Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2005

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 5, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

February 21, 2005Oconee County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Feb 21, 2005, 5:36 PM EST for Oconee County, South Carolina. It was in force for 39 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
Feb 21, 2005, 5:36 PM EST (22:36 UTC)
Expired
Feb 21, 2005, 6:15 PM EST
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

County Oconee County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:39 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Feb 21, 1:45 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 205 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 12:00Z on 2005-02-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 88 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 12:00Z on 2005-02-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 187 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
88 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-50 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
553 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
187 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
177 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 212236
SVRGSP
SCC073-212315-
/O.NEW.KGSP.SV.W.0005.050221T2236Z-050221T2315Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
536 PM EST MON FEB 21 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

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

* UNTIL 615 PM EST

* AT 529 PM EST...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A SEVERE
  THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR LONG CREEK...OR ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLAYTON...
  AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  WALHALLA AND WESTMINSTER BY 545 PM EST
  SENECA BY 555 PM EST

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 3479 8332 3481 8327 3487 8324 3493 8312
      3493 8292 3492 8291 3479 8289 3474 8290
      3472 8286 3464 8285 3452 8295 3469 8335

$$
JRL/HG
1 follow-up statement
000 
WWUS52 KGSP 212256
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
555 PM EST MON FEB 21 2005

SCC073-212315-
/O.CON.KGSP.SV.W.0005.000000T0000Z-050221T2315Z/
OCONEE SC-
555 PM EST MON FEB 21 2005

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 615 PM EST FOR
OCONEE COUNTY...

AT 549 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL. 
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WESTMINSTER...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 50 
MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  OAKWAY AND SENECA BY 605 PM EST
  FAIRPLAY BY 610 PM EST

LAT...LON 3479 8332 3481 8327 3487 8324 3493 8312
      3493 8292 3492 8291 3479 8289 3474 8290
      3472 8286 3464 8285 3452 8295 3469 8335

$$
JRL/HG

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 Feb 21, 2:55 PM EST, 2 hours 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 21, 2:55 PM EST, 2 hours 41 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
255 PM EST MON FEB 21 2005

.SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)...
LATEST SFC ANALYSIS REVEALS WAVES OF LOW PRESSURE RIDING NE ALONG
THE FRONT DRAPED FROM WV TO CENTRAL TN. A SHARP DEWPOINT BOUNDARY
HAS SET UP ACROSS NRN AL/GA AND WEAK FORCING ALOFT CONTINUES FROM
THE SHEARING 500 MB SHORTWAVE AND SPURIOUS UPPER DIVERGENCE.
DEWPOINTS WITHIN THE CURRENT SVR TSTM WATCH AREA HAVE RECOVERED TO
50 TO 55 DEGREES...AND ADDITIONAL RECOVERY THROUGH THE LATE
AFTERNOON IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT. 850 MB FLOW
WILL CONTINUE TO VEER TO THE WEST AND THEN NW OVERNIGHT...WITH
DOWNSLOPE FLOW GRADUALLY ENDING CONVECTION EAST OF THE MTNS.

THE GFS AND NAM DIFFER WITH THE HANDLING OF ADDITIONAL WAVES
FORMING ALONG THE PASSING FRONT THROUGH TUESDAY...WITH THE NAM
INDICATING LINGERING MOISTURE AND SPOTTY UPGLIDE LATE DAY. THE GFS
IS PREFERRED WITH STRONGER DRYING AND LITTLE TO NO SFC BASED
INSTABILITY FOR TUESDAY.

COOLER AIR ARRIVES TUES NIGHT THROUGH WED ON NW FLOW...WITH SOME LOW
LEVEL MOISTURE BANKING UP INTO THE NRN MTNS AROUND DAYBREAK WED.
850 MB TEMPS SHOULD BE NO COLDER THAN -4 C AND MOISTURE IS VERY
SHORT LIVED...SO ONLY SCHC FOR RAIN/SNOW INDICATED IN THE NRN
MTNS.

