Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1989
Tornado Warning 3, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Apr 4, 1989, 5:35 PM EDT for Greenville County, South Carolina. It was in force for 55 min. 1 report 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
- Apr 4, 1989, 5:35 PM EDT (21:35 UTC)
- Expired
- Apr 4, 1989, 6:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 55 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Whole counties
County Greenville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 6:10 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 0 | Greenville, 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, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 135 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
- 30 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -310 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 670 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 141 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 67 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 KGSP 042136
TORGSP
SCC045-042230-
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREER SC
535 PM EDT TUE APR 4 1989
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 630 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
IN SOUTH CAROLINA
...GREENVILLE
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH ANDERSON COUNTY
APPEARS TO BE REDEVELOPING INTO A TORNADIC STORM. EVEN IF A TORNADO
DOES NOT OCCUR AT YOUR LOCATION...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM COULD
PRODUCE WINDS UP TO 100 MPH. YOU SHOULD TAKE ACTION NOW. DAMAGE
REPORTS ARE COMING IN FROM WEST OF GREENVILLE COUNTY.
PEOPLE IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD TAKE IMME4DIATE
ACTION TO PROTECT THEIR LIVES. GO TO YOUR BASEMENT...THE CENTER OF
BUILDINGS...COVER YOUR HEAD. DO NOT GO NEAR DOORS OR WINDOWS. GET
OUT OF MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. GET INTO A STURDY BUILDING OR A
DITCH.What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this tornado 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, Apr 4, 4:51 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC 450 PM EDT TUE APR 04 1989 ...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CHEROKEE..GRAHAM..CLAY.. MACON..SWAIN...RUTHERFORD...TRANSYLVANIA..BUNCOMBE..BURKE..MCDOWELL.. HAYWOOD..POLK..AND HENDERSON COUNTIES OF NORTH CAROLINA UNTIL 1100 PM EDT TONIGHT... AT 445 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN GEORGIA TOWARD THE EAST AT ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD MOVE INTO THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW HOURS. A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM ALONG SOUTHERN MACON AND CLAY COUNTIES CONTINUES TO MOVE EAST. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY DANGERYOUS SITUATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF VERY DAMAGING TORNADOES. ALSO..LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNIGHT AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED. PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS SHOULD TAKE SHELTER UNTIL THEY PASS. OS
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 5:00 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLOTTE NC 600 PM EST MON APR 04 1989 THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING CHARLOTTE AND VICINITY...FROM 6 PM EST UNTIL MIDNIGHT. THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES CHEROKEE...YORK...CHESTER...AND LANCASTER COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA. IN NORTH CAROLINA THE WATCH INCLUDES CABARRUS...GASTON...CLEVELAND...LINCOLN...UNION...MECKLENBURG...AND CATAWBA COUNTIES AS WELL AS OTHER COUNTIES IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS. AT 530 PM EST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALNG THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA. HEAVIEST ACTIVITY EXTENDED FROM NORTHWESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH CENTRAL GEORGIA...WHERE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND SEVERAL TORNADOES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THIS IS A VERY DAsNGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF VERY DAMAGING TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS. THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 745 PM EST. JK
Local storm report, Apr 4, 5:13 PM EDT, 22 minutes before
STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREER SC 512 PM EDT TUE APR 4 1989 MARBLE HAIL AND TREES DOWN IN WESTMINSTER 509 PM. WAJ
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 5:15 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
AFTERNOON MOUNTAIN REPORTS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC 446 PM EDT TUE APR 04 1989 STATION ELEVATION HIGH LOW PCPN ASHEVILLE (2170) 72 56 0.10 BLACK MTN. (2395) 59 55 0.06 BOONE (3360) 67 53 0.06 BREVARD (2155) 71 56 0.28 BRYSON CITY (2000) 63 55 0.67 GRANDFATHER MTN. (5300) 58 46 0.04 MORGANTON (1193) 76 57 0.01 MT. PISGAH (5721) 50 40 0.15 MT. MITCHELL (6684) MM MM M MURPHY (1800) 63 56 1.45 SPRUCE PINE (2500) 64 | 52 1.10 TRYON (1900) 78 57 0.04 ..SOME OF THESE ARE UNOFFICIAL REPORTING STATIONS.. OS
Special weather statement, Apr 4, 5:17 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLOTTE NC 515 PM EST MON APR 04 1989 THE NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS FORECAST CENTER HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH FOR MOST OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING CHARLOTTE AND VICINITY...FROM 5 PM EDT UNTIL 11 PM EDT. THE TORNADO WATCH INCLUDES CHEROKEE...YORK...CHESTER...AND LANCASTER COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA. IN NORTH CAROLINA THE WATCH INCLUDES CABARRUS...GASTON...CLEVELAND...LINCOLN...UNION...MECKLENBURG...AND CATAWBA COUNTIES AS WELL AS OTHER COUNTIES IN THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS. AT 445 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALNG THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF NORTH CAROLINA. HEAVIEST ACTIVITY EXTENDED FROM NORTHWESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH CENTRAL GEORGIA...WHERE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND SEVERAL TORNADOES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF VERY DAMAGING TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING AND DAMAGING THUNDERSTORM WINDS. THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 645 PM EDT. ...CORRECTION FOR TIME ERRORS JK
Local storm report, Apr 4, 5:23 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
STORM REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREER SC 512 PM EDT TUE APR 4 1989 MARBLE HAIL AND 40 KNOTS IN CLEMSON 515 PM. DIME HAIL ANDERSON AIRPORT 522 PM. WAJ
The office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 4:42 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | GSP | Oconee | 63 min |
| Apr 4, 5:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Anderson, Pickens | 69 min |
| Apr 4, 5:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Abbeville | 61 min |
| Apr 4, 5:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Laurens | 56 min |
| Apr 4, 5:54 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | GSP | Spartanburg | 66 min |
| Apr 4, 6:16 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Cherokee, Union | 59 min |
| Apr 4, 6:20 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | GSP | Cherokee | 55 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 1989Every tornado warning in 1989Tornadoes in 1989
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.