Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 231, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

July 13, 2003Chester County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 13, 2003, 5:08 PM EDT for Chester County, South Carolina. It was in force for 52 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jul 13, 2003, 5:08 PM EDT (21:08 UTC)
Expired: Jul 13, 2003, 6:00 PM EDT
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Chester County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 83 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:09 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 194 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: 160 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -142 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1169 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 69 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS52 KGSP 132108
SVRGSP
SCC023-132200-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
507 PM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CHESTER COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 600 PM EDT

* AT 507 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTH OF CHESTER...OR ABOUT 2 MILES NORTHWEST
  OF CORNWELL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CHESTER AT 515 PM EDT.
  RICHBURG AT 535 PM EDT.
  EDGEMOOR AT 550 PM EDT.

THIS STORM WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS.

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.

LAT...LON 3464 8134 3453 8116 3482 8089 3483 8122

$$
MCAVOY

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 Jul 13, 3:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 13, 3:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
331 PM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

FOR THE SHORT TERM...MULTICELLULAR CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND MOVE EAST ACROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS WELL
INTO THE EVENING HOURS. EXPECT A FEW MORE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS GIVEN
A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT OF COOL TROF AT MID LEVELS AND LOW LEVEL
CONVERGENCE ALONG AND SOUTH OF SURFACE BOUNDARY CUTTING EAST TO WEST
ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THE CONVECTION MAY PERSIST THROUGH THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS AS IT SHIFTS OFF TO THE EAST AS THE SYNOPTIC
ENVIRONMENT SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT...WITH SHORT WAVE ROTATING
AROUND BOTTOM OF UPPER TROF AND UPPER DIVERGENCE IN RIGHT ENTRANCE
REGION OF UPPER JET.

ON MONDAY...THE BEST FORCING SHIFTS OFF TO THE EAST...PUTTING THE
PIEDMONT IN THE GRADIENT OF PRECIP PROBABILITY WITH CHANCE ACROSS
THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS AND LIKELY TO OUR EAST. THE FORCING
SHOULD DIMINISH LATE IN THE DAY AS ENERGY PULLS OUT OF THE UPPER
TROF. AS A RESULT...CONVECTION SHOULD ALSO BE MORE DIURNAL IN
NATURE. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY SHOULD ALSO FEATURE TYPICAL DIURNAL
CONVECTION. HAVE STAYED RELATIVELY CLOSE TO TEMP GUIDANCE
THROUGHOUT.

FOR THE MEDIUM RANGE...HAVE FOLLOWED HPC SCENARIO AND GUIDANCE
FAIRLY CLOSELY...WHICH FAVORS THE ENSEMBLE GFS/ECMWF. THIS SCENARIO
KEEPS PRECIP PROBABILITY AND TEMPS CLOSE TO CLIMATOLOGY. SEE LITTLE
REASON TO CHANGE MUCH OF WHAT WE HAVE IN THE ONGOING FORECAST...WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF HIGH TEMPS ON SATURDAY...WHICH WILL BE RAISED A FEW
DEGREES TO COME INTO LINE WITH ENSEMBLE MOS GUIDANCE UNDER THE
ASSUMPTION THAT ANY FRONT THAT MIGHT MOVE THROUGH WILL BE WEAK.

FCSTID =   10
GSP   67  86  68  88 /  60  40  40  30
AND   68  86  69  88 /  60  40  40  30
CLT   67  85  68  88 /  60  50  50  40
HKY   66  84  67  87 /  60  40  40  30
AVL   63  82  63  84 /  60  40  30  30

.GSP...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.

MOORE

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 13, 4:50 AM EDT, 12 hours 18 minutes before

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-131100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
450 AM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND ORGANIZE
ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA IN RESPONSE TO AN UPPER LEVEL TROF MOVING
EAST TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST U.S.. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE
DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

SCATTERD...MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE POSSIBLE MOST DAYS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

RB

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 13, 3:54 PM EDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
354 PM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

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

326 PM     5 S EASLEY                SC   1.75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   PICKENS                        HAM REPORT.

340 PM     SIX MILE                  SC   WIND DAMAGE
07/13/03   PICKENS                        HAM REPORTED ONE FOOT
                                          DIAMETER TREES DOWN.

