Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2005

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

April 12, 2005Abbeville County, Greenwood County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Apr 12, 2005, 6:32 PM EDT for Abbeville County, Greenwood County, South Carolina. It was in force for 43 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
Apr 12, 2005, 6:32 PM EDT (22:32 UTC)
Expired
Apr 12, 2005, 7:15 PM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Counties, with a storm outline in the text

Counties Abbeville County, SC, Greenwood County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 64 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:32 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 tornado 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
Apr 12, 4:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 235 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 2005-04-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2005-04-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 383 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1941 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
60 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
383 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
513 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 
WFUS52 KGSP 122233
TORGSP
SCC001-047-122315-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0006.050412T2232Z-050412T2315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
632 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  ABBEVILLE COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA
  GREENWOOD COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 715 PM EDT

* AT 626 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
A   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR DONALDS...  
OR ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF ABBEVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  WARE SHOALS AROUND 650 PM EDT
  9 MILES NORTH OF COKESBURY AROUND 655 PM EDT

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IN A HOME OR
BUSINESS IS AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY
FROM DOORS AND WINDOWS.

LAT...LON 3447 8232 3431 8215 3429 8209 3423 8200
      3421 8199 3421 8203 3414 8240 3437 8245
      3438 8246

$$

RWH/SBK
2 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KGSP 122258
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
656 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

SCC001-122306-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-050412T2315Z/
ABBEVILLE SC-
656 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR ABBEVILLE COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

LAT...LON 3447 8232 3431 8215 3429 8209 3423 8200
      3421 8199 3421 8203 3414 8240 3437 8245
      3438 8246

$$

SCC047-122315-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-050412T2315Z/
GREENWOOD SC-
656 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

...A TORNADO WARNING CONTINUES UNTIL 715 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
GREENWOOD COUNTY...

AT 651 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR COKESBURY MOVING 
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
 CORONACA BY 700 PM EDT

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL 
UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

LAT...LON 3440 8225 3431 8215 3429 8209 3423 8200
      3421 8199 3421 8203 3416 8224 3428 8230
      3434 8234

$$

RWH/SBK
000 
WWUS52 KGSP 122314
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
713 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

SCC047-122323-
/O.EXP.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-050412T2315Z/
GREENWOOD SC-
713 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN GREENWOOD COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
715 PM EDT...

THIS STORM HAS WEAKENED AND MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTY...THEREFORE THE 
WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.    

LAT...LON 3440 8225 3431 8215 3429 8209 3423 8200
      3421 8199 3421 8203 3416 8224 3428 8230
      3434 8234

$$

RWH/SBK

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Apr 12, 5:59 PM EDT, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 12, 5:59 PM EDT, 33 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
559 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

.SHORT TERM (REST OF TONIGHT)...
UPDATING TO CAPTURE LATEST CONVECTIVE TRENDS ON RADAR...AND TO ADJUST
DAYS ONE THROUGH THREE FOR LATEST MODEL DATA. SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS
WEDGE BOUNDARY LOCATED FROM KCLT TO KTRI. ANOTHER WEAK BOUNDARY EXISTS
TO S IN UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY...WITH SE WINDS OVER UPSTATE SC.
ADVANCING COLD FRONT MOVING E ACROSS AL TOWARD GA. WARM SECTOR SUPPORTING
NUMEROUS SHOWERS WITH SOME SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. WILL INCREASE POPS TONIGHT...
ESPECIALLY THIS EVENING...KEEPING MENTION OF SEVERE IN WATCH AREA NE GA
AND UPSTATE SC.

UPDATED WINDS WITH 18Z GFS...TRIMMING WIND SPEEDS LATE AS UPPER LOW EXITS
AREA. INCREASED CLOUD COVER MUCH OF DAYS ONE TO THREE AS MOISTURE LINGERS
AROUND PERIPHERY OF LOW. MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO POPS DAY THREE TO ALIGN BETTER
WITH NEIGHBORING OFFICES...BUT SHOULD NOT AFFECT WORDING. ADJUSTED TEMPERATURES
SLIGHTLY TOWARD A CONSENSUS OF LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE...AND POPULATED DEW POINT
GRIDS FROM ADJUSTED GFS.

&&

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
(ISSUED 431 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2005)

SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)...
UPDATE...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR GA/SC ZONES FOR CONVECTION
DEVLOPING IN GA IN HIGH SHEAR...MARGINAL INSTABILIT.

