Alert archive / South Carolina / Flash Flood Warnings in 2004

Flash Flood Warning 48, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

August 2, 2004Anderson County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this flash flood warning at Aug 2, 2004, 8:40 PM EDT for Anderson County, South Carolina. It was in force for 4 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
Aug 2, 2004, 8:40 PM EDT (00:40 UTC)
Expired
Aug 3, 2004, 12:30 AM EDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Anderson County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 55 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:41 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

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 214 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2004-08-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 604 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2004-08-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -33 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
604 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1668 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
12 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-1 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 
WGUS52 KGSP 030042
FFWGSP
SCC007-030430-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
840 PM EDT MON AUG 2 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 1230 AM EDT

* AT 840 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  FLASH FLOODING FROM THE TORRENTIAL RAINFALL PRODUCED BY A CLUSTER
  OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER ANDERSON...AND COVERING MUCH OF THE COUNTY...
  MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 15 MPH.

* THE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING FLASH FLOODING WILL BE AROUND...
  SANDY SPRING THROUGH 920 PM EDT
  STARR THROUGH 930 PM EDT
  IVA THROUGH 940 PM EDT

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT
QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY
IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING. 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.

LAT...LON 3473 8266 3476 8256 3472 8247 3465 8247
      3463 8245 3458 8246 3433 8255 3421 8275
      3428 8276 3436 8283 3444 8285 3448 8289

$$
HG
3 follow-up statements
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 030113
FFSGSP
SCC007-030430-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
906 PM EDT MON AUG 2 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1230 AM EDT FOR ANDERSON
COUNTY...

AT 906 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED ONE 
CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS EXITING THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE COUNTY NEAR 
IVA...AND A SECOND CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE NORTHERN 
END OF THE COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING SOUTH AT 20 MPH.

RADAR INDICATES THAT 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN IN SEVERAL 
LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTY OVER THE PAST THREE HOURS...AND THE NEXT 
ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 
INCHES THROUGH 11 PM.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL 
CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES
AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS. FLOOD PROBLEMS 
ARE LIKELY TO BECOME ESPECIALLY BAD IN LOW AREAS NEAR THE INTERSTATE 
85 CORRIDOR...ACROSS POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IN THE CITY OF 
ANDERSON...AND FROM STARR TO IVA.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED 
ROADWAYS. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE UP TO 
HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT 
TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

LAT...LON 3473 8266 3476 8256 3472 8247 3465 8247
      3463 8245 3458 8246 3433 8255 3421 8275
      3428 8276 3436 8283 3444 8285 3448 8289

$$
HG
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 030220
FFSGSP
SCC007-030430-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1020 PM EDT MON AUG 2 2004

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 1230 AM EDT FOR ANDERSON
COUNTY...

AT 1020 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
FAIRLY WIDESPREAD MODERATE RAIN...WITH A FEW EMBEDDED HEAVY RAIN 
SHOWERS...ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN ANDERSON COUNTY. RADAR 
ESTIMATES RAINFALL TOTALS OF NEARLY THREE INCHES IN MANY PLACES 
AROUND THE COUNTY...AND AN ADDITIONAL INCH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN 
LOCATIONS EAST OF ANDERSON BEFORE THE RAIN TAPERS OFF.

URBAN FLOODING IN POOR DRAINAGE LOCATIONS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED 
ON SEVERAL ROADS IN THE CITY OF ANDERSON...AND MANY STREAMS AND 
CREEKS ARE LIKELY NEAR BANKFULL AROUND THE AREA.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. MOVE 
UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS 
SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR 
VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY.

LAT...LON 3473 8266 3476 8256 3472 8247 3465 8247
      3463 8245 3458 8246 3433 8255 3421 8275
      3428 8276 3436 8283 3444 8285 3448 8289

$$
HG
000 
WGUS72 KGSP 030320
FFSGSP
SCC007-030430-

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1116 PM EDT MON AUG 2 2004

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR ANDERSON COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

AT 1116 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED THAT THE 
MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL HAD MOVED EAST OF THE COUNTY AND 
DIMINISHED. COUNTY OFFICIALS REPORT NO NEW FLOODING...AND THE 
EARLIER STREET FLOODING IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS HAD ALSO CLEARED. THE 
FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS THUS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3473 8266 3476 8256 3472 8247 3465 8247
      3463 8245 3458 8246 3433 8255 3421 8275
      3428 8276 3436 8283 3444 8285 3448 8289

$$
HG

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 Aug 2, 6:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 2, 6:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 40 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
600 PM EDT MON AUG 2 2004

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT)...
MTN COVERAGE HAS BEEN PLENTIFUL THIS EVENING WITH NNW UPSLOPE FLOW
INTO THE HIGHER TERRAIN. COMBINATION OF UPSLOPE AND OUTFLOW WINDS
NOW DRIVING COVERAGE FARTHER S ACROSS THE MTN TERRAIN AND WILL
UPDATE TO RAISE POPS.
&&

.LONG TERM (TUESDAY THROUGH MONDAY)...
DRIER AND COOLER HIGH PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE AREA FRIDAY AND
REMAINS THRU SUNDAY. DRY FCST THIS PERIOD AS PRECIP CHCS MINIMAL.
TEMPS WILL VARY FROM JUST BELOW NORMAL TO AROUND 5 DEGREES BELOW
NORMAL EACH DAY.
&&

