Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2004

Flash Flood Warning 38, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

July 18, 2004Greenville County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Jul 18, 2004, 7:29 PM EDT for Greenville County, South Carolina. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jul 18, 2004, 7:29 PM EDT (23:29 UTC)
Expired: Jul 18, 2004, 10:30 PM EDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area: Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Greenville County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 10 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:32 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 flash flood 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 nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 258 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: 282 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 592 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -7 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 50 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: -0.0
Supercell composite: -0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WGUS52 KGSP 182329
FFWGSP
SCC045-190230-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
729 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  GREENVILLE COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 1030 PM EDT

* AT 729 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  A THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL NEAR GREENVILLE...         
  MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH. FLASH FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO RESULT
  FROM THIS RAINFALL.

* THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE...
  OVER GREENVILLE AT 745 PM

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. EVEN MODERN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES CANNOT BE
SAFELY DRIVEN THROUGH FLOOD WATERS.

LAT...LON 3495 8241 3490 8228 3489 8223 3485 8223
      3478 8215 3473 8216 3471 8218 3464 8221
      3475 8245 3484 8248

$$

JAT

3 follow-up statements

000 
WGUS72 KGSP 190053
FFSGSP
SCC045-190230-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
852 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2004

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1030 PM EDT FOR GREENVILLE
COUNTY...

AT 845 PM EDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THAT HEAVY RAIN HAD
MOVED INTO THE SOUTHERN PART OF GREENVILLE COUNTY BETWEEN BETWEEN
PIEDMONT AND FORK SHOALS...WITH MOSTLY LIGHT RAIN FARTHER TO THE
NORTH. RADAR ESTIMATES THAT 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAS FALLEN ON THE
NORTH SIDE OF THE GREENVILLE METRO AREA SINCE 7 PM.

THE REEDY RIVER IN CLEVELAND PARK WAS AT 8.98 FEET AT 845 PM. FLOOD
STAGE IS 8 FEET. AT 9 FEET THERE WILL SOME SOME FLOODING OF
CLEVELAND PARK.

THE GREENVILLE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT THERE HAS
BEEN SOME MINOR FLOODING IN LOW SPOTS...AND A MANHOLE COVER WAS
REMOVED BY BACKED UP WATER ON SHAW STREET AND CREST LANE. THERE HAVE
BEEN NO OTHER FLOODING REPORTS.

LAT...LON 3495 8241 3490 8228 3489 8223 3485 8223
      3478 8215 3473 8216 3471 8218 3464 8221
      3475 8245 3484 8248

$$
MCAVOY

000 
WGUS72 KGSP 190145
FFSGSP
SCC045-190230-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
942 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2004

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1030 PM EDT FOR GREENVILLE
COUNTY...

AT 940 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED AN AREA OF LIGHT TO
MODERATE RAIN EXTENDING FROM PIEDMONT SOUTH TO PRINCETON. A FEW
LIGHT SHOWERS ALSO CONTINUED OVER THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTY.

NO ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF FLOODING HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. HOWEVER...
THERE IS STILL A CHANCE THAT MORE SHOWERS WITH HEAVY RAIN COULD MOVE
INTO THE COUNTY...AND THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO RUN THROUGH
1030 PM.

AT 933 PM EDT...THE REEDY RIVER IN CLEVELAND PARK WAS AT 8.33 FEET
AND FALLING. FLOOD STAGE IN CLEVELAND PARK IS 8 FEET. SOME MINOR
FLOODING WILL ALSO CONTINUE IN THE PARK UNTIL AROUND 1030 PM.

LAT...LON 3495 8241 3490 8228 3489 8223 3485 8223
      3478 8215 3473 8216 3471 8218 3464 8221
      3475 8245 3484 8248

$$
MCAVOY

000 
WGUS72 KGSP 190241
FFSGSP
SCC045-190300-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1040 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2004

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE FOR GREENVILLE 
COUNTY...

NO ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF FLOODING HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM GREENVILLE 
COUNTY AND THE REEDY RIVER HAS FALLEN BELOW FLOOD STAGE. THEREFORE 
THE WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3495 8241 3490 8228 3489 8223 3485 8223
      3478 8215 3473 8216 3471 8218 3464 8221
      3475 8245 3484 8248

$$
MCAVOY

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Jul 18, 2:41 PM EDT, 4 hours 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 18, 2:41 PM EDT, 4 hours 48 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
241 PM EDT SUN JUL 18 2004

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)...
VIS SAT ATTM SHOWING MAINLY RIDGELINE CU OVER THE MTNS WITH A
ENHANCEMENT IN THE IMMEDIATE LEE...EAST...LOW TOPPED CU. MOISTURE
CONVERGENCE OVER THE FOOTHILLS SHOULD CONTINUE UNTIL 0Z AS WEST MTN
WINDS INTERACT WITH NE FLOW OFF THE ESCARPMENT. EAST FACING
SLOPES/FTHILLS SHOULD BE THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE FIRST TS THIS
AFTERNOON. ONCE SH/TS DEVELOP THEY SHOULD BE CARRIED SE AT 5 TO
10KTS. WILL CONTINUE CHC POPS THROUGH THE EVENING. LOWER FREEZING
LEVELS...DRY MID-LEVEL AIR...AND MODERATELY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS WILL
INCREASE THE CHCS FOR SVR STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

DWPTS ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING IN THE L60S WEST TO U60S EAST...LIKELY
RESULTING IN CROSSOVER TEMPS A LITTLE LOWER. WITH LIGHT WINDS AND
CLEARING SKY PREDICTED TONIGHT FORMATION OF FOG WILL BECOME A
CONCERN. MOS DEPICTS A FEW PERIODS OF DENSE FOG IN THE MTN VALLEYS.
WILL ADD PATCHY FOG MENTION IN THE GRIDS...WITH DENSE FOG
HIGHLIGHTED IN THE VALLEYS.

