Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 19, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

February 21, 1997Iredell County, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 21, 1997, 5:25 PM EST for Iredell County, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. It was in force for 35 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 21, 1997, 5:25 PM EST (22:25 UTC)
Expired
Feb 21, 1997, 6:00 PM EST
In force
35 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Whole counties

Counties Iredell County, NC, Mecklenburg County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 143 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:26 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Feb 21, 5:35 PM ESTThunderstorm Wind 50West Central, NC
Feb 21, 5:40 PM ESTThunderstorm Wind 50South Charlotte, NC
Feb 21, 5:45 PM ESTThunderstorm Wind 50Charlotte, NC

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.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 106 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1997-02-21Temperature 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 1997-02-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 52 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
527 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
52 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
164 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 KGSP 212226 RRA
SVRGSP
NCC119-097-212300-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
525 PM EST FRI FEB 21 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA
 
   ...MECKLENBURG COUNTY
 
IN WEST NORTH CAROLINA
 
   ...IREDELL COUNTY
 
WEATHER SERVICE RADAR AT 523 PM INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
CONTINUING TO RACE EAST ACROSS PARTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. THIS LINE WILL
MOVE EAST INTO IREDELL AND MECKLENBURG COUNTIES BY 530 PM.
 
THE LINE OF STORMS WAS MOVING EAST AT NEARLY 50 MPH...AND WILL LIKELY
PRODUCE WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE THROUGH 6 PM.
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN REACH SPEEDS OF 60 TO OVER 100 MPH.
THESE WINDS BLOW DOWN TREES...POWER LINES...AND SEVERELY DAMAGE
MOBILE HOMES...SOMETIMES BUILDINGS. VERY |LARGE HAIL CAN INJURE
ANYONE CAUGHT OUTSIDE.
 
ZOLTOWSKI

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.

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Feb 21, 1:18 PM EST, 4 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 21, 1:18 PM EST, 4 hours 7 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
115 PM EST FRI FEB 21 1997

CAE: MENTION GUSTY WINDS WITH STORMS TONIGHT.  AM POPS FOR SAT.
RAH: KEEP WINDS UP IN MTNS TONIGHT.  CAN PROBABLY BUMP UP POPS
      MOST AREAS TONIGHT.  AM POPS FAR WEST...TAPERING TO EAST.
FFC: MENTION GUSTY WINDS WITH STORMS TONIGHT.
      JUST AM POPS FOR SATURDAY.

UPPER LOW CONTS TO ZIP NE INTO UPPER MIDWEST...ABSORBING INTO POS
TILTED TROF & ATTM...BEST DYNAMICS REMAIN WELL NW OF FA.  BY
12Z SAT...SECOND VORT MOVG UP FRONT SIDE OF TROF IN MIDDLE TENN
WILL SWING CD FNT ACRS CWA EARLY SAT WITH PROGRESSIVE DRYING THRU
DAY...SETTING US UP FOR A COOL & DRY SECOND 1/2 OF THE WEEKEND.

IN THE SHORT TERM...ACTIVITY ACRS ERN TENN ON GRADL WEAKENING TREND
AS UPPER SUPPORT SHIFTS NE.  HOWEVER...STG GRADIENT WINDS MAY SUPPORT
SOME MARGINAL SVR IN FAR WESTERN NC MTN CTYS.  FOR THIS EVENING...
STORMS FIRING IN BETTER INSTABILITY IN WRN GA ARE MORE OF A CONCERN
AS LOW-LVL SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTS TO PROVIDE GOOD MOISTURE TRANSPORT &
NEG LI'S...ESP IN SOUTHERN SXNS OF FA.  IN ADDITION...WITH PW'S IN
EXCESS OF 200% OF NORM...IF EASTWARD PROGRESS OF PCPN CONTS TO
SLOW MAY LINGER IN MY VCNTY TONIGHT LEADING TO LCLLY HVY RNFL AMTS.

GSP  55/62/30/53  8400
AVL  52/55/26/47  8300
CLT  57/63/32/52  6700

CSH

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 21, 4:50 PM EST, 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
450 PM EST FRI FEB 21 1997

TIME (EST) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           .....COUNTY LOCATION.....

433 PM     ROEBUCK                   SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   SPARTANBURG                    3 ROOFS BLOWN OFF HOMES
                                          NEAR ROEBUCK. REPORTED BY
                                          COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS.

BWM
Local storm report, Feb 21, 4:52 PM EST, 33 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
450 PM EST FRI FEB 21 1997

TIME (EST) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           .....COUNTY LOCATION.....

