Coastal Georgia Winter Storm and Sentry Savannah 2025

On Tuesday night (21 January 2025), Coastal Georgia got hit with a significant winter storm. Over Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, it dropped rain, sleet, and snow then stayed below freezing for large parts of the day on Wednesday and Thursday. The northern part of Coastal Georgia got more snow, the southern part of Coastal Georgia received more sleet and freezing rain. The results were major impacts on roads (especially local roads because Georgia DOT has been working on highways) and the closing of airports. As I write this on Friday morning, now that I'm home in Savannah, the neighborhood streets are still covered with ice and snow.

The coil on one of KF4LMT Mobile's antennas covered in ice on Wednesday morning toward the end of the winter storm

Streets in my neighborhood still covered in ice and snow on the Friday after Tuesday/Wednesday's winter storm

Due to my work schedule, I wasn't able to listen to very much storm response. The most I've actually been able to listen to has been this morning after I got back to Savannah from being in Brunswick for 10 days. Some of the most interesting response communications to listen to this morning has been on SEGARRN talkgroup 814, which is being used by Savannah-Hilton Head IAP crews working to clear runways and taxiways in advance of reopening the airport later today. As the ice and snow begins to melt off the roads, there has been a proliferation of crashes and the local fire departments have been busy with them. Likewise, I've heard both LIFESTAR 1 and LIFESTAR 2 (Air Methods air ambulances in Coastal Georgia) on 124.975 (Hunter AAF Tower), 123.025 (Helicopter Common), and SEGARRN talkgroup 17920 coming and going from Memorial Hospital in Savannah this morning; it's probably far easier and quicker to get patients to Savannah from rural areas by helicopter right now instead of snowed/iced over back roads. 

Note: This post was updated on Friday evening after the 115th FW and 122nd FW flew sorties following Savannah-Hilton Head IAP reopening after the winter storm.

Before the winter storm arrived, Sentry Savannah 2025, an air defense/air combat exercise began at the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center/Air Dominance Center at Savannah-Hilton Head IAP. Units are visiting from the 115th FW, Wisconsin ANG, the 122nd FW, Indiana ANG, and the 1st FW from Joint Base Langley, VA. I was working midnights this week, but I was able to catch Tuesday's morning sorties before I went to sleep and this is what I heard:

257.800 - Savannah-Hilton Head IAP Tower

353.775 - Savannah TRACON

371.875 - Savannah TRACON

307.225 - Savannah TRACON

363.200 - Jacksonville Center Allendale/Savannah

173.5875 ($602) - CRTC/ADC - 115th FW Ops/Ground Support

242.600 - CRTC/ADC; 115th FW Air-to-Air

354.775 - CRTC/ADC Ops ; 122nd FW "KINGSNAKE Ops"

173.4125 ($507) - CRTC/ADC - 122nd FW Ops

244.250 - CRTC/ADC; 122nd FW Air-to-Air

284.500 - SEALORD North Primary

376.900 - W-137 Discrete; Check In

349.600 - W-137 Discrete; Blue Air Control

318.600 - SEALORD Discrete; Red Air Control

FIST (F-22A, 71st FS)

IRON (F-22A, 71st FS)

KNIGHT (F-22A, 71st FS)

BADGER (F-35A, 115th FW)

SIJAN (F-35A, 115th FW)

SNAKE (F-16C, 122nd FW)

SODA (KC-135R, 134th ARW)

BREWTOWN (GCI/Control, 128th ACS)

SHOWTIME (RTO)

Based on photos that spotters have taken at the airport and this article, the 122nd FW is using some 114th FW F-16s while they're training here in Savannah. The 122nd FW recently converted from the A-10 to the F-16 and the jet swap is allowing them to train with more up to date models of the F-16 than what they currently are equipped with. 

Once the weather moderates this weekend, Sentry Savannah should get underway in full with multiple sorties throughout the day on Monday. It's supposed to last through Friday, 31 January.