Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 59, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 2, 2003Catawba County, Lincoln County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 2, 2003, 4:38 PM EDT for Catawba County, Lincoln County, North 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: May 2, 2003, 4:38 PM EDT (20:38 UTC)
Expired: May 2, 2003, 5:30 PM EDT
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Catawba County, NC, Lincoln County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:38 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, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 137 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.

243 
WUUS52 KGSP 022038
SVRGSP
NCC035-109-022130-

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CATAWBA COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA
  LINCOLN COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 530 PM EDT

* AT 438 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM 4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MORGANTON TO 9 MILES
  NORTH OF SHELBY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  VALE AT 440 PM EDT.
  LINCOLNTON AT 450 PM EDT.
  BOGER CITY AT 455 PM EDT.
  MAIDEN AT 500 PM EDT.
  NEWTON AT 505 PM EDT.

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 3572 8139 3557 8150 3542 8144 3542 8099
          3578 8113

$$
NED/HG

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 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 2, 2:49 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 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, 11 hours 18 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, 3:41 PM EDT, 57 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, 46 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, 35 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, 34 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

Local storm report, May 2, 4:13 PM EDT, 25 minutes before

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

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

335 PM     FLETCHER                  SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   HENDERSON                      LARGE TREE BLOWN DOWN IN
                                          FRONT OF SCHOOL BUS AT
                                          KANE CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL
                                          AND DIME SIZE HAIL.

355 PM     BRYSON CITY               NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   SWAIN                          TREES DOWN AND POWER
                                          OUTAGES

400 PM     GREENVILLE                SC   .88 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   GREENVILLE                     SPOTTER REPORTED NICKEL
                                          SIZE HAIL IN GREENVILLE.

402 PM     GREENVILLE                SC   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   GREENVILLE                     HAIL QUARTER SIZE IN WEST
                                          GREENVILLE NEAR HOSPITAL.

TJB

Local storm report, May 2, 4:21 PM EDT, 17 minutes before

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

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

420 PM     SIMPSONVILLE              SC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   GREENVILLE                     DIME SIZE HAIL FAIRVIEW
                                          ROAD AND INTERSTATE 85 IN
                                          SIMPSONVILLE REPORTED BY
                                          SPOTTER.

419 PM     2 E OLD FORT              NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   MCDOWELL                       SEVERAL TREES DOWN NEAR
                                          I-40 AND EXIT 73 AND OFF
                                          ZION HILL ROAD.

419 PM     8 S GREENVILLE            SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   GREENVILLE                     3 TREES DOWN ON
                                          SCUFFLETOWN ROAD.

352 PM     POWDERSVILLE              SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   PICKENS                        ROOF OFF OF HOME IN
                                          POWDERSVILLE NEAR HWY 123
                                          AND 124.

415 PM     SIMPSONVILLE              SC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   GREENVILLE                     DIME SIZE HAIL ON
                                          DEERWOOD CIRCLE ROAD
                                          REPORTED BY NWS EMPLOYEE.

428 PM     SIMPSONVILLE              SC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   GREENVILLE                     DIME SIZE HAIL ON HIGHWAY
                                          14 SOUTH OF GREENVILLE .
                                          WIND GUST TO 45 MPH
                                          ESTIMATED.

429 PM     EASLEY                    SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   PICKENS                        TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWN IN EASLEY AND
                                          SURROUNDING AREA.

432 PM     LIBERTY                   SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   PICKENS                        TREE DOWN AT FOREST VIEW
                                          APARTMENTS.

434 PM     POLKVILLE                 SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   CLEVELAND                      TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWN.

426 PM     5 SW GREENVILLE           SC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/02/03   GREENVILLE                     DIME SIZE HAIL ON
                                          INTERSTATE 85 AT EXIT 42.

435 PM     UTHERFORDTON              SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   RUTHERFORD                     TREES DOWN ALL OVER
                                          COUNTY.

439 PM     GAFFNEY                   SC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   CHEROKEE                       ROOF OFF BUILDING AND
                                          TREES AND POWER LINES
                                          DOWN IN GAFFNEY.

444 PM     MORGANTON                 NC   WIND DAMAGE
05/02/03   BURKE                          TREES AND POWERLINES
                                          DOWNIN SW PART OF COUNTY
                                          REPORTED BY SPOTTER.

TJB

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 2, 2:29 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain	76 min
May 2, 2:49 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Buncombe, Madison	56 min
May 2, 3:02 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Henderson, Transylvania	58 min
May 2, 3:27 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Polk	63 min
May 2, 3:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Rutherford	62 min
May 2, 4:17 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Burke, McDowell	58 min
May 2, 4:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Cleveland	49 min
May 2, 4:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Gaston	63 min
May 2, 5:04 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Iredell, Mecklenburg	71 min
May 2, 5:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Cabarrus, Rowan, Union	53 min
May 2, 5:38 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Davie	67 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North 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.