Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 2, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

February 10, 1990Anderson County, Pickens County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 10, 1990, 7:27 AM EST for Anderson County, Pickens County, South Carolina. It was in force for 63 min. 3 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
Feb 10, 1990, 7:27 AM EST (12:27 UTC)
Expired
Feb 10, 1990, 8:30 AM EST
In force
63 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Whole counties

Counties Anderson County, SC, Pickens 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Feb 10, 7:35 AM ESTThunderstorm Wind 0Pickens, SC
Feb 10, 7:40 AM ESTThunderstorm Wind 0Anderson, SC
Feb 10, 7:55 AM ESTTornado F1Pickens, 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, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 101 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Athens Municipal, GA at 12:00Z on 1990-02-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 524 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Athens Municipal, GA at 12:00Z on 1990-02-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 189 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
524 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
667 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
74 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
189 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
215 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.7
Supercell composite
2.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KGSP 101227
SVRGSP
SCC007-077-101330-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREER SC
727 AM EST SAT FEB 10 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 830 AM EST FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
      ANDERSON...PICKENS

A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING THROUGH OCONEE COUNTY AND
SHOULD BE MOVING INTO PICKENS AND ANDERSON COUNTIES WITHIN THE
NEXT 15 MINUTES. OCONEE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTED VERY STRONG
WIND GUST IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH FROM WALHALLA TO WESTMINSTER AT 717 AM
EST.  THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EASTWARD AT 45 MPH.

ALTHOUGH NO TORNADOES HAVE BEEN DETECTED WITH THIS STORM...A
TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT. TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP WITHOUT
WARNING FROM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN REACH SPEEDS OF 60 TO OVER 100 MPH.
THESE WINDS BLOW DOWN TREES...PTOWER LINES...AND SEVERELY DAMAGE
MOBILE HOMES...AND SOMETIMES LARGE BUILDINGS. LARGE HAIL CAN
INJURE ANYONE CAUGHT OUTSIDE.

 ROBBINS

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, Feb 10, 3:01 AM EST, 4 hours 26 minutes before
SCZ001-100905-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREER SC
300 AM EST SAT FEB 10 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO MOUNTAINS OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...

AT 255 AM EST WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME
WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...MOVING INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED IN EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND SHOULD BE
MOVING INTO WESTERN AND NORTHERN OCONEE COUNTY...AND ACROSS NORTHERN
PICKENS AND NORTHERN GREENVILLE COUNTIES DURING THE NEXT HOUR.
MOVEMENT OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WAS TOWARD THE EAST AND NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH.

PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...STRONG
GUSTY WINDS...AND POSSIBLE FLOODI?NG OF SMALL STREAMS AND LOW LYING
AREAS.
ROBBINS/GSP
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 4:15 AM EST, 3 hours 12 minutes before
NCZ 007-009-010-011-012-013 - 101015 -

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ASHEVILLE NC
415 AM EST SAT  FEB 10 1990

 ...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA...

AT 405 AM EST WEATHER RADAR SHOWED HEAVY RAIN AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS
SCATTERED OVER WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THE HEAVIEST THUNDERSTORMS WAS
IN CLAY COUNTY MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH TOWARD MACON COUNTY. THIS
STORM SHOULD PASS OVER THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN WgITH IN THE HOUR.

PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...STRONG
GUSTY WINDS...AND POSSIBLE SOME FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND LOW LYING
AREAS.

USSERY
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 4:15 AM EST, 3 hours 12 minutes before
SCZ001-002-101010-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREER SC
410 AM EST SAT FEB 10 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OF UPSTATE
   SOUTH CAROLINA...

AT 405 AM EST WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME
WITH HEAVY RAINFALL...MOVING ACROSS OCONEE...PICKENS...NORTHERN
ANDERSON...AND CENTRAL AND NORTHERN GREENVILLE COUNTIES. THESE STORMS
WERE MOVING EAST AND NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

PEOPLE} IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR HEAVY RAINFALL...STRONG
GUSTY WINDS...AND POSSIBLE FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND LOW LYING
AREAS.

