Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 55, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 2, 2003Laurens County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 2, 2003, 4:12 PM EDT for Laurens County, South Carolina. It was in force for 63 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: May 2, 2003, 4:12 PM EDT (20:12 UTC)
Expired: May 2, 2003, 5:15 PM EDT
In force: 63 min
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Laurens County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 45 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:13 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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 2, 2:35 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 8.2 hours before the alert went out and 259 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: 66 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -126 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1115 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -28 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 49 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 022012
SVRGSP
SCC059-022115-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
412 PM EDT FRI MAY 2 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 515 PM EDT

* AT 412 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM 10 MILES EAST OF GREENVILLE TO 11 MILES
  EAST OF ANDERSON...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  HICKORY TAVERN AT 430 PM EDT.
  LAURENS AT 440 PM EDT.
  CROSS HILL AT 450 PM EDT.
  CLINTON AT 455 PM EDT.
  JOANNA AT 500 PM EDT.

RESIDENTS OF LAURENS COUNTY TAKE COVER NOW THIS LINE OF STORMS 
WILL PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 70 MPH.

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE
ALERT FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN CAN OCCUR WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 3425 8195 3439 8222 3448 8231 3454 8222
          3477 8214 3467 8203 3465 8196 3459 8191
          3459 8184 3452 8165

$$

MOORE

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 2, 2:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 2, 2:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
249 PM EDT FRI MAY 2 2003

UPDATING FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ENTIRE AREA UNTIL 8 PM.

FCSTID =    7
GSP   82  58  77  51 /  70  40  20  20
AND   83  58  79  52 /  70  40  20  20
CLT   82  58  78  50 /  70  40  20  20
HKY   81  56  74  48 /  80  40  20  20
AVL   78  54  73  47 /  80  50  20  20

.GSP...
GA...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 8 PM.
NC...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 8 PM.
SC...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 8 PM.

O7

Hazardous weather outlook, May 2, 5:20 AM EDT, 10 hours 52 minutes before

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-021115-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
520 AM EDT FRI MAY 2 2003

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON.
SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY BE SEVERE. PLEASE SEE CAESPSGSP
SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON AND/OR EVENING.

LANE

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 2, 2:56 PM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
256 PM EDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

352 PM     BRYSON BRANCH             NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   SWAIN                          2 TO 3 TREES DOWN AT
                                          NEEDMORE ROAD.

354 PM     FRANKLIN                  NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   MACON                          1 TREE ON HOUSE.  SEVERAL
                                          TREES DOWN BLOCKING ROAD
                                          IN THE NORTHERN PART OF
                                          COUNTY.

KRENTZ

Local storm report, May 2, 3:24 PM EDT, 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
324 PM EDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

320 PM     WESTMINISTER              GA   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   FRANKLIN                       QUARTER SIZE HAIL

321 PM     SOUTHERN OCONEE           SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   OCONEE                         8 INCH DIAMETER TREE
                                          DOWN.

325 PM     HENDERSONVILLE            NC   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   HENDERSON                      QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

KRENTZ

Local storm report, May 2, 3:41 PM EDT, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
341 PM EDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

335 PM     ASHEVILLE                 NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   BUNCOMBE                       COUNTY REPORTS 6 TREES
                                          DOWN ON SOUTH SIDE OF
                                          ASHEVILLE.

322 PM     HENDERSONVILLE            NC   .88 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   HENDERSON                      SPOTTER REPORTS NICKEL
                                          SIZE HAIL.

336 PM     COUNTYWIDE                NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   BUNCOMBE                       COUNTY EOC REPORTS TREES
                                          DOWN COUNTYWIDE.

345 PM     CENTRAL                   SC   1.50 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   PICKENS                        SPOTTER REPORTS PING PONG
                                          BALL SIZE HAIL.

HG

Local storm report, May 2, 3:52 PM EDT, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
352 PM EDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

337 PM     COUNTYWIDE                NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   HAYWOOD                        SCATTERED TREES AND POWER
                                          LINES DOWN.

342 PM     CANTON                    NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   HAYWOOD                        DIME SIZED. LAYERED.

346 PM     WAYNESVILLE               NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   HAYWOOD                        LOTS OF TREES DOWN.

348 PM     CRUSO                     NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   HAYWOOD                        DIME SIZE HAIL.

KRENTZ

Local storm report, May 2, 4:03 PM EDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
403 PM EDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

400 PM     COLUMBUS                  NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   POLK                           SPOTTER REPORT.

JAT

Local storm report, May 2, 4:04 PM EDT, 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
404 PM EDT FRI MAY 02 2003

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

330 PM     BREVARD                   SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   TRANSYLVANIA                   TREES DOWN COUNTY WIND
                                          INCLUDING BREVARD AND
                                          LAKE TOXAWAY.

354 PM     TIGERVILLE                SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   GREENVILLE                     TREES LIMBS DOWN AND PEA
                                          SIZE HAIL.

TJB

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 2, 2:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Oconee	54 min
May 2, 3:05 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenville	55 min
May 2, 3:21 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Pickens	54 min
May 2, 3:40 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Anderson	80 min
May 2, 3:51 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenville, Spartanburg	54 min
May 2, 4:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Cherokee, Union	79 min
May 2, 4:42 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Spartanburg	33 min
May 2, 4:47 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	York	73 min
May 2, 5:00 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Chester	75 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.