335 PM     PIEDMONT                  SC   1.75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   ANDERSON                       SPOTTER REPORT.

JRL

SCHOOL
                                          ROAD IN WEST PELZER.
                                          SPOTTER REPORT.

345 PM     15 NE ANDERSON            SC   .75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   ANDERSON                       DIME-SIZED HAIL IN THE
                                          WREN COMMUNITY. SPOTTER
                                          REPORT.

BURRUS

Local storm report, Jul 13, 3:56 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
356 PM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

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

347 PM     10 NE ANDERSON            SC   1.75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   ANDERSON                       SPOTTER REPORT OF
                                          GOLFBALL-SIZED HAIL ON
                                          WREN SCHOOL ROAD IN WEST
                                          PELZER.

347 PM     10 NE ANDERSON            SC   WIND DAMAGE
07/13/03   ANDERSON                       TREES DOWN ON WREN SCHOOL
                                          ROAD IN WEST PELZER.
                                          SPOTTER REPORT.

345 PM     15 NE ANDERSON            SC   .75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   ANDERSON                       DIME-SIZED HAIL IN THE
                                          WREN COMMUNITY. SPOTTER
                                          REPORT.

BURRUS

NWUS52 KGSP 131959
LSRGSP

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
354 PM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

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

326 PM     5 S EASLEY                SC   1.75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   PICKENS                        HAM REPORT.

340 PM     SIX MILE                  SC   WIND DAMAGE
07/13/03   PICKENS                        HAM REPORTED ONE FOOT
                                          DIAMETER TREES DOWN.

335 PM     PIEDMONT                  SC   1.75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   ANDERSON                       SPOTTER REPORT.

JRL

SCHOOL
                                          ROAD IN WEST PELZER.
                                          SPOTTER REPORT.

345 PM     15 NE ANDERSON            SC   .75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   ANDERSON                       DIME-SIZED HAIL IN THE
                                          WREN COMMUNITY. SPOTTER
                                          REPORT.

BURRUS

Local storm report, Jul 13, 4:15 PM EDT, 53 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
415 PM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

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

402 PM     3 E MORGANTON             NC   1.75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   BURKE                          EOC REPORT.

JAT

Local storm report, Jul 13, 4:37 PM EDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
437 PM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

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

325 PM     13 SW PICKENS             SC   WIND DAMAGE
07/13/03   PICKENS                        AT LEAST THREE TREES DOWN
                                          BETWEEN SOUTHERN WESLEYAN
                                          UNIVERSITY AND CENTRAL.
                                          SPOTTER REPORT.

BURRUS

Local storm report, Jul 13, 5:06 PM EDT, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
506 PM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

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

450 PM     10 NW ASHEVILLE           NC   WIND DAMAGE
07/13/03   BUNCOMBE                       COUNTY 911 REPORTS TREES
                                          DOWN IN LEICESTER.

BURRUS

Local storm report, Jul 13, 5:08 PM EDT, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
508 PM EDT SUN JUL 13 2003

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

441 PM     16 W LAURENS              SC   WIND DAMAGE
07/13/03   LAURENS                        TREES DOWN IN PRINCETON.
                                          LAURENS 911 REPORT.

441 PM     16 W LAURENS              SC   .75 INCH HAIL
07/13/03   LAURENS                        DIME-SIZED HAIL IN
                                          PRINCETON. COUNTY 911
                                          REPORT.

BURRUS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 12, 11:31 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenville, Spartanburg	59 min
Jul 13, 12:36 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Spartanburg	39 min
Jul 13, 1:09 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Chester	66 min
Jul 13, 2:43 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenwood	47 min
Jul 13, 2:38 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Pickens	52 min
Jul 13, 3:20 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Anderson, Pickens	40 min
Jul 13, 3:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenville	40 min
Jul 13, 4:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Anderson	45 min
Jul 13, 4:31 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenville	44 min
Jul 13, 4:43 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Laurens	62 min
Jul 13, 4:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	York	47 min
Jul 13, 5:46 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Abbeville, Greenwood	59 min
Jul 13, 5:49 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Laurens	41 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2003 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2003

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.