MON...UNSTABLE CONDITIONS WILL ONCE AGAIN DEVELOP IN THE AFTERNOON
OVER THE FA. HOWEVER...PATTERN WILL BE LESS FAVORABLE FOR DEEP
CONVECTION AS DEEP RIDGING BEGINS TO BUILD LATE IN THE DAY. WITH THE
MAIN TRIGGER AS RIDGETOP CONVERGENCE I WILL HIGHLIGHT WITH CHC
POPS...ELSEWHERE...COVERAGE SHOULD BE LIMITED TO ISO. TUE...ATMOS
WILL DRY OUR FURTHER AND INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED TO PEAK LESS THAN
500 J/KG...WILL SIDE WITH A NO PRECIP MENTION GIVEN BY MOS.

WED...A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE NORTHERN TIER OF THE FA BY
THE AFTERNOON. TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE A FEW DEGREES OVER
TUES VALUES AND DWPTS RISE AS WELL. POOLING CAPES WEST OF THE MTNS
WILL COMBINE WITH WEAK UPSLOPE FLOW AND MAY INITIATE SH/TS. I WILL
ADVERTISE MAINLY CHC MTN POPS.
&&

.LONG TERM (THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY)...
REGION LIES BETWEEN SYSTEMS ON THU AS UPPER TROF FILLS AND MOVES OFF
TO THE NE WHILE HI PRES REMAINS CENTERED OVER THE W US. HAVE KEPT
CHANCE PRECIP OVER MTNS THU WITH SLIGHT CHANCE ELSEWHERE. STRONG
UPPER LOW OVER CANADA EXPECTED TO KEEP SENDING AN OCCASIONAL WEAK
SHORTWAVE TOWARD REGION...WITH A COLD FRONT FCST TO DROP SE AND
THROUGH THE AREA ON SAT. THIS WILL BRING A CONTINUED CHANCE OF RAIN
THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
&&

.AVIATION...
WITH FRONTAL BOUNDARY TO THE SE ALONG THE BORDER OF THE PIEDMONT
MOVING INTO THE MIDLANDS...BEST MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY REMAINS SE
OF FORECAST AREA. ATMOSPHERE ALONG AND SE OF I-85 HOWEVER IS STILL
UNSTABLE ENOUGH FOR SOME STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTN-EVE. HAVE
INCLUDED CB CLOUD TYPE AND VCTS FOR TAF SITES ALONG I-85. EXPECT
MVFR FOG LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY MORNING WITH IFR FOG ALONG FRENCH
BROAD VALLEY AT KAVL FOR A COUPLE HOURS AFTER SUNRISE.
&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...NONE.
SC...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...NED
LONG TERM/AVIATION...RB

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 18, 5:57 AM EDT, 13 hours 32 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
557 AM EDT SUN JUL 18 2004

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-191000-
ABBEVILLE SC-ALEXANDER NC-ANDERSON SC-AVERY NC-BUNCOMBE NC-BURKE NC-
CABARRUS NC-CALDWELL NC-CATAWBA NC-CHEROKEE SC-CHESTER SC-
CLEVELAND NC-DAVIE NC-ELBERT GA-FRANKLIN GA-GASTON NC-GRAHAM NC-
GREATER GREENVILLE SC-GREATER OCONEE SC-GREATER PICKENS SC-
GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS SC-GREENWOOD SC-HABERSHAM GA-HART GA-HAYWOOD NC-
HENDERSON NC-IREDELL NC-LAURENS SC-LINCOLN NC-MACON NC-MADISON NC-
MCDOWELL NC-MECKLENBURG NC-MITCHELL NC-NORTHERN JACKSON NC-
OCONEE MOUNTAINS SC-PICKENS MOUNTAINS SC-POLK NC-RABUN GA-ROWAN NC-
RUTHERFORD NC-SOUTHERN JACKSON NC-SPARTANBURG SC-STEPHENS GA-
SWAIN NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-UNION SC-UNION NC-YANCEY NC-YORK SC-
557 AM EDT SUN JUL 18 2004

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

.DAY ONE...

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON. AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM OR TWO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. SEE
THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK...UNDER THE PIL 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 FOR A PORTION OF
OUR FOREFCAST AREA.

44

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 17, 8:11 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	GSP	Greenville	3 hr
Jul 18, 7:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Spartanburg	49 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in South Carolina, 2004 Every flash flood warning 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.