Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2004

Tornado Warning 22, NWS Columbia, SC

September 7, 2004Orangeburg County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at Sep 7, 2004, 12:34 PM EDT for Orangeburg County, South Carolina. It was in force for 26 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
Sep 7, 2004, 12:34 PM EDT (16:34 UTC)
Expired
Sep 7, 2004, 1:00 PM EDT
In force
26 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Orangeburg County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 45 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:33 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 tornado 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
Sep 7, 4:00 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC10 hr
Sep 7, 11:55 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 4.6 hours before the alert went out and 118 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2004-09-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2597 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2004-09-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 0 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2597 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
466 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
0 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
0 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
0 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 
WFUS52 KCAE 071634
TORCAE
SCC075-071700-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1231 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBIA HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  ORANGEBURG COUNTY IN CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 100 PM EDT

* AT 1230 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 3 MILES         
  SOUTHWEST OF CORDOVA MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  6 MILES EAST OF NEESES BY 1245 PM EDT
  6 MILES EAST OF LIVINGSTON BY 1250 PM EDT
  NORTH BY 1255 PM EDT
  WOODFORD BY 100 PM EDT

REPORT LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OR FLOODING TO YOUR COUNTY
SHERIFF...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT...1
800...7 7 5...7 1 9 9.

LAT...LON 3363 8096 3363 8093 3361 8093 3359 8089
      3337 8085 3333 8098 3336 8106 3365 8118
      3367 8116 3370 8104

$$

SJN

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Sep 7, 12:21 PM EDT, 13 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 7, 12:21 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1221 PM EDT TUE SEP 7 2004

.UPDATE...
TROPICAL DEPRESSION IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AT 16Z. CONVECTIVE ANALYSIS
SUGGESTS TORNADO THREAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING. INSTABILITY WILL REMAIN MODERATE FROM CAE AND POINTS
EAST. MID LEVEL DRY AIR IN SAV RIVER AREA MAY AID IN INCREASING
INSTABILITY...EXPECT RE-DEVELOPMENT IN EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA. VAD WIND
PROFILE FROM KCAE 88D 45 KT FROM 3000 TO 6000 FT...1KM EHI INDEX 1 TO
2...BRN AROUND 12. K-INDEX 36...POTENTIAL FOR VERY HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

TORNADO WATCH 808 REPLACED WITH 809 TIL 700 PM.
&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
THE GFS HAS VERIFIED BETTER AND IS CLOSER TO THE TPC TRACK SO PLAN
TO USE THIS MODEL FOR THE FORECAST. THE MAIN FORECAST PROBLEMS ARE
THE TORNADO AND FLOOD THREATS. THE GFS SHOWS HIGH SHEAR CONTINUING
THROUGH TONIGHT WITH H85 WINDS NEAR 40 KNOTS. THE TROPICAL MOISTURE
PLUS LOW LIFTING CONDENSATION LEVELS SUPPORT A POSSIBILITY OF
TORNADOES. THE THREAT MAY BE GREATEST THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE OF
HEATING. THE CHS RAOB SHOWED PRECIPITABLE WATER NEAR 2.4 INCHES.
TROPICAL MOISTURE AND TRAINING IN THE BANDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
REMNANTS OF THE HURRICANE SUPPORTS VERY HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLE
FLOODING. WE HAVE ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE REMNANTS OF FRANCES SHOULD BE LIFTING NORTH OF THE REGION FOR
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...BUT THE GFS SHOWS A SURFACE TROUGH
LINGERING IN THE FORECAST AREA. THIS FEATURE SHOULD SUPPORT
CONTINUED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. THE H5 TROUGH APPEARS TO LIFT
OUT WITH THE FLOW BECOMING CONFLUENT SO EXPECT COVERAGE WILL DIMINISH
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF UPPER-LEVEL LIFT.

PLAN TO CUT THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS HIGHS SLIGHTLY BECAUSE OF
CLOUDINESS AND RAISE THE LOWS SLIGHTLY BECAUSE OF MIXING AND THE
TROPICAL MOISTURE TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

THE GFS SHOWS AN ONSHORE FLOW AND ALSO A COASTAL TROUGH DURING THE
PERIOD. PLAN TO USE THE MEX POPS AND TEMPERATURES.

SOUTHEAST LOW-LEVEL FLOW ADVECTING MOISTURE INTO THE REGION.
GENERALLY EXPECT MVFR THROUGH THE PERIOD AS THE REMNANTS OF THE
TROPICAL SYSTEM MOVE NORTHWARD.

