Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2004

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 121, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

July 5, 2004Laurens County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 5, 2004, 5:06 PM EDT for Laurens County, South Carolina. It was in force for 69 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 5, 2004, 5:06 PM EDT (21:06 UTC)
Expired
Jul 5, 2004, 6:15 PM EDT
In force
69 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Laurens County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:08 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, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 255 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 2004-07-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 260 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2004-07-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 10 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
260 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-88 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1226 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
10 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 052106
SVRGSP
SCC059-052215-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
506 PM EDT MON JUL 5 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  LAURENS COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 615 PM EDT

* AT 454 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.  THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A
  LINE EXTENDING FROM 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF GRAY COURT TO 15 MILES   
  NORTHWEST OF GRAY COURT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  GRAY COURT AROUND 530 PM EDT

THIS LINE OF STORMS IS PRODUCING WIND DAMAGE ACROSS GREENVILLE AND 
SOUTHERN SPARTANBURG COUNTIES...AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO PRODUCE 
WIND DAMAGE IN THE GRAY COURT AREA. HAIL TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES CAN 
ALSO BE EXPECTED. 

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS LINE OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS. STAY INDOORS AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 3473 8215 3475 8215 3477 8213 3470 8207
      3467 8203 3465 8196 3460 8192 3457 8216
      3459 8219 3461 8221 3462 8221

$$

LANE

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 5, 2:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 5, 2:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 40 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
226 PM EDT MON JUL 5 2004

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)...
FIRST PERIOD CONCERN CENTERS AROUND THE CHCS FOR CONVECTION. MCS
OVER WESTERN KY WILL CONTINUE TRACK EASTWARD TOWARD THE APPALACHIANS
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE SYSTEM SHOULD QUICKLY DISSIPATE
AS IT REACHES THE HIGHER TERRAIN. ISOLATED SH/TS ARE DEVELOPING OVER
THE MTN PEAKS ATTM. WILL EXPECT COVERAGE OF THE LOCAL CONVECTION TO
SLOWLY INCREASE OVER FA BEFORE SUNLIGHT FADES. WILL FORECAST CHC
OVER THE MTNS AND ISO EAST...WILL END MENTION IN THE GRIDS BY 4Z TO
ACCOUNT FOR THE MCS.

AMPLITUDE OF MID-LEVEL HEIGHTS INCREASE TONIGHT AND WILL REMAIN HIGH
TUE. MESOETA SHOWS H85 TEMPS BUILDING TO 21C BY TUE
AFTERNOON...WHILE KEEPING SKY RATHER CLEAN. TEMPERATURES SHOULD RISE
INTO THE MID TO UPPER 90S OVER UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S DWPTS. HEAT
INDEX VALUES SHOULD REMAIN BELOW ADVISORY CATE...WITH WIDESPREAD
VALUES OF 100F LASTING 2-3 HRS.

LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO ORGANIZE OVER THE GREAT LAKES
TUESDAY NIGHT. AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE FA ON WED
AS H5 HEIGHTS BEGIN TO FALL. THE ATMOS SHOULD DESTABILIZE AS TEMPS
DECREASE ALOFT AND LLVL DWPTS POOL AHEAD OF THE FRONT...WILL
FORECAST DIURNAL CHC COVERAGE. THU...THE FRONT WILL SLOWLY PUSH
THROUGH THE REGION AND WILL AGAIN USE CHC POPS TO REPRESENT.
&&

.LONG TERM (THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)...
COLD FRONT FCST TO PUSH THROUGH CWA FROM THE NW ON THU...WHILE MAIN
ENERGY WITH UPPER TROF STAYS WELL N. WILL LEAVE CHANCE POPS IN
FCST...WITH HIGHER POPS OVER MTNS THU INTO THU EVE. UPPER RIDGE AND
SFC HIGH PRESSURE REALLY BEGIN TO BUILD OVER REGION FRI AND TROUGH
EARLY NEXT WEEK. WITH SOME LOW LEVEL MOISTURE LINGERING
HOWEVER...WILL KEEP LOW CHANCE POPS...MAINLY MTNS...THROUGH WEEKEND.
&&

.AVIATION...
UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER REGION TODAY WITH SUBSIDENCE ALOFT. THIS
SHOULD HELP SUPPRESS STRONG CONVECTION LATE THIS AFTN-EVE. WITH
SUFFICIENT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...STILL EXPECT SCT TSTMS MTNS AND
ISOLD ELSEWHERE UNTIL COOLING THIS EVE. DEW POINTS REMAIN FAIRLY
HIGH AND WITH WEAK SUBSIDENCE OVERNIGHT EXPECT MVFR FOG LATE TONIGHT
THROUGH AROUND DAYBREAK.

