Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2005

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 64, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 20, 2005Cleveland County, Gaston County, Lincoln County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 2005, 12:43 AM EDT for Cleveland County, Gaston County, Lincoln County, North Carolina. It was in force for 63 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
May 20, 2005, 12:43 AM EDT (04:43 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 2005, 1:46 AM EDT
In force
63 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Cleveland County, NC, Gaston County, NC, Lincoln County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:46 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 00:00Z, 4.7 hours before the alert went out and 155 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 00:00Z on 2005-05-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1135 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 00:00Z on 2005-05-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 133 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
1135 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-25 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
791 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
133 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
207 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
2.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WUUS52 KGSP 200444
SVRGSP
NCC045-071-109-200545-
/O.NEW.KGSP.SV.W.0064.050520T0443Z-050520T0545Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1243 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  CLEVELAND COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA
  LINCOLN COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA
  GASTON COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 145 AM EDT

* AT 1240 AM EDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE
  OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
  CHERRYVILLE...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF SHELBY...AND MOVING
  EAST AT 15 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  CHERRYVILLE BY 1250 AM EDT
  LINCOLNTON BY 120 AM EDT
  8 MILES NORTH OF DALLAS BY 125 AM EDT
  BOGER CITY BY 130 AM EDT
  IRON STATION BY 135 AM EDT
  6 MILES NORTH OF STANLEY BY 145 AM EDT

ALTHOUGH LARGE HAIL IS THE BIGGEST THREAT WITH THIS SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM...BRIEF DAMAGING WINDS COULD ALSO OCCUR.

LAT...LON 3542 8166 3525 8153 3534 8094 3556 8118

$$

RWH/NED
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KGSP 200509
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
108 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

NCC045-071-109-200545-
/O.CON.KGSP.SV.W.0064.000000T0000Z-050520T0545Z/
CLEVELAND NC-LINCOLN NC-GASTON NC-
108 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 145 AM EDT FOR 
GASTON...LINCOLN AND CLEVELAND COUNTIES...

AT 105 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
 THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR VALE...OR ABOUT 12 MILES WEST OF
LINCOLNTON...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  8 MILES NORTH OF CROUSE BY 120 AM EDT
  LINCOLNTON BY 125 AM EDT
  BOGER CITY BY 135 AM EDT
  8 MILES NORTH OF IRON STATION BY 140 AM EDT

ALTHOUGH LARGE HAIL IS THE BIGGEST THREAT WITH THIS SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM...BRIEF DAMAGING WINDS COULD ALSO OCCUR.

LAT...LON 3555 8165 3532 8157 3534 8094 3556 8118

$$

RWH/NED
000 
WWUS52 KGSP 200533
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
132 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

NCC045-200542-
/O.CAN.KGSP.SV.W.0064.000000T0000Z-050520T0545Z/
CLEVELAND NC-
132 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CLEVELAND COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THE 
COUNTY...THEREFORE...THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3556 8151 3533 8137 3534 8094 3556 8118

$$

NCC071-109-200545-
/O.CON.KGSP.SV.W.0064.000000T0000Z-050520T0545Z/
LINCOLN NC-GASTON NC-
132 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 145 AM EDT FOR 
GASTON AND LINCOLN COUNTIES...

AT 130 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL.
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR LINCOLNTON MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  BOGER CITY AND IRON STATION BY 140 AM EDT

ALTHOUGH LARGE HAIL IS THE BIGGEST THREAT WITH THIS SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM...BRIEF DAMAGING WINDS COULD ALSO OCCUR.

LAT...LON 3556 8151 3533 8137 3534 8094 3556 8118

$$

RWH
000 
WWUS52 KGSP 200546
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
145 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

NCC071-109-200555-
/O.EXP.KGSP.SV.W.0064.000000T0000Z-050520T0545Z/
LINCOLN NC-GASTON NC-
145 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR GASTON AND LINCOLN COUNTIES 
HAS EXPIRED...