.AVIATION...
SHRA/TSRA ARE SCATTERED ACROSS THE CWA ATTM. HOWEVER...ONLY REAL
CONCENTRATED AREAS AT TAF TIME WERE ALONG THE ESCARPMENT. CAN/T FIND
ANY SIG SFC CONVERGENCE TO GIVE ME CONFIDENCE TO PREDICT WHERE PCPN
MIGHT BECOME MORE CONCENTRATED THE NEXT 4 TO 6 HRS...SO HAVE GONE
WITH VCTS AND CB WORDING IN TAFS WHILE INCLUDING NO TEMPO GROUPS. WL
UPDATE TAFS AS IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT PCPN WL ACTUALLY OCCUR AT A
SITE. IT WAS THIS OR GO WITH 4 HR TEMPO GROUPS EVERYWHERE. PREVIOUS
SHIFT BROUGHT MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS TO ALL TAF SITES AGAIN TNGT. WITH
FLOW BECOMING A LITTLE MORE DOWNSLOPE AS TROPICAL CYCLONE MOVES UP
THE COAST...THERE WL BE MORE INHIBITION THAN THERE HAS BEEN FOR A
WHILE. HOWEVER...MAV MOS INSISTS ON BRINGING IN LOW CIGS...AND
W/VERY HIGH SFC DWPTS...WL PLAY ONE MORE NGHT OF LOW CLOUDS AND
VSBYS.
&&

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

SHORT TERM...HG
AVIATION...
LONG TERM...
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 2, 5:13 AM EDT, 15 hours 27 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
513 AM EDT MON AUG 2 2004

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-030912-
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-
513 AM EDT MON AUG 2 2004

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

.DAY ONE...
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER THE REGION
TODAY. THE CHANCES FOR RAINFALL WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AS BANDS
OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM TROPICAL STORM ALEX ROTATE INTO THE
WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA. THESE SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY
RAINFALL. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
ISOLATED TO SCATTERED MOUNTAIN THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP EACH
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A CLUSTER OF
THUNDERSTORMS TRAVELING ALONG A COLD FRONT MAY AFFECT THE MOUNTAINS
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT
THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

NED

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 2, 4:25 PM EDT, 4 hours 15 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
425 PM EDT MON AUG 2 2004

GAZ010-017-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-SCZ001>003-022300-
AVERY NC-BUNCOMBE NC-GRAHAM NC-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS SC-HABERSHAM GA-
HAYWOOD NC-HENDERSON NC-MACON NC-MADISON NC-MITCHELL NC-
NORTHERN JACKSON NC-OCONEE MOUNTAINS SC-PICKENS MOUNTAINS SC-
RABUN GA-SOUTHERN JACKSON NC-SWAIN NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-YANCEY NC-
425 PM EDT MON AUG 2 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL HAVE DEVELOPED ACROSS
THE MOUNTAINS LATE THIS AFTERNOON.  THE STORMS WERE SCATTERED...AND
WERE MOST NUMEROUS ALONG THE TENNESSEE BORDER WITH NORTH CAROLINA.
AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON BLEW DOWN SOME TREES
IN RABUN COUNTY GEORGIA.

THE STORMS WERE MOVING VERY SLOWLY...AND WERE DUMPING HEAVY RAINFALL
OVER SMALL AREAS.  RADAR HAS ESTIMATED 2 TO 2.5 INCHES OF RAINFALL
SINCE ABOUT 3 PM IN A SMALL AREA OF NORTHEAST MADISON COUNTY AND
NORTHWEST HAYWOOD COUNTY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

THE STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO BRING THREATS OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
WITH LOCAL FLOODING...STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS...AND POSSIBLY EVEN
ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...AND INTENSE CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
THROUGH MUCH OF THE EVENING.

LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OR FLASH
FLOODING WARNINGS.

JONES
Local storm report, Aug 2, 5:32 PM EDT, 3 hours 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
532 PM EDT MON AUG 02 2004

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

0529 PM     HAIL             1 W WAYNESVILLE         35.48N 83.02W
08/02/2004  1.25 INCH        HAYWOOD            NC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTS A FEW HALF DOLLAR HAILSTONES WITH MOSTLY
            PEA SIZE HAIL.

&&

HG
Local storm report, Aug 2, 5:59 PM EDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
559 PM EDT MON AUG 02 2004

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

0540 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CANTON                  35.55N 82.84W
08/02/2004                   HAYWOOD            NC   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

            HAYWOOD COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD REPORTS TREES BLOWN DOWN.

&&

HG
Local storm report, Aug 2, 6:57 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
657 PM EDT MON AUG 02 2004

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

0610 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 ENE HOT SPRINGS       35.92N 82.75W
08/02/2004                   MADISON            NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            COUNTY REPORTS SEVERAL TREES BLOWN DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY
            208.

&&

HG
Local storm report, Aug 2, 7:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
721 PM EDT MON AUG 02 2004

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

0640 PM     TSTM WND DMG     11 WSW CLAYTON          34.82N 83.58W
08/02/2004                   RABUN              GA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            TREE DOWN ON POWER LINE ALONG WEST WILDCAT ROAD.

&&

CSH
Local storm report, Aug 2, 8:36 PM EDT, 4 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
836 PM EDT MON AUG 02 2004

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

0800 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SANDY SPRINGS           34.60N 82.75W
08/02/2004                   ANDERSON           SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            DISPATCHER REPORTED LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN.

0810 PM     TSTM WND DMG     PENDLETON               34.65N 82.78W
08/02/2004                   ANDERSON           SC   PUBLIC

            WSPA-TV RELAYED REPORT OF TREES BLOWN DOWN.

0818 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STARR                   34.38N 82.70W
08/02/2004                   ANDERSON           SC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STACK OF 2 X4 LUMBER BLOWN AWAY.

&&

JONES

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in South Carolina, 2004Every 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.