Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2003

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 82, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 3, 2003Catawba County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 2003, 6:59 PM EDT for Catawba County, North Carolina. It was in force for 46 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 3, 2003, 6:59 PM EDT (22:59 UTC)
Expired: May 3, 2003, 7:45 PM EDT
In force: 46 min
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Catawba County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:01 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 3, 3:20 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 123 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: 3 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -94 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1075 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -29 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 141 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

642 
WUUS52 KGSP 032259
SVRGSP
NCC035-032345-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
658 PM EDT SAT MAY 3 2003

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 745 PM EDT

* AT 658 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES EAST OF HICKORY...OR ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTHEAST
  OF ST. STEPHENS...MOVING SOUTH AT 15 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CONOVER AT 705 PM EDT.
  NEWTON AT 710 PM EDT.
  MAIDEN AT 730 PM EDT.

ALTHOUGH LARGE HAIL IS THE BIGGEST THREAT WITH THIS SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM...BRIEF DAMAGING WINDS COULD ALSO OCCUR.

LAT...LON 3581 8111 3580 8139 3556 8135 3555 8096

$$
JAT/RWH

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 3, 3:25 PM EDT, 3 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 3:25 PM EDT, 3 hours 34 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
325 PM EDT SAT MAY 3 2003

UPDATE: UPDATING FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 221 ALONG AND E OF
BLUE RIDGE.

SHORTWAVE MOVES SE ACROSS VA TONIGHT...SUPPORTING BEST CHANCE OF
CONVECTION ALONG I-40 CORRIDOR. COLD FRONT DROPS S THROUGH
AREA...REDUCING MOISTURE ENOUGH BY SUN TO DROP POPS. BY SUN NIGHT
SURFACE RIDGE ALONG EASTERN SEABOARD...WITH ISENTROPIC LIFT BRINGING
CLOUDS AND POPS BACK INTO FORECAST. ATMOSPHERE STABLE SUN NIGHT
...BUT DESTABILIZES MON AND TUE AS WEDGE LIKE FEATURE BEGINS TO
ERRODE...GULF OPENS...AND TN VALLEY COLD FRONT APPROACHES. REMNANTS
OF FRONT REACH AREA TUE.

COLD FRONT STALLS ACROSS THE AREA AS WAVES OF LOW PRESSURE MOVE
ALONG IT WEDNESDAY. FRONT SLOWLY MOVES SOUTH OF THE AREA FRIDAY AS
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE NORTH. SFC RIDGING CONTINUES
SATURDAY. LEFT CONVECTION IN THRU THU. KEPT TEMPS CLOSE TO GUIDANCE.
THIS MEANT RAISING MAXES THRU MUCH OF THE PERIOD. COOLER TEMPS BY
DAY 7.

FCSTID =    7
GSP   56  74  57  71 /  40  10  40  50
AND   56  75  59  73 /  30  10  40  50
CLT   54  74  54  69 /  40  10  40  40
HKY   51  72  53  64 /  50  10  30  40
AVL   49  70  56  67 /  40  10  30  40

.GSP...
GA...NONE.
NC...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 040000 ALONG AND E OF BLUE
RIDGE..
SC...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 040000 EXCEPT ABBEVILLE AND
GREENWOOD.

O7

Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 5:30 AM EDT, 13 hours 29 minutes before

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-031130-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
530 AM EDT SAT MAY 3 2003

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS...AND MOVE ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT
OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA DURING THE AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. IN ASSOCIATION WITH THESE STORMS...ANOTHER OUTBREAK OF
SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA. PLEASE SEE CAESPSGSP FOR
DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED THIS AFTERNOON.

LANE

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 3, 6:22 PM EDT, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
622 PM EDT SAT MAY 03 2003

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

619 PM     10 SE LENOIR              NC   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/03   CALDWELL                       SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORTED
                                          NICKEL-SIZED HAIL AT
                                          GRANITE FALLS.

BURRUS

Local storm report, May 3, 6:33 PM EDT, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
633 PM EDT SAT MAY 03 2003

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

600 PM     TIGERSVILLE               SC   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/03   GREENVILLE                     COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTS
                                          NICKLE SIZE HAIL.

KRENTZ

Local storm report, May 3, 6:41 PM EDT, 18 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
641 PM EDT SAT MAY 03 2003

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

638 PM     13 SW PICKENS             SC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/03   PICKENS                        HAM RADIP REPORT OF
                                          DIME-SIZED HAIL AT
                                          CLEMSON.

638 PM     SPARTANBURG               SC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/03   SPARTANBURG                    HAM RADIO REPORT OF
                                          DIME-SIZED HAIL IN
                                          SPARTANBURG.

BURRUS

Local storm report, May 3, 6:48 PM EDT, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
648 PM EDT SAT MAY 03 2003

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

644 PM     10 S PICKENS              SC   .88 INCH HAIL
05/03/03   PICKENS                        SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORTED
                                          NICKEL-SIZED HAIL.

BURRUS

Local storm report, May 3, 6:50 PM EDT, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG SC
650 PM EDT SAT MAY 03 2003

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

643 PM     MOORESVILLE               NC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/03   IREDELL                        HAM OPERATOR REPORTED
                                          DIME SIZE HAIL.

645 PM     DOWNTOWN SPARTANBURG      SC   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/03/03   SPARTANBURG                    SPOTTER REPORTED QUARTER
                                          SIZE HAIL.

650 PM     EAST SPARTANBURG          SC   .75 INCH HAIL
05/03/03   SPARTANBURG                    SPOTTER REPORTS DIME SIZE
                                          HAIL COVERING YARD.

KRENTZ

Special weather statement, May 3, 6:58 PM EDT, 1 minute before

NCZ033>037-049-050-053>056-064-065-040000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
658 PM EDT SAT MAY 3 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 221 CANCELLED FOR PARTS OF WESTERN
NORTH CAROLINA...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #221 HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA:

AVERY...MITCHELL...YANCEY...CALDWELL...ALEXANDER...IREDELL...DAVIE...
BUNCOMBE...BURKE...CATAWBA...HENDERSON AND TRANSYLVANIA.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM THE AREA.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR THE MEDIA FOR THE LATEST WEATHER
INFORMATION.

BURRUS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 4:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Henderson	38 min
May 3, 4:39 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Polk	51 min
May 3, 4:44 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Davie	46 min
May 3, 4:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Alexander	45 min
May 3, 4:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Henderson	49 min
May 3, 5:17 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Iredell	58 min
May 3, 5:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Alexander	49 min
May 3, 6:07 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Catawba	53 min
May 3, 6:28 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Iredell	47 min
May 3, 6:30 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Rowan	60 min
May 3, 7:03 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Cabarrus	57 min
May 3, 7:42 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Iredell	48 min
May 3, 7:53 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	GSP	Catawba, Iredell	2 hr

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.