Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 260, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 18, 2003, 6:05 PM EDT for Greenville County, South Carolina. It was in force for 55 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 18, 2003, 6:05 PM EDT (22:05 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 18, 2003, 7:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 55 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
County Greenville County, SC
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 21 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:09 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
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 260 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
- 887 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -83 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 983 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 4 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -20 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -42 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WUUS52 KGSP 182205 SVRGSP SCC045-182300- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 604 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2003 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... GREENVILLE COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA * UNTIL 700 PM EDT * AT 604 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF GREENVILLE...OR ABOUT 3 MILES WEST OF TRAVELERS REST...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH. * THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... TRAVELERS REST AT 610 PM EDT. PARIS MOUNTAIN STATE PARK AT 630 PM EDT. BEREA AT 635 PM EDT. WELCOME AT 650 PM EDT. GREENVILLE AT 655 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. LAT...LON 3510 8248 3497 8264 3473 8239 3491 8218 $$ HG/NED
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 18, 3:00 PM EDT, 3 hours 5 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 18, 3:00 PM EDT, 3 hours 5 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 300 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2003 SURFACE FRONT STRETCHES FROM SRN PA THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY AT 18Z THIS AFTERNOON. LEE TROUGHING IS OBSERVED THROUGH THE WESTERN CAROLINAS...WITH LAPS ANALSYS INDICATING BEST LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FLUX CONVERGENCE ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE IN NC. SOUNDINGS INDICATE CAPE VALUES ABOVE 3000 J/KG OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS WITH MUCH LESS CAPPING OF WARM MID LEVEL TEMPS EVIDENT. CONVECTION SHOULD INITIATE EARLIER TODAY...AND RADAR INDEED SHOWS TSRA FANNING OUT ALONG THE ESCARPMENT PRESENTLY. LOW WET BULB ZERO HEIGHTS ALONG WITH STEEP LAPSES OF EQUIV POTENTIAL TEMPERATURES FROM THE SFC TO 700 MB SUGGEST THAT HAIL AND DAMAGING DOWNBURST WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ANY CONVECTION. IR IMAGERY DEPICTS STRONG MCS OVER THE SRN TIP OF ILLINOIS AND STEERING CURRENT SHOULD DRIVE THE BULK OF THIS CONVECTION SOUTHWARD ALONG THE MS RIVER VALLEY. PROMINENT 500 MB SHORTWAVE IS INDICATED BY THE MODELS...HOWEVER...TO SWING SOUTHEAST AND CROSS THE SRN APPALACHIANS OVERNIGHT. THIS FORCING WILL INCREASE AS FRONTAL SYSTEM ALSO SLOWLY APPROACHES FROM THE N. WILL THUS NEED SOLID CHC POPS TO CONTINUE OVERNIGHT WITH THE BEST CHANCES LATE OVER THE MTNS AND THE NRN TIER. UPPER WAVE EXITS TO THE EAST EARLY IN THE DAY...THEN THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY SAGS INTO THE REGION AND STALLS. LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE AND INSTABILITY WILL ONCE AGAIN BE FAVORABLE FOR CHC POPS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SOME DRYING IS THEN INDICATED BETWEEN UPPER TROUGHS ON SUNDAY WITH WEAK SHORTWAVE RIDGING IN PLACE. ETA INSTABILITIES BUBBLE BACK TO 2000 TO 3000 CAPES BUT WITH SOME CAPPING EVIDENT. HEIGHTS THEN FALL IN EARNEST THROUGH THE EARLY WEEK. THE GFS PAINTS A SEVERE WEATHER SCENARIO AS 850 MB JET WRAPS INTO THE AREA COINCIDENT WITH THE APPROACH OF AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG COLD FRONT AND SIGNIFICANT UPPER FORCING. WILL NEED CHANCE POPS FROM PM MONDAY THROUGH WED WITH THE BEST CHC TUE. SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH DRYING AND TROUGH AXIS PROGRESSION FOR THU AND FRI...BUT DRY WEATHER STILL LOOKS GOOD. FCSTID = 33 GSP 70 86 69 88 / 40 50 30 20 AND 70 87 69 89 / 40 50 30 20 CLT 70 85 68 88 / 40 50 30 20 HKY 68 84 66 86 / 50 50 30 20 AVL 65 83 63 84 / 50 50 30 20 .GSP... GA...NONE. NC...NONE. SC...NONE. HG
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 18, 5:47 AM EDT, 12 hours 18 minutes before
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014- 019-181145- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 547 AM EDT FRI JUL 18 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA... UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING TORRENTIAL RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. A FEW OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN... THUNDERSTORMS WILL LINGER INTO SATURDAY MORNING...WITH MORE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER THE REGION SATURDAY AFTERNOON. ONCE AGAIN...A FEW OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE. THERE WILL BE A GOOD CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED. MCAVOY
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 18, 4:19 PM EDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
419 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
330 PM HENDERSONVILLE NC WIND DAMAGE
07/18/03 HENDERSON A COUPLE OF TREES BLOWN
DOWN ON 4TH AVENUE.
328 PM ETOWAH NC HAIL DAMAGE
07/18/03 HENDERSON DAMAGE REPORTED DUE TO
LARGE HAIL. HAIL SIZE NOT
KNOWN.
NEDLocal storm report, Jul 18, 4:42 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
442 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
410 PM COLLETTSVILLE NC .88 INCH HAIL
07/18/03 CALDWELL FIRE DEPT REPORTED NICKEL
SIZE HAIL IN
COLLETTSVILLE.
TJBLocal storm report, Jul 18, 5:18 PM EDT, 47 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
518 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
349 PM 5 NE BREVARD NC WIND DAMAGE
07/18/03 TRANSYLVANIA EOC REPORTED TREES DOWN
ON HWY 280 AND IN LITTLE
RIVER.
445 PM DYSARTSVILLE NC HAIL
07/18/03 MCDOWELL EOC STATED HAIL REPORTED
IN DYSARTSVILLE BUT SIZE
UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
TJBLocal storm report, Jul 18, 5:30 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
530 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
440 PM CHIMNEY ROCK NC LIGHTNING INJURY
07/18/03 RUTHERFORD ***INJURED 1, DEAD 0***
FIRE DEPT REPORTED PERSON
HIT BY LIGHTNING IN
CHIMNEY ROCK.
TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL
BUT ALERT AND TALKING.
TJBLocal storm report, Jul 18, 5:46 PM EDT, 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
546 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
530 PM LENOIR NC WIND DAMAGE
07/18/03 CALDWELL EOC REPORTED TREES DOWN
ON HWY 321 IN LENOIR.
TJBLocal storm report, Jul 18, 5:58 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
558 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
544 PM ENKA NC WIND DAMAGE
07/18/03 BUNCOMBE COUNTY EOC REPORTED ONE
TREE DOWN ON ENKA LAKE
RD.
LAMBThe office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 8:35 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Pickens | 55 min |
| Jul 17, 9:00 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | GSP | Pickens | 2 hr |
| Jul 17, 9:30 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Pickens | 60 min |
| Jul 17, 9:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Oconee | 52 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2003Every 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.