Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 1, NWS Columbia, SC

March 3, 1991Fairfield County, Newberry County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 3, 1991, 2:36 PM EST for Fairfield County, Newberry County, South Carolina. It was in force for 44 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 3, 1991, 2:36 PM EST (19:36 UTC)
Expired
Mar 3, 1991, 3:20 PM EST
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Whole counties

Counties Fairfield County, SC, Newberry County, SC

The nearest sounding before it

Athens Municipal, GA (KAHN), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 184 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 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, Athens Municipal, GA at 12:00Z on 1991-03-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 183 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
NaN m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
183 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
336 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KCAE 031938 RRA
TORCAE
SCC039-071-032030-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
236 PM EST SUN MAR 3 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBIA HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  330 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN  SOUTH CAROLINA
 
   ...FAIRFIELD COUNTY...EASTERN NEWBERRY COUNTY
 
AT 233 PM EST THE PUBLIC REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR LITTLE MOUNTAIN IN
NEWBERRY COUNTY. THE STORM WAS MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH.
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW
GROUND IF AVAILABLE.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY
FURNITURE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...OR CUSHIONS TO COVER
YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES.

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, Mar 3, 8:54 AM EST, 5 hours 42 minutes before
GAZ007-SCZ004-006-031600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
855 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY FOR THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH
RIVER AREA COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA OF AIKEN...BARNWELL AND
ALLENDALE...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT AND
MIDLANDS...

AT 850 AM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A LARGE AREA OF MODERATE TO
HEAVY RAIN WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSHOWERS OVEKR EXTREME EASTERN GEORGIA
AND MOST OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE RAIN WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT
40 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 10:09 AM EST, 4 hours 27 minutes before
GAZ007-SCZ004-006-031700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUGUSTA GA
1010 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

...TORNADO WATCH FOR THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA COUNTIES OF
AIKEN...BARNWELL AND ALLENDALE IN SOUTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN CANCELLED...

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT
AND MIDLANDS...

AT 1000 AM WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED AN AREA OF MODERATE TO HEAVY
RAIN WITH EMBEDDED VERY STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE EASTERN AND
SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MILES AN HOUR.
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 11:12 AM EST, 3 hours 24 minutes before
SCZ005>008-031700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1111 AM EST SUN MAR 3 1991

...TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ONLY HORRY COUNTY OF SOUTH
CAROLINA UNTIL NOON EST...
...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE MOUNTAINS...FOOTHILLS...
PIEDMONT AND MIDLANDS THIS AFTERNOON...

THE TORNADO WATCH FOR MIDLANDS AND COASTAL AREA OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS
BEEN CANCELLED EXCEPT FOR HORRY COUNTY. THE TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN
EFFECT FOR HORRY COUNTY UNTIL NOON EST.

AT 1110 AM EST A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING THROUGH HORRY
COUNTY. STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH
THESE THUNDERSTORMS. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTH AT 55 MPH.

AN INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE AREA OVER SOUTHERN GEORGIA WILL MOVE
ACROSS NORTHWEST SOUTH CAROLINA THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT. THIS
STILL HAS THE POSSIBLILITY TO GENERATE HEAVY RAINFALL AND SOME
THUNDERTORMS.

BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN ON ALREADY
SATURATED GROUND...THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR
NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL SECTIONS OF THE STATE. CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO
RADIO...TV OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

ZIMMERMAN
Special weather statement, Mar 3, 12:23 PM EST, 2 hours 13 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 INDICATEA AN AREA OF VERY STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL GEORIbGA. 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, 12:25 PM EST, 2 hours 11 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.

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, 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
Mar 3, 6:21 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEDillon, Marion69 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes 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.