Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2008
Tornado Warning 17, NWS Charleston, SC
NWS Charleston, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2008, 9:34 PM EDT for Effingham County, Georgia; Jasper County, South Carolina. It was in force for 33 min. 8 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 15, 2008, 9:34 PM EDT (01:34 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 15, 2008, 10:07 PM EDT
- In force
- 33 min
- Issued by
- NWS Charleston, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Effingham County, GA, Jasper County, SC
The radar
The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 35 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:33 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 9:34 PM EDT | TORNADO | 1 Ne Springfield, GA | *** 6 INJ *** EF2 TORNADO CONFIRMED BY NWS CHARLESTON STORM SURVEY. PATH LENGTH OF 2.5 MILES AND MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH OF 1/4 MILE. ESTIMATED WIND SPEEDS 110-120 MPH. DESTROYED 3 MOBILE HOMES...DAMAGED 3-4 DOZEN HOMES...15 HIGH VOLTAGE TOWERS TOPPLED...DAMAGED 20 |
| Mar 15, 9:34 PM EDT | TORNADO | 1 Ne Springfield, GA | *** 6 INJ *** EF2 TORNADO CONFIRMED BY NWS CHARLESTON STORM SURVEY. PATH LENGTH OF 7 MILES AND MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH OF 1/4 MILE. ESTIMATED WIND SPEEDS 110-120 MPH. DESTROYED 3 MOBILE HOMES...DAMAGED 3-4 DOZEN HOMES...15 HIGH VOLTAGE TOWERS TOPPLED...DAMAGED 20 V |
| Mar 15, 9:43 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nne Rincon, GA | POSSIBLE TORNADO. SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED. A FEW LARGE STEEL HIGH-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION TOWERS TWISTED NEAR CROSSING WITH HWY 275. WIDESPREAD TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN IN VICINITY. SOME WELL-BUILT STRUCTURES AS WELL AS OUTBUILDINGS DAMAGED. MANY TREES S |
| Mar 15, 9:43 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 N Rincon, GA | *** 3 INJ *** AT LEAST 3 MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED ON EBENEZER ROAD. POSSIBLE TORNADO. 1 CHILD WAS THROWN FROM THE HOME AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. 2 OTHERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. |
| Mar 15, 9:43 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 3 N Rincon, GA | MOBILE HOME DESTROYED ON EBENEZER ROAD. POSSIBLE TORNADO. |
| Mar 15, 9:43 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 8 S Clyo, GA | POWER STATION DESTROYED. POSSIBLE TORNADO. |
| Mar 15, 9:43 PM EDT | TORNADO | 2 Ne Rincon, GA | EF2 TORNADO CONFIRMED BY NWS CHARLESTON STORM SURVEY. PATH LENGTH OF 0.5 MILES AND MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH OF 100 YARDS. ESTIMATED WIND SPEEDS OF 120-130 MPH. TORNADO CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO GEORGIA POWER MCINTOSH PLANT. 1 WATER COOLING RESERVOIR TOWER BUILDIN |
| Mar 15, 9:43 PM EDT | TORNADO | 3 Ne Rincon, GA | EF2 TORNADO CONFIRMED BY NWS CHARLESTON STORM SURVEY. PATH LENGTH OF 0.5 MILES AND MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH OF 100 YARDS. ESTIMATED WIND SPEEDS OF 120-130 MPH. TORNADO CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO GEORGIA POWER MCINTOSH PLANT. 1 WATER COOLING RESERVOIR TOWER BUILDIN |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 4:36 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 00:00Z, 1.6 hours before the alert went out and 121 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 966 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -56 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 741 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 0 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 0 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 0 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 WFUS52 KCHS 160135 TORCHS GAC103-SCC053-160230- /O.NEW.KCHS.TO.W.0017.080316T0134Z-080316T0230Z/ BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 934 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR... SOUTHERN EFFINGHAM COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA... CENTRAL JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA... * UNTIL 1030 PM EDT * AT 929 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR SPRINGFIELD...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. * SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE... STILLWELL...SPRINGFIELD... EBENEZER...RINCON... PURYSBURGH... SWITZERLAND...HARDEEVILLE... JASPER... A FUNNEL CLOUD HAS BEEN REPORTED ACROSS NORTHERN EFFINGHAM COUNTY BY A SPOTTER WITH THIS STORM. TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE. TAKE COVER NOW TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024. LAT...LON 3233 8092 3222 8129 3243 8146 3243 8096 TIME...MOT...LOC 0134Z 285DEG 41KT 3242 8126 $$
2 follow-up statements