TODAY     SE 13 1000
WEDNESDAY SE 14 1200
&&

.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT...LAKE WIND ADVISORY TODAY
GA...FLOOD WATCH TODAY AND TONIGHT...LAKE WIND ADVISORY TODAY
&&

AWP

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 7, 10:44 AM EDT, 1 hour 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1044 AM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1040 AM     TORNADO          10 SE LANCASTER         34.62N 80.66W
09/07/2004                   LANCASTER          SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LANCASTER SHERIFF RPTS TORNADO ON GROUND NEAR RIDGEHILL.

1040 AM     FLASH FLOOD      10 SE LANCASTER         34.62N 80.66W
09/07/2004                   LANCASTER          SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LANCASTER SHERIFF RPTS TORNADO ON GROUND NEAR RIDGEHILL.

&&

TA
Local storm report, Sep 7, 10:45 AM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1045 AM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1015 AM     FUNNEL CLOUD     SUMMERTON               33.60N 80.35W
09/07/2004                   CLARENDON          SC   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC RPTS FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR SUMMERTON.

&&

TA
Local storm report, Sep 7, 10:45 AM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1045 AM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1040 AM     TORNADO          10 SE LANCASTER         34.62N 80.66W
09/07/2004                   LANCASTER          SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LANCASTER SHERIFF RPTS TORNADO ON GROUND NEAR RIDGEHILL.

&&

TA
Local storm report, Sep 7, 10:45 AM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1045 AM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1040 AM     TORNADO          10 SE LANCASTER         34.62N 80.66W
09/07/2004                   LANCASTER          SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            LANCASTER SHERIFF RPTS TORNADO ON GROUND NEAR RICH HILL.

&&

TA/TTH
Local storm report, Sep 7, 11:32 AM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1132 AM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1123 AM     TORNADO          2 SE CAMDEN             34.24N 80.59W
09/07/2004                   KERSHAW            SC   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTED TORNADO ON THE GROUND NEAR THE
            INTERSECTION OF US 521 AND LOCKHART ROAD ABOUT 2 MILES
            SOUHTEAST OF THE CITY OF CAMDEN.

&&

TTH
Local storm report, Sep 7, 12:18 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1218 PM EDT TUE SEP 07 2004

..TIME...   ...EVENT...     ...CITY LOCATION...      ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....     ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0830 AM     TORNADO          SUMTER                  33.94N 80.39W
09/07/2004                   SUMTER             SC   EMERGENCY MNGR

            EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED 30 HOMES DESTROYED. ALSO 3
            INJURIES.

&&

TTH

The office that day

Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 7, 3:08 AM EDTTornado WarningCAECalhoun37 min
Sep 7, 3:21 AM EDTTornado WarningCAEOrangeburg39 min
Sep 7, 4:23 AM EDTTornado WarningCAECalhoun22 min
Sep 7, 4:29 AM EDTTornado WarningCAEOrangeburg31 min
Sep 7, 4:38 AM EDTTornado WarningCAERichland37 min
Sep 7, 5:23 AM EDTTornado WarningCAERichland22 min
Sep 7, 6:07 AM EDTTornado WarningCAERichland38 min
Sep 7, 6:12 AM EDTTornado WarningCAEBarnwell48 min
Sep 7, 6:47 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningCAECalhoun, Richland3 hr
Sep 7, 7:07 AM EDTTornado WarningCAEAiken23 min
Sep 7, 7:44 AM EDTTornado WarningCAEClarendon21 min
Sep 7, 8:27 AM EDTTornado WarningCAESumter18 min
Sep 7, 8:30 AM EDTTornado WarningCAELee, Sumter30 min
Sep 7, 9:03 AM EDTTornado WarningCAEKershaw, Lee42 min
Sep 7, 9:37 AM EDTTornado WarningCAECalhoun, Orangeburg23 min
Sep 7, 9:38 AM EDTTornado WarningCAEClarendon37 min
Sep 7, 9:55 AM EDTTornado WarningCAESumter50 min
Sep 7, 10:34 AM EDTTornado WarningCAELancaster41 min
Sep 7, 11:05 AM EDTTornado WarningCAEKershaw25 min
Sep 7, 12:33 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEOrangeburg27 min
Sep 7, 3:31 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEChesterfield44 min
Sep 7, 4:07 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEBamberg38 min
Sep 7, 5:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEOrangeburg20 min
Sep 7, 6:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAECalhoun19 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2004Every tornado warning in 2004Tornadoes in 2004

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.