THE STORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED...THEREFORE...THE 
WARNING HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

LAT...LON 3556 8151 3533 8137 3534 8094 3556 8118

$$

RWH

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 May 19, 9:11 PM EDT, 3 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 19, 9:11 PM EDT, 3 hours 32 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
911 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2005

.SHORT TERM (REST OF TONIGHT)...
CWFA CURRENTLY IN A CONVECTIVE LULL...ONLY SCT CONVECTION OVER NC
MTNS WITH ISOLATED ELSEWHERE. HAVE BACKED OFF ON EVENING POP TO
COVER CURRENT TREND. EXPECT CONVECTION TO PICK UP LATER AS SHORT
WAVE MOVES INTO THE AREA. 00Z RAOBS SHOW ATMOS BECOMING
CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING. THE SHORT WAVE
SHOULD PROVIDE ENOUGH LIFT FOR PARCELS TO REACH LFC. POP BECOMING
CATEGORICAL BY MORNING AS MCS...OR ITS REMNANTS MOVE INTO THE AREA.
RAOBS SHOW GOOD DIRECTIONAL SHEAR...BUT LOW SPEED SHEAR. AS THE WAVE
MOVES CLOSER...WINDS BECOME MORE UNIDIRECTIONAL BUT SPEEDS INCREASE
SIGNIFICANTLY. ISOLATED SVR TSRA STILL POSSIBLE THIS EVENING...BUT
CHANCES DIMINISHING WITH HEATING. MCS...OR REMNANTS...COULD PRODUCE
ISOLATED SVR TSRA OVER NC MTNS LATE TONIGHT...BUT CHANCE WILL BE
BETTER TO OUR WEST.

MADE SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO TEMP...DEW POINTS AND WINDS AS WELL.
&&

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
(ISSUED 257 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2005)

SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY)...
SCT STRONG TSTMS HAVE DEVELOPED ALONG THE LEE SLOPES THIS AFTN. THIS
WAS EXPECTED...BUT THE STRENGTH OF SOME OF THE STORMS IS A LITTLE
SURPRISING. MID 60 DWPTS AND A LIGHT UPSLOPE FLOW HAVE RESULTED IN
SB-CAPE VALUES OF BETWEEN 2000-2500 IN MANY AREAS. STORMS WILL
LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH SUNSET AS THEY DRIFT SOUTHEAST INTO THE AXIS
OF THE WARM...MOIST AIR IN THE LEE. SHEAR WL REMAIN QUITE WEAK AND
DO NOT EXPECT CONVECTION TO ACHIEVE AND DEGREE OF ORGANIZATION.

SYNOPTIC SCALE FORCING...IN THE FORM OF PRONOUNCED UPPER
DIVERGENCE...WL INCREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT AS UPPER LOW CURRENTLY OVER
SRN WI DROPS SE UNDER AN MUCH LARGER UPPER LOW OVER NEW ENGLAND. GFS
HAS COME AROUND TO A MORE NAM-LIKE SOLUTION AS BOTH MODELS OPEN THE
CLOSED LOW AND BRING IT THROUGH THE WRN CAROLINAS AS AN ADVECTIVE
SHORT WAVE FRI.

AS DIFFLUENCE INCREASES...EXPECT CONVECTION TO BECOME MORE
WIDESPREAD AFTER MIDNIGHT. MOS REFLECTS THIS WITH CAT POPS AND HAVE
FOLLOWED SUIT ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWFA. INSTABILITY IS QUITE LIMITED
BY LATE TNGT...SO THINK THAT SEVERE THREAT WL BE LIMITED.

WIDESPREAD PCPN WL CONTINUE FRI MORNING. BY FAR THE BEST DEEP LAYER
SHEAR AND INSTABILITY WL MISS US WELL TO THE WEST AS MID LEVEL WINDS
WL BE MUCH STRONGER ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE TROF AND LAPSE RATES
WL BE STEEPER THERE. HOWEVER...DESPITE THE WEAK SHEAR AND MORE
LIMITED INSTABILITY OVER THE WRN CAROLINAS AND NE GA...THE
COMBINATION OF GOOD LLVL CONVERGENCE WITH THE SFC TRIPLE POINT
WORKING THROUGH THE REGION...AND COOL TEMPERATURES ALOFT UNDER THE
TROF...SHOULD BE GOOD FOR A RASH OF CONVECTION IN THE AFTN. SOME
OF THESE WL PROBABLY PRODUCE SEVERE CRITERIA HAIL.

CONVECTION MAY CONTINUE WELL INTO THE EVENING FRI AS SFC CONVERGENCE
WL INCREASE BEHIND THE LOW AS A BACK DOOR FRONT DROPS ACROSS THE
CWFA. MODELS PROJECT GOOD MOISTURE POOLING ALONG THE BNDRY. ANY
PCPN SHOULD COME TO AN END EARLY SATURDAY WITH RAPID CLEARING AND
A BRISK NE WIND. CONTINUED MILD AND DRY ON SUNDAY.