ROBBINS/GSP
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 5:27 AM EST, 2 hours before
SCZ001-002-003-101010-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREER SC
525 AM EST SAT FEB 10 1990

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR OCONEE...PICKENS...ANDERSON...GREENVILLE
   SPARTANBURG...AND ABBEVILLE COUNTIES OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA UNTIL
   10 AM EST...
...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...

AT 518 AM EST WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME
WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...MOVING INTO SOUTHERN ANDERSON...AND WESTERN
ABBEVILLE COUNTIES. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AND NORTHEAST AT
45 MPH.

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WAS MOVING ACROSS
NORTHERN GEORGIA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND SHOULD BE MOVING INTO
EXTREME WESTERN PORTIONS OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

PEOPLE IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...INTENSE LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLE
FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND LOW LYING AREAS THIS MORNING AS THESE
STORMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...TV...OR LOCAL RADIO FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ROBBINS/GSP
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 6:09 AM EST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
SCZ001>004-101100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREER SC
605 AM EST SAT FEB 10 1990

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR OCONEE...PICKENS...ANDERSON...GREENVILLE
   SPARTANBURG...AND ABBEVILLE COUNTIES OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA UNTIL
   10 AM EST...
...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...

AT 600 AM EST WEATHER RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME
WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL...MOVING ACROSS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN ANDERSON
NORTHERN ABBEVILLE...AND NORTHERN LAURENS COUNTIES. THESE STORMS WERE
MOVING EAST AND NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL EXTENDED FROM NEAR
ASHEVILLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTHERN OCONEE
COUNTY OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA AND EXTENDED IN NORTHERN GEORGIA.
ATLANTA HAS REPORTED WIND GUSTS TO 68 MPH AT 6 AM EST WITH THUNDERSTORMS
IN THIS LINE.

PEOPLE IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR VERY HEAVY
RAINFALL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...INTENSE LIGHTNING...AND POSSIBLE
FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND LOW LYING AREAS THIS MORNING AS THESE
STORMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK
SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...TV...OR LOCAL RADIO FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS OR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

ROBBINS/GSP
Special weather statement, Feb 10, 6:10 AM EST, 1 hour 17 minutes before
NCZ008-013

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLOTTE NC
945 PM EST FRI FEB 09 1990

...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NORTHWARD INTO THE SOUTHERN
PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA...

AT 945 PM EST THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN CHARLOTTE SHOWED
WIDESPREAD LIGHT AND MODERATE RAINFALL...WITH PATCHES OF HEAVIER
RAINFALL...THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA AND
ACROSS PORTIONS OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

HEAVIEST ACTIVITY WAS ACROSS UNION COUNTY OF NORTH CAROLINA...WHERE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE DUMPING HEAVY RAIN. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL CAN
BE EXPECTED UNTIL AT LEAST 1015 PM ACROSS UNION COUNTY...AS MORE
THUNDERSTORMS MOVE INTO THE COUNTY FROM UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

A CHECK WITH THE COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER IN UNION COUNTY
REVEALED MANY WEATHER RELATED AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS SO MOTORISTS
SHOULD USE CAUTION ON THE WET AND SLIPPERY ROADS.

IN ADDITION TO TRAFFIC PROBLEMS...THE HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE SOME
STREET FLOODING ACROSS PORTIONS OF UNION COUNTY...ESPECIALLY FROM
MONROE TO MARSHVILLE.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST STATEMENT UNLESS WEATHER CONDITIONS BECOME
WORSE.

JK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 10, 7:02 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPOconee58 min
Feb 10, 7:39 AM ESTTornado WarningGSPPickens66 min
Feb 10, 7:52 AM ESTTornado WarningGSPAnderson, Greenville68 min
Feb 10, 8:18 AM ESTTornado WarningGSPLaurens, Spartanburg47 min
Feb 10, 8:33 AM ESTTornado WarningGSPCherokee, Union57 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.