Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2004

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 113, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

July 4, 2004Davie County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 4, 2004, 5:35 PM EDT for Davie County, North Carolina. It was in force for 55 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
Jul 4, 2004, 5:35 PM EDT (21:35 UTC)
Expired
Jul 4, 2004, 6:30 PM EDT
In force
55 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Davie County, NC

The radar

The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 123 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:36 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 nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 63 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2004-07-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 653 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2004-07-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 62 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
653 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
550 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
62 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
61 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 
WUUS52 KGSP 042135
SVRGSP
NCC059-042230-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
535 PM EDT SUN JUL 4 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 630 PM EDT

* AT 531 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES WEST
  OF OVER MOCKSVILLE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  MOCKSVILLE AROUND 540 PM EDT
  FARMINGTON AROUND 555 PM EDT

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS IN THE COUNTY WILL ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO 
PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.

PEOPLE IN THE PATH OF THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM SHOULD BE ALERT FOR
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY
RAIN CAN OCCUR WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 3598 8070 3585 8071 3589 8049 3595 8037
      3604 8049

$$

MOORE

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 Jul 4, 2:33 PM EDT, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 2:33 PM EDT, 3 hours 2 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
233 PM EDT SUN JUL 4 2004

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...
KGSP 88-D SHOWS A LINE OF CONVECTION SETTING UP ACROSS OUR WESTERN
CWFA ASSOCIATED WITH WEAK MID LEVEL VORT OVER THE REGION AND OUT
AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING TROF AXIS. UPSTREAM RADARS ALSO INDICATE
SCATTERED CONVECTION DEVELOPING BEHIND THE MAIN BAND ORGANIZING IN
OUR WESTERN ZONES. AIRMASS UNSTABLE NOW AHEAD OF THIS LINE. LAPS
SOUNDINGS SHOW FAIRLY WARM MID LAYERS BUT WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH HEATING
LAST COUPLE OF HOURS TO BREAK ANY CAP...AND THE SOUNDINGS
CONFIRM CONTINUED ADVECTION OF DRIER MID LEVEL AIR INTO THE REGION.
COULD SEE SOME WIND DAMAGE WITH ANY COLD POOLS...AND WE HAVE HEARD
OF TREES DOWN UPSTREAM ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA WITH STORMS DEVELOPING
THERE. WE WILL HOLD ONTO LIKELY POPS FOR THE UPSTATE AND NORTHEAST
GEORGIA WEST OF A LINE FROM SPARTANBURG TO GREENWOOD. HIGH CHANCE
ALL OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

AFTER 02Z...WE HAVE LOWERED POPS GREATLY BUT WE MAY HAVE HAD ENOUGH
HEATING TO SUSTAIN CONVECTION THROUGH MIDNIGHT. COVERAGE COULD END
UP BEING A LITTLE GREATER THAN ANTICIPATED IN THE WEST DEPENDING ON
WHAT TRANSPIRES ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AHEAD OF A MAJOR
VORTICITY CENTER WHICH APPEARS TO BE SENDING A SPRAWLING COLD POOL
OUR WAY PER RADAR AND SATELLITE TRENDS. NEITHER THE RUC...ETA80...
ETA40 OR GFS PRODUCES MUCH PRECIPITATION IN OUR REGION WITH THIS
FEATURE. SUCEEDING SHIFT MAY NEED TO UPDATE EARLY TO INCREASE IF IT
APPEARS CONVECTION WILL COVER A WIDER AREA. MODELS INSIST THAT THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL BE DRYING OUT AS THE TROF AXIS MAKES MORE ENROADS
INTO OUR CWFA...BUT DRIER SURFACE AIR MAY BE CONFINED ONLY TO THE
NORTHWEST ZONES.

WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW AT SURFACE AND ALOFT WILL CAP OFF THE NEW
WEEK...AND AFTER SEVERAL COOL DAYS RECENTLY...IT APPEARS
TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO RETURN TO ABOVE NORMAL. 80S MOUNTAINS TO
90S FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT MONDAY AND TUESDAY...OVERNIGHT MINS
FALLING BACK ONLY INTO THE 60S WEST TO LOWER 70S SOUTH. SURFACE
LAYER IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN MOIST...WITH HEAT INDICES OVER 100 FOR
MOST OF THE SOUTHERN CWFA MONDAY (A FEW LOCATIONS IN THE UPSTATE AND
NORTHEAST GEORGIA ACTUALLY REACH A FORECAST VALUE OF 105 MONDAY)
AND SLIGHTLY COOLER HEAT INDICES FOR TUESDAY. MEANWHILE...LEE TROF
SHOULD SET UP BUT MOISTURE MAY BE TOO MARGINAL FOR MORE THAN
ISOLATED CONVECTION OUTSIDE THE MOUNTAINS. ANY FRONTS REMAIN WELL
NORTH OF REGION THROUGH TUESDAY. WILL CONTINUE CHANCE OF RAIN WEST
MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

MOISTURE SHOULD RETURN TO ENHANCE PROSPECTS OF MORE CONCENTRATED
CONVECTION WEDNESDAY...WITH TEMPERATURE COOLDOWN.

&&

.LONG TERM (WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY)...
THE 00Z GFS DEPICTS A SHEARING VORT AXIS ACROSS THE SRN APPALACHIANS
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY WITH A COLD FRONT STALLING JUST TO THE
NORTH...WHICH SUPPORTS SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS FOR THAT PERIOD.
HOWEVER...NEW GUIDANCE RETURNS TO THE RECENT TREND OF BUILDING UPPER
RIDGE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST LATE IN THE WEEK...WHICH SHOULD BE A BIT
MORE UNFAVORABLE FOR DIURNAL CONVECTION. WITH THAT IN MIND...WILL
LIMIT CHANCES TO THE MOUNTAINS BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...AND SLIGHT
CHANCE ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT. BY SUNDAY...SOME WEAKNESS
IS NOTED IN THE UPPER RIDGE...SO LOW CHANCE POP IN THE MEX GUIDANCE
IS ACCEPTED. ONLY MINOR CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO TEMPS...ALTHO HIGH
TEMP MIGHT NOT BE WARM ENOUGH LATE IN THE WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION...
BROKEN LINE OF CONVECTION SHOULD SWEEP EASTWARD ACROSS THE FORECAST
AREA DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE TAF PERIOD. WILL HANDLE
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VC UNTIL TIMING CAN BE ASCERTAINED...AT WHICH
POINT TAFS WILL BE AMENDED TO SPECIFY TIME WINDOW...WHICH SHOULD BE
NO LONGER THAN TWO HOURS AT ANY SITE. CONVECTIVE LINE ORGANIZED
AHEAD OF VORT LOBE THAT SHOULD MOVE EAST OF FORECAST AREA BY MID
EVENING. CEILING/VIS SHOULD BE VFR EXCEPT IN TSRA. IN WAKE OF
CONVECTIVE LINE...ONLY SCATTERED LOW CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED.
INTERESTING WRINKLE FOR THE EVENING HOURS IS PROGRESSION OF MCS SEEN
MARCHING ACROSS MS RIVER AT 18Z. AIR MASS OVER WEST SHOULD HAVE TIME
TO RECOVER LATE THIS AFTERNOON...LEAVING A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR
THE MCS TO MOVE RIGHT UP TO THE NC MTNS SOME TIME AFTER 00Z. THIS
FEATURE IS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE TAFS...BUT COULD BE ADDRESSED IF
CONVECTIVE TRENDS SUPPORT BRINGING IT ACRS THE MTNS DURING THE
EVENING HOURS. OVERNIGHT...EXPECT MVFR FOG TO DEVELOP IN MANY
SPOTS...BUT THAT SHOULD QUICKLY GIVE WAY TO VFR CONDITIONS SHORTLY
AFTER SUNRISE MONDAY.

&&

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

SHORT TERM...BURRUS
LONG TERM...MOORE
AVIATION...MOORE
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 4, 6:15 AM EDT, 11 hours 20 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
615 AM EDT SUN JUL 4 2004

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-051014-
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-
615 AM EDT SUN JUL 4 2004

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

.DAY ONE...