THU REMAINS THE LARGER QUESTION AS SOUTHERN STREAM ENERGY GETS
GOING...SOONER ON THE GFS AND LATER ON THE NAM. WILL CONTINUE TO
RUN MAINLY SCHC TO VERY LOW CHC POPS ACROSS THE SRN TIER UNTIL THE
EVENT COMES MORE INTO FOCUS. NRN TIER APPEARS THE DRIEST...BUT
ALSO RUNS THE COLDEST WITH MARGINAL RA/SN ISSUES IF PRECIP CAN
WORK FAR ENOUGH NORTH.
&&

.LONG TERM (THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)...
SPLIT FLOW PATTERN REMAINS THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD. SRN STREAM
KEEPS PRECIPITATION VERY CLOSE TO THE CWA...HOWEVER...WILL KEEP THE
FORECAST DRY BASED ON A CONSENSUS OF THE MEDIUM RANGE MODELS. GFS HAS
BEEN CONSISTENT WITH THE CHC THAT MOISTURE TAILING THE CLIPPER COULD
RESULT IN A SCHC FOR SHSN OR FLURRIES OVER THE NRN MTNS...WILL
PRESERVE SCHC FOR 06-12Z SAT. DY7...L/W TROF BEGINS TO DIG OVER THE
CENTRAL CONUS RESULTING IN WAA AND GULF MOISTURE TO BUILD OVER THE
SE US...WILL INTRODUCE A SCHC MON AFTERNOON FOR SHRA. OTHERWISE...FA
SHOULD REMAIN BETWEEN SYSTEMS AND WILL FORECAST TEMPS CLOSE TO
CLIMO.
&&

.AVIATION...
MAIN SHORT-TERM AVIATION CONCERN IS THE TIMING OF CURRENT MCS
MOVING ACROSS THE REGION. WILL HANDLE CONVECTION WITH FM AND TEMPOS
THROUGH 22Z. FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING AND NIGHTTIME WILL EXPECT
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOG AND LOW CLOUDS. BY LATE TONIGHT...WILL FORECAST THAT
TERMINALS WILL SEE IFR TO LIFR CONDITIONS. MIXING SHOULD BE FAIRLY
QUICK AFTER SUNRISE...WILL BRING CONDITIONS TO VFR BY 15Z.
&&

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

SHORT TERM...HG
LONG TERM...NED
AVIATION...NED
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 21, 6:00 AM EST, 11 hours 36 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
600 AM EST MON FEB 21 2005

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-221100-
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-
600 AM EST MON FEB 21 2005

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

.DAY ONE...

WIDESPREAD SHOWERS WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THIS
MORNING. SHOWERS WILL DIMINISH THIS AFTERNOON...BUT SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

RWH

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 21, 12:59 PM EST, 4 hours 37 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1259 PM EST MON FEB 21 2005

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

1248 PM     HAIL             BRYSON CITY             35.43N 83.45W
02/21/2005  0.88 INCH        SWAIN              NC   POST OFFICE

            THE BRYSON CITY POST OFFICE REPORTED NICKEL SIZED HAIL
            WHICH WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE THE GROUND WHITE.

&&

OUTLAW
Local storm report, Feb 21, 1:23 PM EST, 4 hours 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
123 PM EST MON FEB 21 2005

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

1250 PM     TSTM WND DMG     10 NW FRANKLIN          35.28N 83.51W
02/21/2005                   MACON              NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            MACON COUNTY COMMS CENTER REPORTED A FEW TREES DOWN IN
            THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY WHEN THE LINE OF STORMS
            PASSED THROUGH BEFORE 1 PM.

&&

OUTLAW
Local storm report, Feb 21, 1:30 PM EST, 4 hours 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
130 PM EST MON FEB 21 2005

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

1230 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ROBBINSVILLE            35.32N 83.81W
02/21/2005                   GRAHAM             NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            GRAHAM COUNTY COMMS CENTER REPORTED NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
            ACROSS THE COUNTY. A TRANSFORMER DOWN AT LOWER PANTHER
            CREEK.

&&

OUTLAW
Special weather statement, Feb 21, 5:09 PM EST, 27 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
509 PM EST MON FEB 21 2005

GAZ010-017-212300-
HABERSHAM-RABUN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CLARKESVILLE...CLAYTON
509 PM EST MON FEB 21 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM TO AFFECT THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA MOUNTAINS
THROUGH 6 PM...

AT 505 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 50 MPH ACROSS TOWNS AND
WHITE COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA. THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL
MOVE ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN RABUN AND HABERSHAM COUNTIES THROUGH 6
PM. SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL BE VERY POSSIBLE WITH
THIS THUNDERSTORM. MOST LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED ARE THE TOWNS OF
BATESVILLE...TURNERVILLE...AND TALLULAH FALLS THROUGH 6 PM.

HG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 21, 6:03 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAnderson57 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2005Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2005

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.