Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1991

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 5, NWS Columbia, SC

March 3, 1991Dillon County, Marion County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Mar 3, 1991, 6:21 PM EST for Dillon County, Marion County, South Carolina. It was in force for 69 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
Mar 3, 1991, 6:21 PM EST (23:21 UTC)
Expired
Mar 3, 1991, 7:30 PM EST
In force
69 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Whole counties

Counties Dillon County, SC, Marion County, SC

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 3, 6:30 PM ESTThunderstorm Wind 0Marion, 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

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 160 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 1991-03-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 1991-03-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 637 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
0 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
637 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
883 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

The text of this product is not in the archive. The NWS text archive before 2002 is incomplete.

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 3, 12:25 PM EST, 5 hours 56 minutes before
GAZ007-SCZ004-006-031930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
1225 PM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 5 PM FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA...INCLUDING MOST GEORGIA COUNTIES OF THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH
RIVER AREA...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT
AND MIDLANDS...

AT 1215 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL GEORIlGA. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

RESIDENTS OF THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR VERY HEAVY RAINS...
STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS AND SMALL STREAMS
AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES.
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 3:49 PM EST, 2 hours 32 minutes before
GAZ007-SCZ004-006-032300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
350 PM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM FOR RICHMOND COUNTY GEORGIA...
...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL
GEORGIA AND WESTERN AND CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA...INCLUDING ALL GEORGIA AND
SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES OF THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT
AND MIDLANDS...

AT 340 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF RAIN WITH EMBEDDED
VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM EASTERN GEORIGA TO CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE OVER SOUTH CAROLINA FROM NORTHEAST
AIKEN COUNTY TO BARNWELL COUNTY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST 45
MPH.

RICHMOND COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS CONTINUED TO RECIEVE
NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FLOODED ROADWAYS.

RESIDENTS OF THE WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ALfERT FOR PERIODS
OF VERY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY THUNDERSTORMS WINDS...FLOODING OF
LOW LYING AREA..SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES.
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 4:31 PM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
GAZ007-SCZ004-006-032300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
430 PM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM FOR RICHMOND COUNTY GEORGIA...
...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM FOR WESTERN CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT
AND MIDLANDS...

AT 415 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF RAIN WITH EMBEDDED
VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTCENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA. THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM COLUMBIA SOUTHEST TO WALTERBORO AND EAST OF
CAMDEN. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN CENTRAL GEORGIA MOVING IN OUR
DIRECTION. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST 45 MPH.

RICHMOND COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS CONTINUED TO RECIEVE
NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FLOODED ROADWAYS AND SOME AREAS OF THE CITY OF
AUGUSTA AND RICHMOND COUNTY ARE NOW BEING EVACUATED.
RESIDENTS OF THE WATCH AREA SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ALERT FOR PERIODS
OF VERY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY THUNDERSTORMS WINDS...FLOODING OF
LOW LYING AREA..SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES.
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 5:00 PM EST, 1 hour 21 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA, SC
505 PM EST SUN MAR 03 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7PM EST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE MOUNTAINS ..FOOTHILLS AND
   BOTH PIEDMONTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA THIS EVENING...

AN INTENSE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA IS CAUSING
FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON.
THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING IN THE COASTAL PLAINS
AFFECTING THE COUNTIES OF CHARLESTON ..BERKELEY ..DORCHESTER AND
COLLETON. OTHER STRONG STORMS ARE IN PROGESS IN ORANGEBURG COUNTY AND
EASTERN FAIRFIELD COUNTY AT 445 PM. THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING
EASTWARD AROUND 45 MPH AND ARE PRODUCING SMALL HAIL ..PEA SIZED ..
AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS. MOST STATIONS REPORTED WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 40
MPH WHEN A THUNDERSTORM PASSED NEAR. HEAVY RAINS ARE SWELLING SMALL
RIVERS AND STREAMS TO OR ABOVE BANKFULL IN THE MIDLANDS.

THE LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO MOVBE INTO THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA
BY MONDAY MORNING. THIS WILL CAUSE THE PRECIPITATION TO TAPER OFF
LATER TONIGHT.

LOWE
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 5:45 PM EST, 36 minutes before
GAZ007-SCZ004-006-032300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
545 PM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM FOR WESTERN CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT
AND MIDLANDS...
INCLUDING MCCORMICK..EDGEFIELD..AIKEN..BARNWELL..AND ALLENDALE COUNTIES.

FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR RICHMOND COUNTY GEORGIA IS CANCELLED.

AT 540 PM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF RAIN WITH EMBEDDED
THUNDERSTORMS OVER EASTCENTRAL GEORGIA AND CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA. THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE EAST OF CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA.
THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST 45 MPH.

RESIDENTS OF THE WATCH AREA SHOOULD CONTINUE TO BE ALERT FOR PERIODS
OF VERY HEAVY RAINS...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS..
CREEKS AND LOW LYING AREA..AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES.
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 6:00 PM EST, 21 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 3, 10:07 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEMarion36 min
Mar 3, 2:36 PM ESTTornado WarningCAEFairfield, Newberry44 min
Mar 3, 5:19 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEKershaw, Lee56 min
Mar 3, 5:49 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEChesterfield56 min
Mar 3, 5:49 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEFlorence56 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.