Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2002

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 89, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 13, 2002Rowan County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 13, 2002, 6:16 PM EDT for Rowan County, North Carolina. It was in force for 29 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 13, 2002, 6:16 PM EDT (22:16 UTC)
Expired: May 13, 2002, 6:45 PM EDT
In force: 29 min
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area: Whole counties

County Rowan County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 156 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:16 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 13, 6:20 PM EDT	Thunderstorm Wind 50 E	Salisbury, NC	Some trees and powerlines were blown down. A vehicle was crushed by a fallen tree.

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 13, 3:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 75 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 719 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -56 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 746 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 183 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 201 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.5
Supercell composite: 3.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS52 KGSP 132216
SVRGSP
NCC159-132245-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
615 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN ROWAN COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 645 PM EDT

* AT 615 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS 12 MILES SOUTHEAST
  OF SALISBURY...OR ABOUT 2 MILES NORTHEAST OF GOLD HILL...MOVING
  EAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  GOLD HILL AT 620 PM EDT. 
  
PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY
RAIN CAN OCCUR WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM.

$$

RWH/BPM

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 13, 3:43 PM EDT, 2 hours 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 3:43 PM EDT, 2 hours 33 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
343 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

GETTING VERY BUSY NOW WITH SEVERE WEATHER...NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN
SWAIN COUNTY...IN THE FAR WESTERN REACHES OF OUR AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY. ENTIRE CWFA IS BOXED...WITH NORTH CAROLINA PORTION
CONTINUING UNTIL 8 PM AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA/GEORGIA PORTION
TENTATIVELY PENCILED IN FOR A 6 PM EXPIRATION. THUNDERSTORMS ARE
MOVING INTO A FAVORED AREA FOR CONTINUED GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT...WITH IMPRESSIVE SPEED SHEAR PROFILE IN PLACE PER AREA
SOUNDINGS AND IN AN AREA OF UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE AS 25H JET SWINGS
INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. FRONT MAKING STEADY PROGRESS EASTWARD...BUT
WILL MAINTAIN LOW CHANCE POPS EARLY...ESPECIALLY WITH SEVERE WATCHES
IN PLACE.

MOSITURE EXPECTED TO DWINDLE RAPIDLY WITH FROPA...BUT SOME RESIDUAL
WRAP AROUND LOOKS TO WORK ITS WAY INTO OUR NORTHWEST COUNTIES LATE.
MAIN WEATHER FEATURE TONITE...AND FOR MOST OF TUESDAY...WILL BE
WIND...ESPECIALLY ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN. MOMENTUM TRANSFER OF PROGD
ETA SOUNDINGS SUPPORTS SOME WIND GUSTS TO 50 KT OR SO. AVN NOT
NEARLY AS AGGRESSIVE. WILL CONTINUE 20 TO 30 MPH WINDS ACROSS THE
MOUNTAINS TONITE...DIMINISHING SOMEWHAT FROM THE SOUTHWEST
LATE...AND AT LEAST 15 TO 25 FOR HIGHER TERRAIN ON TUESDAY. WILL
HIGHLIGHT WIND GUSTS TO 45...JUST BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA. FOR
FOOTHILLS/PIEDMONT...10 TO 20 AND GUSTY SHOULD SUFFICE.

DRY WEATHER LOOKS TO CONTINUE...BUT NOGAPS/UKMET AND LONGER RANGE
MRF (BUT NOT THE OPERATIONAL...THE ENSEMBLE MEMBERS) ALL SUPPORT A
FASTER FROPA FOR LATE WEEK...WITH CHANCE OF CONVECTION MOST OF
SATURDAY. WILL REMOVE POPS FROM SUNDAY AND MAKE MONDAY DRY. LITTLE
CHANGE TO LONGER RANGE TEMPERATURES.

FCSTID =
GSP   52  76  46  79 /  30   0   0   0
AND   52  78  48  80 /  30   0   0   0
CLT   52  76  45  78 /  30   0   0   0
HKY   51  73  42  74 /  30   0   0   0
AVL   49  67  41  74 /  30   0   0   0

.GSP...
GA...WIND ADVISORY FOR MOUNTAIN LAKES OVERNIGHT.
NC...WIND ADVISORY FOR MOUNTAIN LAKES OVERNIGHT.
SC...WIND ADVISORY FOR MOUNTAIN LAKES OVERNIGHT.

BURRUS

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 13, 4:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
428 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

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

418 PM     SENECA                    SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/13/02   OCONEE                         LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED
                                          A FEW TREES DOWN

424 PM     CLEMSON                   SC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/13/02   PICKENS                        SPOTTER REPORTED DIME
                                          SIZE HAIL

RBN

Local storm report, May 13, 4:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
434 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

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

420 PM     CARNESVILLE               GA   WIND DAMAGE
05/13/02   FRANKLIN                       SEVERAL TREES DOWN
                                          CARNESVILLE TO LIVONIA

RBN

Local storm report, May 13, 5:25 PM EDT, 51 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
525 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

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

445 PM     RUTHERFORDTON             NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/13/02   RUTHERFORDTON                  NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

500 PM     SHELBY                    NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/13/02   CLEVELAND                      NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

508 PM     SIMPSONVILLE              SC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/13/02   GREENVILLE                     COUPLE OF REPORTS OF DIME
                                          SIZE HAIL

520 PM     3 NW GAFFNEY              SC   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/13/02   CHEROKEE                       GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED ALONG HIGHWAY 11
                                          AT THICKETY MOUNTAIN

520 PM     10 NW GASTONIA            NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/13/02   GASTON                         6 IN TREE DOWN

RBN

Special weather statement, May 13, 5:35 PM EDT, 41 minutes before

NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-132230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
535 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #301 BEEN REMOVED FROM THE FOLLOWING
AREAS...THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...WEST OF A LINE
FROM HENDERSONVILLE TO NEWLAND.

THE LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA
AND CONTINUES TO MOVE TOWARD THE EAST AT 40 MPH.

DICARLO

Local storm report, May 13, 5:54 PM EDT, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
554 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

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

545 PM     1 N BELMONT               NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/13/02   GASTON                         FLAT ROOF CAME OFF BRICK
                                          BUILDING

536 PM     7 NE GAFFNEY              SC   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/13/02   CHEROKEE                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL NEAR
                                          BLACKSBURG

RBN

Local storm report, May 13, 6:12 PM EDT, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
612 PM EDT MON MAY 13 2002

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

600 PM     SALISBURY                 NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/13/02   ROWAN                          NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
                                          CHINAGROVE...LANDIS AND
                                          SALISBURY.

610 PM     CONCORD                   NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/13/02   CABARRUS                       TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWN IN CONCORD AND POWER
                                          OUT IN MT PLEASANT

RBN

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 13, 3:04 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain	56 min
May 13, 3:21 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Haywood, Madison	54 min
May 13, 3:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Henderson	47 min
May 13, 4:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Cleveland, Rutherford	41 min
May 13, 4:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Polk	30 min
May 13, 4:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Catawba, Iredell	39 min
May 13, 5:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Lincoln	43 min
May 13, 5:08 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Gaston	37 min
May 13, 5:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Cleveland	32 min
May 13, 5:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Davie, Iredell, Rowan	49 min
May 13, 5:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Mecklenburg	46 min
May 13, 5:38 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Cabarrus	52 min
May 13, 5:42 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Gaston	48 min
May 13, 6:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Mecklenburg	46 min
May 13, 6:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Union	55 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2002 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2002

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.