&&

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

SHORT TERM...NED
LONG TERM...RAB
AVIATION...RAB
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 5, 6:18 AM EDT, 10 hours 48 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
618 AM EDT MON JUL 5 2004

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-061017-
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-
618 AM EDT MON JUL 5 2004

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

.DAY ONE...

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

SPOTTY MORNING SHOWERS WILL GIVE WAY TO JUST ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY IN THE MOUNTAINS.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A FEW LOCATIONS COULD SEE HEAT INDEX VALUES IN
THE UPPER 90S THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

A DAILY CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY EACH AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...AND ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS...WILL CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF
THIS WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 5, 4:35 PM EDT, 31 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
435 PM EDT MON JUL 5 2004

SCZ007-008-052130-
CHEROKEE SC-SPARTANBURG-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GAFFNEY...SPARTANBURG
435 PM EDT MON JUL 5 2004

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AFFECTING PART OF THE UPSTATE...

AT 430 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM GREER...TO WELLFORD...TO NEAR
FINGERVILLE AND CHESNEE. THROUGH 530 PM...THESE STORMS WILL MOVE
SOUTHEAST AT AROUND 20 MPH TO EVENTUALLY AFFECT LOCATIONS FROM
WOODRUFF...TO PACOLET...TO NEAR GAFFNEY. THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF
SPARTANBURG.

GUSTY WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING...TORRENTIAL RAINFALL...AND PERHAPS SOME HAIL CAN BE
EXPECTED AS THE STORMS MOVE OVER THESE AREAS.

THE ATMOSPHERE ACROSS THE UPSTATE IS FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL
NEWS MEDIA FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

LANE
Local storm report, Jul 5, 4:39 PM EDT, 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
439 PM EDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0435 PM     TSTM WND DMG     TAYLORS                 34.92N 82.31W
07/05/2004                   GREENVILLE         SC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED WIND AT LEAST 50 KTS WITH LOTS OF SMALL
            LIMBS AND SOME LARGE LIMBS BREAKING OFF TREES

&&

JONES
Local storm report, Jul 5, 4:43 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
443 PM EDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0410 PM     TSTM WND DMG     TIGERVILLE              35.07N 82.37W
07/05/2004                   GREENVILLE         SC   PUBLIC

            REPORT OF DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR THE SANDY FLATS AREA.

&&

SBK
Local storm report, Jul 5, 4:43 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
443 PM EDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0410 PM     HAIL          TIGERVILLE              35.07N 82.37W
07/05/2004  0.75          GREENVILLE         SC   PUBLIC

            REPORT OF DIME SIZE HAIL NEAR THE SANDY FLATS AREA.

&&

SBK
Local storm report, Jul 5, 4:45 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
445 PM EDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0440 PM     HAIL             2 SW GREER              34.92N 82.26W
07/05/2004  0.75 INCH        GREENVILLE         SC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED NEAR RIVERSIDE HIGH

&&

JONES
Local storm report, Jul 5, 5:05 PM EDT, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
505 PM EDT MON JUL 05 2004

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

0455 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 NW WOODRUFF           34.79N 82.10W
07/05/2004                   SPARTANBURG        SC   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTED WIND BLEW DOWN SIGNS...DOWNED AT LEAST 2
            TREES...AND BLEW CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AROUND AT
            CASHVILLE

&&

JONES

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 5, 3:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPGreenville58 min
Jul 5, 4:40 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPSpartanburg80 min
Jul 5, 4:46 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPGreenville59 min
Jul 5, 7:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPGreenville49 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South 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.