433 PM     ROEBUCK                   SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   SPARTANBURG                    3 ROOFS BLOWN OFF HOMES
                                          NEAR ROEBUCK. REPORTED BY
                                          COUNTY COMM;UNICATIONS.

BWM
Local storm report, Feb 21, 5:07 PM EST, 18 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
507 PM EST FRI FEB 21 1997

TIME (EST) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           .....COUNTY LOCATION.....

440 PM     NEAR COKESBURY            SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   GREENWOOD                      TREES DOWN AND DOGHOUSE
                                          OVERTURNED NEAR COKESBURY
                                          REPORTED BY COUNTY COMMS.

452 PM     3 N UNION                 SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   UNION                          150 GALLON GASOLINE
                                          STORAGE TANK TOSSED ACROSS
                                          ROAD. REPORTED BY UNION
                                          COUNTY EPD.

433 PM     ROEBUCK                   SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   SPARTANBURG                    6 HOUSES DESTOYED AND
                                          OTHER DAMAGED IN THE
                                          ROEBUCK AREA. REPORTED BY
                                          COUNTY COMMS.

445 PM     EASTERN PART OF COUNTY    SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   SPARTANBURG                    COUNTY COMMS REPORTS TREES
                                          AND POWER LINES DOWN OVER
                                          ENTIRE EASTERN HALF OF
                                          COUNTY.

455 PM     7 S GAFFNEY               SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   CHEROKEE                       TREES DOWN ON HWY 18
                                          REPORTED BY COUNTY COMMS.

BWM
Local storm report, Feb 21, 5:08 PM EST, 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
507 PM EST FRI FEB 21 1997

TIME (EST) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           .....COUNTY LOCATION.....

440 PM     NEAR COKESBURY            SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   GREENWOOD                      TREES DOWN AND DOGHOUSE
                                          OVERTURNED NEAR COKESBURY
                                          REPORTED BY COUNTY COMMS.

452 PM     3 N UNION                 SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   UNION                          150 GALLON GASOLINE
                                          STORAGE TANK TOSSED ACROSS
                                          ROAD. REPORTED BY UNION
                                          COUNTY EPD.

433 PM     ROEBUCK                   SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   SPARTANBURG                    6 HOUSES DESTOYED AND
                                          OTHER DAMAGED IN THE
                                          ROEBUCK AREA. REPORTED BY
                                          COUNTY COMMS.

445 PM     EASTERN PART OF COUNTY    SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   SPARTANBURG                    COUNTY COMMS REPORTS TREES
                                          AND POWER LINES DOWN OVER
                                          ENTIRE EASTERN HALF OF
                                          COUNTY.

455 PM     7 S GAFFNEY               SC   WIND DAMAGE?
02/21/97   CHEROKEE                       TREES DOWN ON HWY 18
                                          REPORTED BY COUNTY COMMS.

BWM
Local storm report, Feb 21, 5:19 PM EST, 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
519 PM EST FRI FEB 21 1997

TIME (EST) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           .....COUNTY LOCATION.....

505 PM     JONESVILLE                SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   UNION                          MANY TREES DOWN NEAR
                                          JONESVILLE REPORTED BY
                                          COUNTY COMMS.

511 PM     5 NW BETHANY              SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   YORK                           TREES DOWN ON VEHICLES NEAR
                                          KINGS MTN STATE PARK.
                                          REPORTED BY COUNTY COMMS.
                                          COUNTY EPD.

BWM
Local storm report, Feb 21, 5:20 PM EST, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
519 PM EST FRI FEB 21 1997

TIME (EST) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           .....COUNTY LOCATION.....

505 PM     JONESVILLE                SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   UNION                          MANY TREES DOWN NEAR
                                          JONESVILLE REPORTED BY
                                          COUNTY COMMS.

511 PM     5 NW BETHANY              SC   WIND DAMAGE
02/21/97   YORK                           TREES DOWN ON VEHICLES NEAR
                                          KINGS MTN STATE PARK.
                                          REPORTED BY COUNTY iCOMMS.
                                          COUNTY EPD.

BWM

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 21, 4:06 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPHenderson39 min
Feb 21, 4:58 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCleveland32 min
Feb 21, 5:06 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPGaston39 min
Feb 21, 5:10 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCatawba, Lincoln35 min
Feb 21, 5:38 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCabarrus, Union37 min
Feb 21, 6:18 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPUnion12 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.