Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 73, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 7, 1998Franklin County, Georgia

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 7, 1998, 5:21 PM EDT for Franklin County, Georgia. It was in force for 49 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
May 7, 1998, 5:21 PM EDT (21:21 UTC)
Expired
May 7, 1998, 6:10 PM EDT
In force
49 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Whole counties

County Franklin County, GA

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:21 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
May 7, 5:30 PM EDTHail 1Carnesville, GA

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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 7, 5:00 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 162 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 1998-05-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 650 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 1998-05-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 193 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
650 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-129 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
521 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
68 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
193 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
5 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-3.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

538 
WUUS1 KGSP 072122 RRA
SVRGSP
GAC119-072210-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
521 PM EDT THU MAY 7 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC HAS
ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN GEORGIA

* UNTIL 610 PM EDT

* AT 520 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM IN BANKS COUNTY...MOVING MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL MOVE TO BETWEEN...
  CARNESVILLE AND SANDY CROSS BETWEEN 535 PM AND 550 PM.

  GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM IN
  BANKS COUNTY.

ALTHOUGH TORNADOES HAVE NOT BEEN DETECTED WITH THIS STORM...A
TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT.  TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP WITHOUT WARNING
FROM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM SHOULD BE ALERT FOR LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS.  FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN CAN OCCUR
WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM.
KAJ

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 May 7, 2:40 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 7, 2:40 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
240 PM EDT THU MAY 7 1998

CAE/FFC/RAH: TSTMS WITH HVY RAIN...POSS SVR TONIGHT.  HANG ONTO
              SMALL POPS THRU FRIDAY.

INITIAL BAND OF CONVECTION GETTING READY TO CLEAR EASTERN FRINGES
OF CWA & IN ITS WAKE...ATMOSPHERE SHOULD RECOVER QUICKLY WITH
AS SUNSHINE RETURNED TO HELP DESTABILIZE.  ALREADY TSTMS DEVELOPING
RAPIDLY IN EAST TENNESSEE & WILL SPREAD EAST BACK INTO FA LATER
THIS AFTERNOON & EVENING.  STRONG OMEGA...FAVORABLE LEFT EXIT REGION
POS OF 25H JET...UPPER DIFFLUENCE...INCREASING VWP AND LLVL RH RETURN
ALL LEADS TO IMPRESSIVE SVR CHCS INTO TONIGHT.  WARM FRONT LIES JUST
TO THE SOUTH/WEST OF FA & WILL CONT TO LIFT NWD WITH BEST TORNADO
THREAT ALONG THIS BNDRY.

THETA-E & HIGHER PW AXIS WILL SHIFT FROM ERN TENN THIS AFTERNOON
INTO AN E-W ORIENTATION ACRS N GA/N SC.  LOCALIZED 1-2 AMTS WILL
LIKELY DEVELOP WITH STMS TONIGHT BUT DEBATABLE IF THE DURATION OF
THIS SYSTEM WILL BE LONG ENOUGH FOR WIDESPREAD FLDG TO EVOLVE.

OMEGA & DEEP MOISTURE CUTS OFF TWDS 12Z WITH SFC & 85H FNT MOVING
ACRS FA DURING FRIDAY MORNING.  LLVL DRYING PROGGED DURING DAY
...BUT WERE STILL UNSTABLE AS UPPER LOW REMAINS OVER THE AREA.
SO...STILL WOULD LIKE TO HANG ONTO SMALL POPS THRU FRIDAY.

AVL  58/71/53/77  6312
CLT  63/77/58/83  6412
GSP  62/78/57/82  6312

CSH

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 7, 4:51 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
451 PM EDT THU MAY 7 1998

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

450 PM     MARSHALL                  NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   MADISON                        DIME HAIL FALLING IN TOWN.

RWH
Local storm report, May 7, 4:51 PM EDT, 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
451 PM EDT THU MAY 7 1998

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

450 PM     MARSHALL                  NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   MADISON                        DIME HAIL FALLING IN TOWN.

RWH
Local storm report, May 7, 5:01 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
501 PM EDT THU MAY 7 1998

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

453 PM     TALLULAH GORGE STATE PARK GA   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   RABUN                          PARK OFFICIALS REPORT
                                          BASEBALL SIZE HAIL.

450 PM     GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN      NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   AVERY                          HAM RADIO SPOTTER REPORTED
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR PARK
                                          ENTRANCE.

RWH
Local storm report, May 7, 5:01 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
501 PM EDT THU MAY 7 1998

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

453 PM     TALLULAH GORGE STATE PARK GA   2.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   RABUN                          PARK OFFICIALS REPORT
                                          BASEBALL SIZE HAIL.

450 PM     GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN      NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   AVERY                          HAM RADIO SPOTTER REPORTED
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR PARK
                                          ENTRANCE.