LOCALLY DENSE FOG ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAIN VALLEYS AND
EXTENDING EAST INTO THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT...WILL GRADUALLY
DISSIPATE THROUGH MID-MORNING

AN UPPER LEVEL AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL TRIGGER SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. PLEASE REFER TO THE
LATEST SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...SPSGSP...ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE FOR
FURTHER DETAILS ON TODAY/S SEVERE WEATHER THREAT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

A DAILY CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED FOR THE UPCOMING
WEEK...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:34 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
434 PM EDT SUN JUL 4 2004

NCZ066>071-082-SCZ006>009-011>014-019-042130-
ABBEVILLE-CHEROKEE SC-CHESTER-CLEVELAND-GASTON-GREATER GREENVILLE-
GREENWOOD-LAURENS SC-LINCOLN NC-MECKLENBURG-POLK NC-RUTHERFORD-
SPARTANBURG-UNION NC-UNION SC-YORK-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ABBEVILLE...CHARLOTTE...CHESTER...
GAFFNEY...GASTONIA...GREENVILLE...GREENWOOD...LAURENS...LINCOLNTON...
MONROE...ROCK HILL...RUTHERFORDTON...SHELBY...SPARTANBURG...TRYON...
UNION
434 PM EDT SUN JUL 4 2004

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH STRONG WINDS AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
MOVING ACROSS THE UPSTATE...

AT 430 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM ABBEVILLE...TO WARE SHOALS...TO
LAURENS...TO GREER...MOVING EAST AT AROUND 40 MPH. THROUGH 530 PM...
THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL MOVE EAST TO AFFECT LOCATIONS FROM
GAFFNEY...TO UNION...TO LAKE GREENWOOD...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF
SPARTANBURG...LAURENS...ABBEVILLE...AND GREENWOOD.

PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF
50 MPH AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. BOATERS ON LAKE
GREENWOOD SHOULD MOVE TO SHORE NOW. THESE STORMS MAY STRENGTHEN TO
SEVERE LEVELS...AND WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR SOME OF THESE AREAS
LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR LATER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

LANE
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 4:49 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
449 PM EDT SUN JUL 4 2004

NCZ034>036-054>056-042145-
ALEXANDER-BURKE NC-CALDWELL-CATAWBA-IREDELL-MCDOWELL-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HICKORY...MARION...MORGANTON...STATESVILLE
449 PM EDT SUN JUL 4 2004

...THUNDERSTORMS INTENSIFYING ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA FOOTHILLS...

AT 440 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM NEAR ELLENDALE...TO
LENOIR...TO MORGANTON. THROUGH 545 PM...THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL
MOVE EAST TO AFFECT LOCATIONS FROM TAYLORSVILLE...TO CONOVER...TO
PLEASANT GROVE...INCLUDING HICKORY AND VICINITY.

PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS CAN EXPECT GUSTY WINDS OF UP TO 50 MPH...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND A BRIEF PERIOD OF TORRENTIAL
RAINFALL WITH THIS AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS. BOATERS ON LAKE HICKORY
SHOULD MOVE TO SHORE IMMEDIATELY. THE ATMOSPHERE IS FAVORABLE FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE AREA. THESE STORMS MAY STRENGTHEN TO
SEVERE LEVELS...AND WARNINGS MAY BE REQUIRED IN THESE AREAS THIS
AFTERNOON.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR LATER
STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

LANE
Local storm report, Jul 4, 4:50 PM EDT, 45 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
450 PM EDT SUN JUL 04 2004

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

0430 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ABBEVILLE               34.18N 82.38W
07/04/2004                   ABBEVILLE          SC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN ON WEST PICKNEY STREET.

&&

SBK
Local storm report, Jul 4, 5:10 PM EDT, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
510 PM EDT SUN JUL 04 2004

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

0452 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SPARTANBURG             34.94N 81.93W
07/04/2004                   SPARTANBURG        SC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            POWER LINES DOWN NEAR ROEBUCK.

&&

SBK
Local storm report, Jul 4, 5:12 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
512 PM EDT SUN JUL 04 2004

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

0503 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG GREENWOOD               34.19N 82.15W
07/04/2004                   GREENWOOD          SC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            TREES DOWN IN GREENWOOD.

&&

SBK
Local storm report, Jul 4, 5:19 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
519 PM EDT SUN JUL 04 2004

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

0500 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ABBEVILLE               34.18N 82.38W
07/04/2004                   ABBEVILLE          SC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            POWER LINES DOWN IN ABBEYVILLE.

&&

SBK

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 4, 5:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBurke61 min
Jul 4, 6:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCatawba74 min
Jul 4, 6:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPLincoln, Mecklenburg53 min
Jul 4, 7:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCabarrus, Rowan57 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2004Every severe thunderstorm 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.