns, or power outages. The historic Rialto Theatre at GSU also sustained roof damage, which caused water damage inside.

Further east, Grady Hospital reported some damage to windows and a power outage. Many of the injured were taken there, and some walked there and were treated in the emergency room for cuts due to glass. The King Memorial MARTA station was damaged and was being bypassed by trains, with buses rerouted to the next station on each side. Oakland Cemetery suffered major damage to monuments and to its huge oaks and magnolias, and the caretaker found window blinds around the neck of a statue of a Civil War veteran buried there.

In the nearby Cabbagetown area, a brick loft building (well known for the fire that occurred there in 1999, during its renovation from the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills, in which the crane operator was rescued by helicopter during live TV news coverage) lost part of its roof, and part of the top (fifth) floor. Another building at The Stacks on Boulevard was damaged; search and rescue personnel were unable to enter, but everyone was accounted for by the management within a few hours.^[67]

When the tornado hit, a SEC tournament game between Mississippi State and Alabama which had just been sent into overtime minutes earlier by a shot from Mykal Riley, was in progress at the Georgia Dome and being broadcast live on television. The storm ripped panels from the exterior of the building and tore two holes in the roof of the Dome, causing insulation to fall and the scoreboard and catwalks suspended from the roof to sway; much of this was captured on camera, though the transmission from the arena was interrupted. Riley's shot was considered to have saved lives by keeping people safe inside the Georgia Dome. After a 64-minute delay, the game was completed; however the next scheduled game between Kentucky and Georgia was postponed.^[68] The remainder of the tournament games were played at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Georgia Tech, with spectators restricted to team and conference personnel, media, team bands, and families of players only due to the much smaller size of the alternate venue.^[69] At the nearby Philips Arena, little disruption was noticed by the attendees during the game between the Hawks and the Los Angeles Clippers, even though damage occurred to the outside of the arena.^[70]

Twenty-seven people were treated for injuries.^[70] In addition, over 20 homes were completely destroyed.^[71]

All of CNN's TV networks remained on the air, but there was damage to the glass roof of the CNN Center atrium, flooding part of the food court. Additionally, blown-out windows in the ground floor CNN.com newsroom and the fourth floor videotape library caused minor damage. Live news coverage of the aftermath was carried on CNN International, in turn simulcast domestically on CNN until 1 am EDT.^[72] CNN resumed broadcasting from their main newsroom at 6 am EDT, showing several parts of the newsroom with computer stations covered with tarps, the damaged atrium of CNN Center, and staff using trash cans and buckets to collect dripping rainwater to the right of the anchor desk due to the damaged roof. When more storms moved in later in the day, the network was forced to move all Atlanta on-camera operations to the windowless CNN-I studio, while taped programming was shown for most of the day.^[73]

The city received emergency assistance from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), Highway Emergency Response Operators (HEROs), Fulton and DeKalb counties (where Atlanta is situated), and surrounding cities and counties. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin also declared a state of emergency for the city^[74] and Governor Sonny Perdue issued a state state of emergency declaration^[75] for Atlanta enabling the city to seek disaster aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). President Bush declared a major disaster on March 20.^[76]

At the time, it was the most expensive tornado in Atlanta history, in raw U.S. dollars, after the 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado, costing a half-billion dollars.^[77]

Bartow County, Georgia

On March 15, 2008 an EF3 tornado tore across Bartow County, & Floyd County, Georgia. At 11:20 AM EDT, the Polk county sheriff department spotted a funnel cloud in northern Polk County. The funnel then touched down north of Seney, Georgia. It caused minor to moderate damage before strengthening to EF2 intensity. It remained mostly over rural forests, but then strengthening to EF3 intensity. It damaged a metal building system on Live Oak road, which a National Weather Service ground & aerial damage survey team would assign it an EF3 rating with wind speeds up to 150 mph. It caused intense roof damage to a home on Bon Loop road, which was outside of the EF3 intensity core. One fatality and one injury were at this location. Still sustaining EF3 winds, it swelled to half a mile wide. It began shrinking in diameter, but then briefly strengthening and causing all walls to cave in onto a poorly built home on Old Wax Road, where one woman was killed, and a man in the same home was seriously injured. The man would be sent to a hospital in Rome, Georgia. ^[78]It went over rural forests, weakening to EF2 intensity, although still causing intense damage to trees. It moved just south of Old Alabama road, weakening further into EF1 intensity. Homes along Old Alabama road would receive moderate damage to roofs and windows. The tornado was now a mile and a half north of Taylorsville, Georgia. It would move east, causing weak damage to forests and homes, but on Shiloh Church road, it rapidly intensified back to EF3 intensity. One home along Old Stilesboro road would be flattened, although homes next to it would have relatively minor damage. 500 yards northeast of this home, an electrical line collapsed. It impacted a power plant near this location. It then weakened back to EF2 intensity over forests. The Taylorsville elementary school would receive notable damage. Multiple homes on Popum road had significant roof damage. Multiple trees on Euharlee road were toppled over. Woodland high school had severe damage inflicted. It sustained EF2 winds for the next few miles before passing south of Valley Oak Acres, Georgia. It then slowly continued weakening before roping out 1 mile northwest of Parkerosa, Georgia at 11:32 EDT.^[79][78]