RWH
Local storm report, May 7, 5:16 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
516 PM EDT THU MAY 07 1998

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

435 PM     11 W MARSHALL             NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/07/98   MADISON                        ROOF TORN OFF HOUSE AND
                                          LARGE HEMLOCK TREE FELLED
                                          ALONG STATE ROAD 1175. NO
                                          REPORTS OF INJURIES.
                                          REPORT FROM MADISON COUNTY
                                          911.

437 PM     13 NE MARSHALL            NC   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   MADISON                        DIME-SIZED TO
                                          GOLFBALL-SIZED HAIL FELL
                                          NEAR SAMS GAP IN
                                          NORTHEAST MADISON COUNTY.
                                          REPORT FROM MADISON COUNTY
                                          911.

440 PM     MARSHALL                  NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   MADISON                        DIME-SIZED HAIL COVERED
                                          THE GROUND A COUPLE OF
                                          INCHES DEEP IN TOWN OF
                                          MARSHALL. REPORT FROM
                                          MADISON COUNTY 911.

508 PM     LONG CREEK TO WESTMINSTER SC   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   OCONEE                         GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL FELL
                                          MOST OF THE WAY ALONG
                                          HIGHWAY 76 FROM LONG CREEK
                                          TO WESTMINSTER. REPORT
                                          FROM OCONEE COUNTY 911.

508 PM     11 NE ASHEVILLE           NC   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   BUNCOMBE/MADISON               QUARTER-SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED ALONG U.S. 19/23
                                          AT THE MADISON/BUNCOMBE
                                          COUNTY LINE. REPORT FROM
                                          BUNCOMBE COUNTY EOC.

530 PM     10 W CARNESVILLE          GA   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   FRANKLIN                       QUARTER-SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED ALONG THE
                                          FRANKLIN/BANKS COUNTY
                                          LINE. REPORT FROM FRANKLIN
                                          COUNTY 911.

522 PM     4 W ROBBINSVILLE          NC   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   GRAHAM                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL FELL 4
                                          MILES WEST OF
                                          ROBBINSVILLE. HAM RADIO
                                          REPORT.

525 PM     ROBBINSVILLE              NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   GRAHAM                         DIME-SIZED HAIL FELL IN
                                          ROBBINSVILLE. HAM RADIO
                                          REPORT.

BURRUS
Local storm report, May 7, 5:16 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
516 PM EDT THU MAY 07 1998

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

435 PM     11 W MARSHALL             NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/07/98   MADISON                        ROOF TORN OFF HOUSE AND
                                          LARGE HEMLOCK TREE FELLED
                                          ALONG STATE ROAD 1175. NO
                                          REPORTS OF INJURIES.
                                          REPORT FROM MADISON COUNTY
                                          911.

437 PM     13 NE MARSHALL            NC   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   MADISON                        DIME-SIZED TO
                                          GOLFBALL-SIZED HAIL FELL
                                          NEAR SAMS GAP IN
                                          NORTHEAST MADISON COUNTY.
                                          REPORT FROM MADISON COUNTY
                                          911.

440 PM     MARSHALL                  NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   MADISON                        DIME-SIZED HAIL COVERED
                                          THE GROUND A COUPLE OF
                                          INCHES DEEP IN TOWN OF
                                          MARSHALL. REPORT FROM
                                          MADISON COUNTY 911.

508 PM     LONG CREEK TO WESTMINSTER SC   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   OCONEE                         GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL FELL
                                          MOST OF THE WAY ALONG
                                          HIGHWAY 76 FROM LONG CREEK
                                          TO WESTMINSTER. REPORT
                                          FROM OCONEE COUNTY 911.

508 PM     11 NE ASHEVILLE           NC   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   BUNCOMBE/MADISON               QUARTER-SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED ALONG U.S. 19/23
                                          AT THE MADISON/BUNCOMBE
                                          COUNTY LINE. REPORT FROM
                                          BUNCOMBE COUNTY EOC.

530 PM     10 W CARNESVILLE          GA   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   FRANKLIN                       QUARTER-SIZED HAIL
                                          REPORTED ALONG THE
                                          FRANKLIN/BANKS COUNTY
                                          LINE. REPORT FROM FRANKLIN
                                          COUNTY 911.

522 PM     4 W ROBBINSVILLE          NC   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   GRAHAM                         QUARTER SIZED HAIL FELL 4
                                          MILES WEST OF
                                          ROBBINSVILLE. HAM RADIO
                                          REPORT.

525 PM     ROBBINSVILLE              NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98   GRAHAM                         DIME-SIZED HAIL FELL IN
                                          ROBBINSVILLE. HAM RADIO
                                          REPORT.

BURRUS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 7, 9:49 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPHabersham, Stephens46 min
May 7, 10:48 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPFranklin, Hart32 min
May 7, 4:18 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPRabun62 min
May 7, 4:28 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPHabersham47 min
May 7, 5:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPElbert, Hart45 min
May 7, 5:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPRabun66 min
May 7, 6:04 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPElbert46 min
May 7, 6:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPHabersham47 min
May 7, 7:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPRabun48 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998

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.