Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 389, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

November 19, 2003Chester County, York County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Nov 19, 2003, 7:30 AM EST for Chester County, York County, South Carolina. It was in force for 45 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
Nov 19, 2003, 7:30 AM EST (12:30 UTC)
Expired
Nov 19, 2003, 8:15 AM EST
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Chester County, SC, York County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:29 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Nov 19, 2:20 AM ESTTornado WatchSPC6 hr
Nov 19, 7:25 AM ESTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 170 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2003-11-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 115 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2003-11-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 283 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
115 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
563 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
283 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
397 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
0.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS52 KGSP 191230
SVRGSP
SCC023-091-191315-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
730 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS EXTENDED A

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

* UNTIL 815 AM EST

* AT 729 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM 10 MILES SOUTH OF GASTONIA TO 9 MILES
  WEST OF WINNSBORO...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  ROCK HILL AT 735 AM EST.
  TEGA CAY AT 740 AM EST.
  FORT MILL AT 750 AM EST.
  FORT LAWN AT 755 AM EST.
  GREAT FALLS AT 800 AM EST.

ALTHOUGH TORNADOES HAVE NOT BEEN DETECTED WITH THIS LINE OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT. TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP
WITHOUT WARNING FROM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAN REACH SPEEDS OF 60 TO 100 MPH. THESE
WINDS BLOW DOWN TREES...POWER LINES...AND SEVERELY DAMAGE MOBILE
HOMES AND SOMETIMES BUILDINGS. VERY LARGE OR WIND-DRIVEN HAIL CAN
INJURE ANYONE CAUGHT OUTSIDE.

LAT...LON 3454 8096 3455 8122 3515 8121 3513 8104
          3507 8107 3511 8091 3489 8088 3463 8088

$$
JONES

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 Nov 19, 7:25 AM EST, 5 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 19, 7:25 AM EST, 5 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
725 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003

.DISCUSSION...
WILL UPDATE FOR REPLACEMENT TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 967 FOR THE NC NRN
FOOTHILLS AND ERN PIEDMONT. SHEAR AXIS MOVING EAST IN THE PIEDMONT
SHOULD CONFINE SEVERE THREAT MAINLY TOWARD THE INTERSTATE 77
CORRIDOR BY MID MORNING.
&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...FLOOD WATCH TODAY GAZ010...GAZ017>018.
NC...FLOOD WATCH TODAY NC MTNS AND FOOTHILLS.
SC...FLOOD WATCH TODAY SCZ001>007.
$&

HG
Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 19, 6:00 AM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes before
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-191245-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
600 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY

A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS
AND PIEDMONT OF THE CAROLINAS THIS MORNING. THIS LINE COULD PRODUCE
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH THIS MORNING...AND POSSIBLY ISOLATED
TORNADOES. SCATTERED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP BEHIND THIS
LINE IN THE AFTERNOON...AFFECTING THE MOUNTAINS IN THE EARLY
AFTERNOON AND THEN REACHING THE INTERSTATE 77 CORRIDOR BY LATE
AFTERNOON. THIS SECOND ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IS MORE LIKELY TO
PRODUCE LARGE HAIL. PLEASE SEE THE SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK...
CAESPSGSP...FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING
WILL ALSO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL BEFORE TAPERING OFF FROM THE WEST BY
NOON. RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD TOTAL 3 TO 6 INCHES ACROSS THE NORTH
CAROLINA MOUNTAINS...ESPECIALLY ON THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN
ESCARPMENTS...BY THE TIME THE PRECIPITATION DIMINISHES. PLEASE SEE
THE FLOOD WATCH...CAEFFAGSP...FOR MORE INFORMATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

HG

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Nov 19, 6:20 AM EST, 1 hour 10 minutes before
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-191300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
620 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003

...THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM TORNADO WATCH 965...

IN GEORGIA...
ELBERT...FRANKLIN...HABERSHAM...HART...RABUN...STEPHENS.

IN NORTH CAROLINA...
AVERY...BUNCOMBE...GRAHAM...HAYWOOD...HENDERSON...JACKSON...MACON...
MADISON...MITCHELL...POLK...SWAIN...TRANSYLVANIA...YANCEY.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA...
ABBEVILLE...ANDERSON...GREENVILLE...GREENWOOD...LAURENS...
OCONEE...PICKENS...SPARTANBURG.

...TORNADO WATCH 965 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EST FOR THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN NORTH CAROLINA...
ALEXANDER...BURKE...CABARRUS...CALDWELL...CATAWBA...
CLEVELAND...DAVIE...GASTON...IREDELL...LINCOLN...MCDOWELL...
MECKLENBURG...ROWAN...RUTHERFORD...UNION.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA...
CHEROKEE...CHESTER...UNION...YORK.
Local storm report, Nov 19, 6:35 AM EST, 55 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
635 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003

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

633 AM     8 SW GAFFNEY              SC   60 MPH TSTM GUST
11/19/03   CHEROKEE                       COUNTY OFFICIAL ESTIMATE.

JAT
Special weather statement, Nov 19, 6:35 AM EST, 55 minutes before
GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-191300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED FOR TIME OF ISSUANCE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
635 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003

...THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM TORNADO WATCH 965...

IN GEORGIA...
ELBERT...FRANKLIN...HABERSHAM...HART...RABUN...STEPHENS.

IN NORTH CAROLINA...
AVERY...BUNCOMBE...GRAHAM...HAYWOOD...HENDERSON...JACKSON...MACON...
MADISON...MITCHELL...POLK...SWAIN...TRANSYLVANIA...YANCEY.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA...
ABBEVILLE...ANDERSON...GREENVILLE...GREENWOOD...LAURENS...
OCONEE...PICKENS...SPARTANBURG.

...TORNADO WATCH 965 REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EST FOR THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

IN NORTH CAROLINA...
ALEXANDER...BURKE...CABARRUS...CALDWELL...CATAWBA...
CLEVELAND...DAVIE...GASTON...IREDELL...LINCOLN...MCDOWELL...
MECKLENBURG...ROWAN...RUTHERFORD...UNION.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA...
CHEROKEE...CHESTER...UNION...YORK.

HG
Local storm report, Nov 19, 6:44 AM EST, 46 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
644 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003

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

600 AM     SPARTANBURG               SC   WIND DAMAGE
11/19/03   SPARTANBURG                    TREE ON HOUSE. COUNTY 911
                                          REPORT.

625 AM     CHESNEE                   SC   WIND DAMAGE
11/19/03   SPARTANBURG                    TREES IN ROAD. COUNTY 911
                                          REPORT.

JAT
Local storm report, Nov 19, 6:58 AM EST, 32 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
658 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003

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

655 AM     5 NE GAFFNEY              SC   WIND DAMAGE
11/19/03   CHEROKEE                       COUNTY COMMS RECEIVED
                                          REPORT OF A TV ANTENNA
                                          RIPPED OUT OF THE WALL OF
                                          A MOBILE HOME.

LAMB
Local storm report, Nov 19, 7:13 AM EST, 17 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
713 AM EST WED NOV 19 2003

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

700 AM     1 W BOILING SPRINGS       NC   WIND DAMAGE
11/19/03   CLEVELAND                      COUNTY COMMS REPORTED
                                          TREES DOWN.

LAMB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 19, 5:54 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPSpartanburg51 min
Nov 19, 6:03 AM ESTTornado WarningGSPSpartanburg27 min
Nov 19, 6:38 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCherokee, Union37 min
Nov 19, 6:49 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPChester, York41 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.