Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 91, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 7, 1998, 8:10 PM EDT for Rowan County, North Carolina. It was in force for 50 min. 2 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
- May 7, 1998, 8:10 PM EDT (00:10 UTC)
- Expired
- May 7, 1998, 9:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 50 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Whole counties
County Rowan County, NC
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 8:10 PM EDT | Hail 4.5 | Kannapolis, NC | Softball size hail, very unusual in the Southeast, fell through a roof of at least one home in Kannapolis and damaged numerous vehicles. A damage estimate was not available at the time of this writing. |
| May 7, 8:15 PM EDT | Hail 1.75 | Kannapolis, 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 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, 5:30 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Roanoke, VA (KRNK), launched 00:00Z, 0.2 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
- 362 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -10 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 622 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 46 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 304 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 350 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.6
- Supercell composite
- 4.1
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
615 WUUS1 KGSP 080011 RRA SVRGSP NCC159-080100- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 810 PM EDT THU MAY 7 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... SOUTHERN ROWAN COUNTY IN NORTH CAROLINA * UNTIL 900 PM EDT * AT 809 PM...SPOTTERS REPORTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES WEST OF KANNAPOLIS IN EXTREME SOUTHERN ROWAN COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. THIS STORM PRODUCED GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AT 804 PM 10 MILES WEST OF KANNAPOLIS. * THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... LANDIS AT 820 PM GOLD HILL AT 840 PM 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. ALTHOUGH TORNADOES HAVE NOT BEEN DETECTED WITH THIS STORM...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT. TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP WITHOUT WARNING FROM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. MOYER &
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, 5 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 7, 2:40 PM EDT, 5 hours 30 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, 5:53 PM EDT, 2 hours 17 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, 2 hours 17 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, 6:17 PM EDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
617 PM EDT THU MAY 07 1998
TIME (EDT) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST ...EVENT/REMARKS...
.....COUNTY LOCATION.....
610 PM 10 S MORGANTON NC 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 BURKE ON HIGHWAY 64 REPORTED
BY AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR.
DEOLocal storm report, May 7, 6:17 PM EDT, 1 hour 53 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
617 PM EDT THU MAY 07 1998
TIME (EDT) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST ...EVENT/REMARKS...
.....COUNTY LOCATION.....
610 PM 10 S MORGANTON NC 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 BURKE ON HIGHWAY 64 REPORTED
BY AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR.
DEOLocal storm report, May 7, 6:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
634 PM EDT THU MAY 07 1998
TIME (EDT) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST ...EVENT/REMARKS...
.....COUNTY LOCATION.....
543 PM TOWNVILLE SC .50 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ANDERSON MARBLE-SIZED HAIL FELL IN
TOWNVILLE. REPORT FROM
ANDERSON 911.
550 PM ANDERSON SC 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ANDERSON QUARTER-SIZED HAIL FELL
NEAR THE JOCKEY LOT IN
ANDERSON. HAM RADIO
REPORT.
554 PM ANDERSON SC 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ANDERSON GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL FELL
IN THE CITY OF ANDERSON.
REPORT FROM ANDERSON
COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
559 PM 8 SE MARION NC WIND DAMAGE
05/07/98 MCDOWELL WINDS ESTIMATED OVER 60
MPH DOWNED POWER LINES IN
GLENWOOD. REPORT FROM
MCDOWELL COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
617 PM MORGANTON NC 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 BURKE DOLLAR-SIZED HAIL FELL IN
MORGANTON. REPORT FROM
SKYWARN SPOTTER.
619 PM HONEA PATH SC 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ANDERSON QUARTER SIZED HAIL FELL IN
HONEA PATH. HAM RADIO
REPORT.
615 PM 6 NW ELBERTON GA 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ELBERT QUARTER-SIZED HAIL FELL 6
MILES NORTHWEST OF
ELBERTON. REPORT FROM HAM
RADIO SPOTTER.
621 PM 6 NW ELBERTON GA 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ELBERT GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL FELL
NEAR CENTERVILLE. REPORT
FROM ELBERT COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
613 PM 10 SW TAYLORSVILLE NC .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ALEXANDER DIME-SIZED HAIL FELL IN
BETHLEHEM...SOUTHWEST OF
TAYLORSVILLE. REPORT FROM
ALEXANDER 911.
605 PM 12 E LENOIR NC TORNADO
05/07/98 CALDWELL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
REPORTS WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
EASTERN CALDWELL COUNTY.
HOUSES AND MOBILE HOMES
GONE.
BURRUS/LGLLocal storm report, May 7, 6:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
634 PM EDT THU MAY 07 1998
TIME (EDT) .....CITY LOCATION....... ST ...EVENT/REMARKS...
.....COUNTY LOCATION.....
543 PM TOWNVILLE SC .50 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ANDERSON MARBLE-SIZED HAIL FELL IN
TOWNVILLE. REPORT FROM
ANDERSON 911.
550 PM ANDERSON SC 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ANDERSON QUARTER-SIZED HAIL FELL
NEAR THE JOCKEY LOT IN
ANDERSON. HAM RADIO
REPORT.
554 PM ANDERSON SC 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ANDERSON GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL FELL
IN THE CITY OF ANDERSON.
REPORT FROM ANDERSON
COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
559 PM 8 SE MARION NC WIND DAMAGE
05/07/98 MCDOWELL WINDS ESTIMATED OVER 60
MPH DOWNED POWER LINES IN
GLENWOOD. REPORT FROM
MCDOWELL COUNTY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
617 PM MORGANTON NC 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 BURKE DOLLAR-SIZED HAIL FELL IN
MORGANTON. REPORT FROM
SKYWARN SPOTTER.
619 PM HONEA PATH SC 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ANDERSON QUARTER SIZED HAIL FELL IN
HONEA PATH. HAM RADIO
REPORT.
615 PM 6 NW ELBERTON GA 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ELBERT QUARTER-SIZED HAIL FELL 6
MILES NORTHWEST OF
ELBERTON. REPORT FROM HAM
RADIO SPOTTER.
621 PM 6 NW ELBERTON GA 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ELBERT GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL FELL
NEAR CENTERVILLE. REPORT
FROM ELBERT COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
613 PM 10 SW TAYLORSVILLE NC .75 INCH HAIL
05/07/98 ALEXANDER DIME-SIZED HAIL FELL IN
BETHLEHEM...SOUTHWEST OF
TAYLORSVILLE. REPORT FROM
ALEXANDER 911.
605 PM 12 E LENOIR NC TORNADO
05/07/98 CALDWELL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
REPORTS WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
EASTERN CALDWELL COUNTY.
HOUSES AND MOBILE HOMES
GONE.
BURRUS/LGLThe office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 10:36 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Avery | 34 min |
| May 8, 1:08 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Rutherford | 47 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 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.