Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1991

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Columbia, SC

March 29, 1991Lee County, Sumter County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 29, 1991, 3:51 PM EST for Lee County, Sumter County, South Carolina. It was in force for 39 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 29, 1991, 3:51 PM EST (20:51 UTC)
Expired
Mar 29, 1991, 4:30 PM EST
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Whole counties

Counties Lee County, SC, Sumter County, SC

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 130 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 1991-03-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 37 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 1991-03-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 148 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
37 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-66 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
835 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
148 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
244 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCAE 292052
SVRCAE
SCC061-085-292130-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
351 PM EST FRI MAR 29 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBIA HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  430 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN  SOUTH CAROLINA
 
   ...LEE COUNTY...SUMTER COUNTY
 
AT 350 PM EST RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES WEST OF BISHOPVILLE TO 10 MILES WEST OF
SUMTER. THIS AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
THESE WINDS BLOW DOWN TREES...POWER LINES...AND SEVERELY DAMAGE
MOBILE HOMES.  FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE
LOWEST FLOOR.  DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
 
ZIMMERMAN

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, Mar 29, 10:35 AM EST, 5 hours 16 minutes before
GAZ007-SCZ004-006-291745-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
1035 AM EST FRI MAR 29 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM FOR MUCH OF GEORGIA AND PORTIONS
OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA...THIS INCLUDES ALL CENTRAL
SAVANNAH RIVER AREA COUNTIES EXCEPT BARNWELL AND ALLENDALE IN SOUTH
CAROLINA...

AT 1025 AM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
RAIN WITH EMBEDDED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA AND NORTHWEST SOUTH CAROLINA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

RESIDENTS OF THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR PERIODS OF VERY HEAVY
RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES.
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 11:18 AM EST, 4 hours 33 minutes before
SCZALL-291815-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1117 AM EST FRI MAR 29 1991

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA
UNTIL 500 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON...

THE WATCH COVERS THE MOUNTAINS...FOOTHILLS...PIEDMONT...AND
PORTIONS OF THE MIDLANDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING
WINDS AND HAIL ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WATCH AREA. SOME OF THE
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE TORNADOES.

AT 1115 AM RADAR SHOWED A WIDESPREAD AREA OF RAIN WITH EMBEDDED
HEAVIER SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS WESTERN SOUTH
CAROLINA. THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RAIN EXTENDED FROM LANCASTER
TO 15 MILES WEST OF COLUMBIA TO NEAR AUGUSTA GEORGIA. THE
LEADING EDGE OF THE RAIN WAS MOVING EASTWARD AT 25 MILES AN
HOUR. THE HEAVIER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.

RADARS IN ADJACENT STATES SHOWED HEAVIER THUNDERSTORMS OVER
GEORGIA AND SOUTHERN ALABAMA. THESE WILL BE MOVING INTO
SOUTH CAROLINA BETWEEN NOON AND 200 PM.

PERSONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA SHOULD CONTINUE ON THE ALERT THROUGH
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...STORM SPOTTER GROUPS...
AND AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS SHOULD BE ACTIVA:TED IN THE
WATCH AREA AND FORWARD ANY DAMAGE REPORTS TO THE NEAREST
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

CHARNICK
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 12:25 PM EST, 3 hours 26 minutes before
GAZ007-SCZ004-006-291945-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
1230 PM EST FRI MAR 29 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN GEORGIA
AND PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA...THIS INCLUDES ALL
CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA COUNTIES EXCEPT BARNWELL AND ALLENDALE IN
SOUTH CAROLINA...

1220 PM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF
RAIN WITH EMBEDDED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHWEST SOUTH
CAROLINA EXTENDING SOUTHWEST TO THE MACON AREA. THE STORMS WERE
MOVING NORTHEAST 45 MPH.

RESIDENTS OF THE WATCH AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR PERIODS OF VERY HEAVY
RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...HAIL AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES.
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 12:35 PM EST, 3 hours 16 minutes before
SCZALL-291930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1233 PM EST FRI MAR 29 1991

...SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL REMAINS HIGH FOR SOUTH CAROLINA...
...TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES UNTIL 5 PM EST FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND
WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA...

AT 1215 PM EST RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
OVER SOUTH CAROLINA GENERALLY WEST OF A CHESTERFIELD TO AUGUSTA GA LIN
THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 TO 50 MPH WHILE THE
LEADING EDGE OF THE RAIN WAS MOVING EASTWARD AT ABOUT 25 MPH.

IN ADDITION...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE RACING ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA
MACON AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING OF
VERY STRONG WINDS. THESE SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
THROUGH EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND WILL LIKELY AFFECT PORTIONS OF
WESTERN AND CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA LATER THIS AFTERNOON. SEVERE WIND
DAMAGE..TORNADOES..AND LARGE HAIL REMAIN A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY. OTHER
SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES MAY BE ISSUED FOR THE REST OF SOUTH CAROLINA
LATER TODAY.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...STORM SPOTTERS..AND AMATEUR RADIO
OPERATORS SHOULD BE ACTIVATED IN THE WATCH AREA.

ALL INTERESTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT AND BE READY TO
TAKE QUICK PROTECTIVE ACTION IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED OF A
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.

PALMER
Special weather statement, Mar 29, 12:40 PM EST, 3 hours 11 minutes before
SCZALL-291930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1233 PM EST FRI MAR 29 1991

...SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL REMAINS HIGH FOR SOUTH CAROLINA...
...TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES UNTIL 5 PM EST FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL AND
WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA...

AT 1215 PM EST RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
OVER SOUTH CAROLINA GENERALLY WEST OF A CHESTERFIELD TO AUGUSTA GA LINE.
THE INDIVIDUAL STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 TO 50 MPH WHILE THE
LEADING EDGE OF THE RAIN WAS MOVING EASTWARD AT ABOUT 25 MPH.

IN ADDITION...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE RACING ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA NEAR
MACON AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING OF
VERY STRONG WINDS. THESE SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
THROUGH EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND WILL LIKELY AFFECT PORTIONS OF
WESTERN AND CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA LATER THIS AFTERNOON. SEVERE WIND
DAMAGE..TORNADOES..AND LARGE HAIL REMAIN A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY. OTHER
SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES MAY BE ISSUED FOR THE REST OF SOUTH CAROLINA
LATER TODAY.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...STORM SPOTTERS..AND AMATEUR RADIO
OPERATORS SHOULD BE ACTIVATED IN THE WATCH AREA.

ALL INTERESTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA SHOULD BE ON THE ALERT AND BE READY TO
TAKE QUICK PROTECTIVE ACTION IF THREATENING WEATHER IS SIGHTED OR A
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA.

PALMER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 29, 1:47 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEFairfield43 min
Mar 29, 2:09 PM ESTTornado WarningCAELexington, Saluda51 min
Mar 29, 2:30 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAELexington45 min
Mar 29, 2:56 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEBamberg, Orangeburg64 min
Mar 29, 3:11 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEChesterfield49 min
Mar 29, 4:05 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEDarlington, Florence40 min
Mar 29, 5:45 PM ESTTornado WarningCAEOrangeburg45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 1991Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1991

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.