Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 1998

Tornado Warning 43, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 7, 1998Anderson County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at May 7, 1998, 7:45 PM EDT for Anderson County, South Carolina. It was in force for 50 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 7, 1998, 7:45 PM EDT (23:45 UTC)
Expired
May 7, 1998, 8:35 PM EDT
In force
50 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Whole counties

County Anderson County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:46 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.

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, 11.8 hours before the alert went out and 214 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.

479 
WFUS1 KGSP 072346 RRA
TORGSP
SCC007-080030-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
745 PM EDT THU MAY 7 1998

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

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  ANDERSON COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 835 PM EDT

* AT 743 PM...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR SHOWED A DEVELOPING
  TORNADO....8 MILES NORTHWEST OF ANDERSON...NEAR
  SANDY SPRINGS...MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  NORTH OF ANDERSON BETWEEN 745 PM AND 755 PM
  BETWEEN WILLIAMSTON AND BELTON AT 810 PM

TORNADOES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES ARE SOMETIMES HARD TO SEE
BECAUSE OF RAIN...LOW CLOUDS...AND TREES.  TAKE COVER NOW...DO NOT
TRY TO WAIT ON THE STORM AND DO NOT TRY TO OUTRUN IT.

MOYER

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.

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 7, 2:40 PM EDT, 5 hours 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 7, 2:40 PM EDT, 5 hours 5 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, 5:53 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 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.

BURRUS
Local storm report, May 7, 5:53 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 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.

BURRUS
Local storm report, May 7, 6:17 PM EDT, 1 hour 28 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.

DEO
Local storm report, May 7, 6:17 PM EDT, 1 hour 28 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.

DEO
Local storm report, May 7, 6:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 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/LGL
Local storm report, May 7, 6:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 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/LGL

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 7, 4:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPOconee59 min
May 7, 5:11 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPOconee34 min
May 7, 5:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAnderson63 min
May 7, 6:14 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPAbbeville, Anderson46 min
May 7, 6:23 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPGreenwood47 min
May 7, 6:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPOconee50 min
May 7, 7:36 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPOconee49 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 1998Every tornado warning in 1998Tornadoes 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.