LATEST WV IMAGERY INDICATES DRY SLOT HAS PENETRATED THROUGH MUCH OF
THE CWFA. UNDERNEATH THIS FEATURE...LOW CLOUDS WERE ABLE TO SCOUR
BRIEFLY THIS AFTERNOON...ALLOWING FOR SOME WEAK DESTABILIZATION.
FAIRLY DECENT COVERAGE OF SHOWERS IS ONGOING ACROSS THE UPSTATE AND
THE SOUTHERN NC PIEDMONT. HOWEVER...AS THE DEEPER RH AND BETTER
FORCING/UPPER DIVERGENCE SHIFT NORTH AND EAST TONIGHT...THE HIGHER
PRECIP CHANCES SHOULD SHIFT TO THE NORTH BY EARLY EVENING.
THEREFORE...WILL FEATURE LIKELY POPS EAST OF A LINE FROM THE EASTERN
UPSTATE...TO THE FRENCH BROAD VALLEY THIS EVENING. BACKDOOR
FRONT/WEDGE BOUNDARY REMAINS STALLED ACROSS THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF
THE CWFA...AND MAY NOT MAKE MUCH FURTHER SOUTHWARD PROGRESS...AS
SURFACE HIGH OVER SOUTHEAST CANADA IS ACTUALLY FORECAST TO
RETROGRADE SLIGHTLY. FAR NORTHEEASTERN ZONES MAY STILL SEE A DECENT
IN SITU CAD EVENT...ESPECIALLY AS PRECIP COVERAGE INCREASES.

LATER TONIGHT...WILL LOWER POPS TO A CHANCE NORTH...SLIGHT CHANCE
SOUTH. LIKELY POPS WILL RETURN TO THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE CWFA
TOMORROW...AS THE UPPER LOW CROSSES THE AREA...WRAPPING DEEP RH
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFORMATION ACROSS THE AREA BY AFTERNOON. CHANCE
POPS WILL LINGER INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO FEATURE
A DRY FORECAST FOR THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...AS UPPER LOW
CONTINUES TO PULL AWAY FROM THE REGION.

LONG TERM (FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)...
GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO POINT TO A DRY MEDIUM RANGE. CYCLONIC FLOW
AROUND DEPARTING UPPER LOW IS STILL CAUSE FOR CONCERN ON FRIDAY AS
ANOTHER CHUNK OF ENERGY DROPS DOWN FROM THE NORTH...BUT IT APPEARS
AS THOUGH THE BEST CHANCE FOR PRECIP WILL BE TO THE EAST OF THE
FORECAST AREA. FEW DIFFERENCES ARE NOTED BETWEEN THE OLD FORECAST
AND THE NEW NUMERICAL GUIDANCE...SO ONLY MINOR CHANGES WILL BE MADE
TO TEMPS/SKY/WIND. THE SURFACE HIGH SHOULD FINALLY MOVE OFFSHORE
TUESDAY WITH SOME RETURN MOISTURE EXPECTED...HOWEVER THE SHOWERY
PRECIP IN THE AFTERNOON SUGGESTED BY THE 00Z RUN OF THE GFS IS
PREMATURE.

AVIATION...
ANOTHER TOUGH CALL ON THE AVIATION FORECAST AS LOW CLOUDS HAVE BEEN
SLOW TO DEVELOP. SURFACE BOUNDARY HAS ACTUALLY RETREATED
NORTHEASTWARD DURING THE LATE MORNING HOURS AS BOUNDARY LAYER WARMED
WHEN SUN PEEKED THROUGH ACROSS THE WESTERN PIEDMONT. ALTHO CEILING
MIGHT BRIEFLY DROP TO MVFR WITH THE PASSAGE OF AN AREA OF
SHOWERS...IT APPEARS THAT VFR CEILING WILL PREVAIL AT LEAST INTO THE
EARLY PART OF THE EVENING WITH A GENERAL SOUTHERLY FLOW AS THE
BOUNDARY REMAINS TO THE NORTH. WITH THAT DEPARTURE FROM GUIDANCE...
THE EVENTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF IFR CEILINGS BECOMES VERY UNCERTAIN.
MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT EVENTUALLY THE BOUNDARY WILL DROP SW
LATE THIS EVENING...SO IFR CEILINGS AND MVFR VISIBILITY WILL BE
INTRODUCED DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS PER MAV/MET GUIDANCE.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...JAT
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 12, 6:01 AM EDT, 12 hours 31 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
601 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033>037-048>059-062>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-131001-
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-
601 AM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

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

.DAY ONE...
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY.
SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE QUITE STRONG OVER THE
MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS OVER UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...NORTHEAST
GEORGIA AND THE SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS AND SOUTHERN PIEDMONT
OF NORTH CAROLINA. AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM CANNOT BE RULED OUT.
SEE THE LATEST SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK...ISSUED UNDER THE PRODUCT
INVENTORY LIST HEADER CAESPSGSP...FOR DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...

SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ON AND OFF ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA
WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS
TIME. DRY HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO BUILD OVER OUR REGION
FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION COULD BE POSSIBLE LATER TODAY.

44

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 12, 6:08 PM EDT, 24 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
608 PM EDT TUE APR 12 2005

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

0555 PM     HAIL             6 SSE ANDERSON          34.44N 82.61W
04/12/2005  1.50 INCH        ANDERSON           SC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            COVERED GROUND

&&

JONES

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 12, 5:43 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPAnderson47 min
Apr 12, 6:07 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPAbbeville23 min
Apr 12, 7:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPLaurens53 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2005Every tornado warning in 2005Tornadoes 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.