LONG TERM (SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)...
MEDIUM RANGE MODELS HAVE TRENDED MORE TOWARD THE LAST FEW UKMET
AND/OR ECMWF RUNS WITH DEEPER DEVELOPMENT OF MEAN EASTERN U.S.
TROUGHING. OVERALL THIS LEAD TO A LOWERING OF DAILY MAXES FOR
DAYS 4-7...AS CWFA SHOULD BE CAUGHT WITHIN CYCLONIC CIRCULATION
AT LEAST INTO DAY 6...WITH TIMING OF ANY DEAMPLIFYING FLOW STILL
UNCERTAIN TOWARD THE END OF THE PERIOD. WILL PLAN ON ROUGH TIMING
OF IMPULSE AND ATTENDANT COLD FRONT SWINGING THRU ON MONDAY...WITH
JUST SMALL OR SLIGHT CHANCES OF DEEP CONVECTION AT THAT TIME.

AVIATION...
AN EARLY START TO DEEP CONVECTIVE INITIATION ALONG THE BLUE RIDGE
INDICATIVE OF OVERALL HIGHER RH & K INDEX VALUES ACRS THE CWFA.
WEAKLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT CONTRIBUTES TO DIFFICULTLY IN TIMING
TSRA CHANCES INTO ANY ONE TERMINAL...BUT BASED ON EXPECTED EVENTUAL
CVRG...FEEL THAT THERE IS 50/50 CHANCE FOR GREATER FOR TSRA TO OCCUR
AT ANY ONE SITE AT SOME POINT THROUGH 00Z...SO CONTINUED TEMPOS AT
ALL SITES THIS AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING. PROBABLY WILL WIND UP WITH
JUST A MIX OF DEBRIS CLDS AS THE EVENING WEARS ON AFTER DEEP
CONVECTION DISSIPATES WITH LOSS OF HTG. GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG
MODELS/NUMERICAL GUIDANCE IN REDEVELOPING AT LEAST MVFR LVL STRATCU
AFTER MIDNIGHT WITHIN LLVL WAA IN ADVANCE OF NEXT SLUG OF DEEP
FORCING AND RH...GENERALLY CENTERED AROUND DAYBREAK FRIDAY.

&&

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

SHORT TERM...RWH
Hazardous weather outlook, May 19, 3:52 AM EDT, 20 hours 51 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
352 AM EDT THU MAY 19 2005

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-
SCZ001>014-019-200800-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-AVERY-CALDWELL-
ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-
BUNCOMBE-MCDOWELL-BURKE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-
MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-POLK-RUTHERFORD-
CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION-
OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-
CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
352 AM EDT THU MAY 19 2005

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS AN INCREASING CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY...BECOMING
LIKELY TO CATEGORICAL OVERNIGHT. SOME STORMS ARE LIKELY TO CONTAIN
AT LEAST SMALL HAIL AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED FRIDAY...WITH A DECREASING CHANCE
FRIDAY NIGHT. THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY AND
MONDAY NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

RB

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 19, 9:42 PM EDT, 3 hours 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
942 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2005

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

0915 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CANTON                  35.55N 82.84W
05/19/2005                   HAYWOOD            NC   COUNTY OFFICIAL

            PORTIONS OF A TIN ROOF WAS DAMAGED ON A BARN ON HANNAH
            COVE ROAD.

&&

NED
Special weather statement, May 19, 11:41 PM EDT, 1 hour 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1141 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2005

GAZ017-018-026-028-200430-
FRANKLIN GA-HABERSHAM-HART-STEPHENS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CLARKESVILLE...HARTWELL...TOCCOA
1141 PM EDT THU MAY 19 2005

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO NORTHEAST GEORGIA BY MIDNIGHT...

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND SHOULD
PASS SOUTH OF CORNELIA TO NEAR TOCCOA AND CARNESVILLE.  THE
STRONGEST STORM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO FRANKLIN COUNTY BEFORE
MIDNIGHT.  THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO 45
MPH...PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL...AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES.
BRIEF HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND IN LOW
AREAS.

BENTHALL
Local storm report, May 20, 12:42 AM EDT, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1242 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2005

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

1237 AM     HAIL             REED CREEK              34.44N 82.92W
05/20/2005  1.00 INCH        HART               GA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            HAIL THE SIZE OF QUARTERS 5 MILES NORTH OF HARTWELL IN
            REED CREEK COMMUNITY.

&&

TJB

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 1:35 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAvery, Madison, Mitchell, Yancey56 min
May 20, 3:12 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPBuncombe, Henderson47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North 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.