Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 79, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 7, 1998, 5:59 PM EDT for Rabun County, Georgia. It was in force for 66 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, 5:59 PM EDT (21:59 UTC)
- Expired
- May 7, 1998, 7:05 PM EDT
- In force
- 66 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Whole counties
County Rabun County, GA
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:01 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 7:05 PM EDT | Hail 1.75 | Clayton, 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 5:00 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 196 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KGSP 072159 RRA SVRGSP GAC241-072305- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 559 PM EDT THU MAY 7 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... RABUN COUNTY IN NORTHEASTERN GEORGIA * UNTIL 705 PM EDT * AT 556 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM EAST OF HAYESVILLE AT 555 PM...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH. * THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... CLAYTON AT 620 PM BASEBALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED EAST OF HAYESVILLE WITH THIS STORM. ALTHOUGH TORNADOES HAVE NOT BEEN DETECTED WITH THIS STORM...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFF ECT. TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP WITHOUT WARNING FROM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. RWH
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, 3 hours 19 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 7, 2:40 PM EDT, 3 hours 19 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
CSHIn the hours before
Local storm report, May 7, 5:01 PM EDT, 58 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.
RWHLocal storm report, May 7, 5:01 PM EDT, 58 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.
RWHLocal storm report, May 7, 5:16 PM EDT, 43 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.
BURRUSLocal storm report, May 7, 5:16 PM EDT, 43 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.
BURRUSLocal storm report, May 7, 5:53 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
553 PM EDT THU MAY 07 1998
TIME (EDT) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST ...EVENT/REMARKS...
.....COUNTY LOCATION.....
508 PM 5 W WALHALLA SC TORNADO
05/07/98 OCONEE TORNADO REPORTED ON THE
GROUND IN THE MOUNTAIN
ORCHARD AREA. REPORT FROM
OCONEE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT.
455 PM HIDDENITE NC WIND DAMAGE
05/07/98 ALEXANDER TREES DOWN IN HIDDENITE.
PUBLIC REPORT VIA
ALEXANDER COUNTY 911.
545 PM FAIR PLAY SC TORNADO
OCONEE PUBLIC REPORT OF A TORNADO
ALONG HIGHWAY 243 NEAR
FAIR PLAY...MOVING EAST
INTO ANDERSON COUNTY.
REPORT FROM WSPA-TV.
BURRUSLocal storm report, May 7, 5:53 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
553 PM EDT THU MAY 07 1998
TIME (EDT) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST ...EVENT/REMARKS...
.....COUNTY LOCATION.....
508 PM 5 W WALHALLA SC TORNADO
05/07/98 OCONEE TORNADO REPORTED ON THE
GROUND IN THE MOUNTAIN
ORCHARD AREA. REPORT FROM
OCONEE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT.
455 PM HIDDENITE NC WIND DAMAGE
05/07/98 ALEXANDER TREES DOWN IN HIDDENITE.
PUBLIC REPORT VIA
ALEXANDER COUNTY 911.
545 PM FAIR PLAY SC TORNADO
OCONEE PUBLIC REPORT OF A TORNADO
ALONG HIGHWAY 243 NEAR
FAIR PLAY...MOVING EAST
INTO ANDERSON COUNTY.
REPORT FROM WSPA-TV.
BURRUSThe office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 9:49 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Habersham, Stephens | 46 min |
| May 7, 10:48 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Franklin, Hart | 32 min |
| May 7, 4:18 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | GSP | Rabun | 62 min |
| May 7, 4:28 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | GSP | Habersham | 47 min |
| May 7, 5:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Franklin | 49 min |
| May 7, 5:50 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Elbert, Hart | 45 min |
| May 7, 6:04 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | GSP | Elbert | 46 min |
| May 7, 6:33 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Habersham | 47 min |
| May 7, 7:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Rabun | 48 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.