000 WWUS52 KCHS 160147 RRA SVSCHS SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 946 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008 GAC103-SCC053-160230- /O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-080316T0230Z/ EFFINGHAM GA-JASPER SC- 946 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008 ...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL JASPER AND SOUTHERN EFFINGHAM COUNTIES... AT 943 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR EBENEZER...OR ABOUT 9 MILES EAST OF SPRINGFIELD...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. AT 943 PM EDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CLYO. SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... HARDEEVILLE...JASPER...PURYSBURGH...SWITZERLAND...EBENEZER... RINCON...SPRINGFIELD AND STILLWELL. IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR REPORTS TO CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV. LAT...LON 3233 8092 3222 8129 3243 8146 3243 8096 TIME...MOT...LOC 0146Z 285DEG 41KT 3235 8117 $$
000 WWUS52 KCHS 160207 SVSCHS SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC 1007 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008 GAC103-SCC053-160217- /O.CAN.KCHS.TO.W.0017.000000T0000Z-080316T0230Z/ EFFINGHAM GA-JASPER SC- 1007 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL JASPER AND SOUTHERN EFFINGHAM COUNTIES HAS BEEN CANCELLED... AT 1006 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE TORNADO WARNING HAD MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED AREA...THUS THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELED. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS...TV OR YOUR LOCAL NEW SOURCE FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR REPORTS TO CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV. LAT...LON 3233 8092 3222 8129 3243 8146 3243 8096 TIME...MOT...LOC 0207Z 285DEG 41KT 3229 8090 $$
The office that day
Everything else NWS Charleston, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 8:18 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Screven | 57 min |
| Mar 15, 8:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Bulloch, Candler, Jenkins, Screven | 91 min |
| Mar 15, 8:34 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Bulloch, Candler, Jenkins, Screven | 29 min |
| Mar 15, 9:06 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Bulloch, Effingham, Screven | 24 min |
| Mar 15, 9:17 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Effingham, Screven | 34 min |
| Mar 15, 10:00 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Bulloch, Effingham, Screven | 45 min |
| Mar 15, 10:16 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Bulloch, Effingham | 29 min |
| Mar 15, 10:39 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham | 50 min |
| Mar 15, 10:45 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Chatham, Effingham | 30 min |
| Mar 15, 10:47 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Bulloch, Candler, Evans, Tattnall | 58 min |
| Mar 15, 11:32 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Bryan, Evans, Liberty | 43 min |
| Mar 16, 12:10 AM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Bryan, Chatham, Liberty | 35 min |
| Mar 15, 8:03 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Hampton | 17 min |
| Mar 15, 8:23 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Allendale, Colleton, Hampton | 52 min |
| Mar 15, 8:32 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Berkeley | 20 min |
| Mar 15, 8:40 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | CHS | 2 hr | |
| Mar 15, 8:44 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester | 46 min |
| Mar 15, 8:49 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Jasper | 56 min |
| Mar 15, 8:54 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper | 66 min |
| Mar 15, 9:03 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper | 42 min |
| Mar 15, 9:25 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton | 50 min |
| Mar 15, 9:34 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | CHS | 116 min | |
| Mar 15, 9:38 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | CHS | 97 min | |
| Mar 15, 9:57 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Beaufort, Jasper | 35 min |
| Mar 15, 9:58 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | CHS | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton | 26 min |
| Mar 15, 9:59 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | CHS | Beaufort, Jasper | 31 min |
| Mar 15, 10:43 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | CHS | 92 min | |
| Mar 15, 10:58 PM EDT | Lake Wind Advisory | CHS | Berkeley | 15 hr |
| Mar 15, 11:04 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | CHS | 55 min | |
| Mar 16, 12:38 AM EDT | Special Marine Warning | CHS | 67 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2008Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2008Every tornado warning in 2008Tornadoes in 2008
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.