Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1988
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Columbia, SC
NWS Columbia, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 24, 1988, 6:24 PM EDT for Calhoun County, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. It was in force for 51 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 24, 1988, 6:24 PM EDT (22:24 UTC)
- Expired
- May 24, 1988, 7:15 PM EDT
- In force
- 51 min
- Issued by
- NWS Columbia, SC
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Calhoun County, SC, Orangeburg County, SC
The radar
The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 6:30 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Calhoun, SC | |
| May 24, 7:05 PM EDT | Hail 0.75 | Orangeburg, SC |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.
The nearest sounding before it
Athens Municipal, GA (KAHN), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 236 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 426 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -46 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 828 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 40 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 99 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 186 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
TTAA00 KCAE 242225
SVRCAE
SCC027-075-242315-
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
624 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBIA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 715 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
IN SOUTH CAROLINA
...EASTERN CALHOUN...ORANGEBURG
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS INDICATED BY
WEATHER RADAR AT 622 PM EDT MOVING ACROSS ORANGEBURG AND EASTERN
CALHOUN COUNTIES.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTRERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 24, 2:41 PM EDT, 3 hours 43 minutes before
BULLETIN SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA, SC 240 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ...A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF SOUTH CAROLINA UNTIL 8 PM EDT... A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM THE CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA AREA SOUTHWESTWARD TO MCCORMICK COUNTY JUST NORTH LAKE THURMOND. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST ABOUT 40 MPH. A VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORM ALONG THE UNION BORDER IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE TOWN OF YORK AROUND 300 PM EDT. THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THIS LINE ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING VERY HEAVY RAIN GUSTY SURFACE WINDS...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND HAIL. PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS IN YORK AND CHESTER COUNTIES SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF THE WEATHER BECOMES UNUSUALLY THREATENING. BROWN
Special weather statement, May 24, 3:01 PM EDT, 3 hours 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 305 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ..A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES IN THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA UNTIL 8 PM.. AT 255 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NORTHERN NEWBERRY COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO TALIAFERRO COUNTY IN GEORGIA. AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH THE MAY PRODUCE DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..HEAVY RAINS AND POSSIBLE HAIL. ELSEWHERE..SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING IN GEORGIA FROM NEAR MACON TO NEAR LOUISVILLE.
Special weather statement, May 24, 3:05 PM EDT, 3 hours 19 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT..COR SPELLING LINE FOUR.. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 305 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ..A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES IN THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA UNTIL 8 PM.. AT 255 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NORTHERN NEWBERRY COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO TALIAFERRO COUNTY IN GEORGIA. AS THESE THUNDERSTORMS MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH THEY MAY PRODUCE DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..HEAVY RAINS AND POSSIBLE HAIL. ELSEWHERE..SCATTERED SHOWERS WERE OCCURRING IN GEORGIA FROM NEAR MACON TO NEAR LOUISVILLE.
Special weather statement, May 24, 3:59 PM EDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA 400 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ..A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES IN THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA UNTIL 8 PM.. AT 350 PM WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM EASTERN NEWBERRY COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO SOUTH OF SPARTA IN HANCOCK COUNTY GEORGIA. THE STRONGEST STORMS IN THIS LINE WERE OVER HANCOCK COUNTY AND IN THE STROM THURMOND LAKE AREA. THE LINE WAS MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT 10 MILES AN HOUR. THESE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE DANGEROUS LIGHTNING..STRONG GUSTY WINDS..HEAVY RAINS AND POSSIBLE HAIL.
Special weather statement, May 24, 5:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before
BULLETIN SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA, SC 515 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988 ...TORNADO WATCH 171 IS CANCELED FOR THE FOLLOWING SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES - ABBEVILLE...CHEROKEE...GREENWOOD...LAURENS...SPARTANBURG AND UNION ...THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINDER OF SOUTH CAROLINA EXCEPT FOR THE COASTAL COUNTIES OF BEAUFORT...CHARLESTON AND GEORGETOWN UNTIL 800 PM EDT... A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM MARLBORO COUNTY IN THE NORTHEAST THROUGH THE COLUMBIA AREA TO AUGUSTA GEORGIA AT 515 PM EDT. THE LINE CONTINUES MOVING SOUTHEAST ABOUT 15 MPH WHILE THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST ABOUT 35 MPH. HAIL AND SOME WIND DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THE NORTHWEST THROUGH THE MIDLANDS THIS AFTERNOON. PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN ON THE ALERT AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THE WEATHER BECOMES UNUALL8Y THREATENING OR IF A WARNING IS ISSUED. BROWN
Special weather statement, May 24, 6:23 PM EDT, 1 minute before
BULLETIN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA, SC
625 PM EDT TUE MAY 24 1988
...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 171 HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR THE FOLLOWING SOUTH
CAROLINA COUNTIES - AIKEN...CHESTER...EDGEFIELD...FAIRFIELD...KERSHAW
LANCASTER...LEXINGTON...MCCORMICK..NEWBERRY...
RICHLAND...SALUDA AND YORK...
...THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE REMAINDER OF SOUTHEASTERN
SOUTH CAROLINA EXCEPT FOR THE COASTAL COUNTIES OF BEAUFORT...CHARLESTON
AND GEORGETOWN UNTIL 8 PM EDT...
THE LEADING EDGE OF A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM DILLON COUNTY
IN THE NORTHEAST THROUGH SUMTER AND ORANGEBURG COUNTIES TO ALLENDALE
COUNTY ALONG THE SAVANNAH RIVER. THE LINE CONTINUES MOVING TOWARD THE
SOUTHEAST ABOUT 15 MPH.
PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT
AND MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE IF THE WEATHER BECOMES UNUSUALLY THREATENING
OR IF A QWARNING IS ISSUED.
BROWNThe office that day
Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 8:11 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Richland | 64 min |
| May 23, 8:52 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Kershaw, Lancaster | 53 min |
| May 23, 9:04 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Richland | 26 min |
| May 23, 9:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Calhoun, Lexington | 51 min |
| May 23, 9:39 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CAE | Calhoun, Richland | 51 min |
| May 23, 10:05 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Lee, Sumter | 40 min |
| May 23, 10:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Calhoun, Clarendon | 62 min |
| May 23, 10:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Kershaw, Lee, Sumter | 67 min |
| May 23, 10:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Bamberg, Orangeburg | 67 min |
| May 23, 10:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Darlington | 67 min |
| May 24, 12:03 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Darlington | 57 min |
| May 24, 12:03 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Clarendon, Orangeburg | 57 min |
| May 24, 1:05 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Florence, Marlboro | 55 min |
| May 24, 1:05 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Clarendon | 55 min |
| May 24, 2:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | York | 66 min |
| May 24, 2:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Fairfield | 63 min |
| May 24, 3:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Chester | 65 min |
| May 24, 3:33 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Lancaster | 57 min |
| May 24, 3:37 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Newberry, Richland | 53 min |
| May 24, 4:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Fairfield | 60 min |
| May 24, 4:31 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Kershaw | 29 min |
| May 24, 6:35 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CAE | Clarendon | 55 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 1988Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1988
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.