Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Charleston, SC

March 15, 2008Beaufort County, Jasper County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2008, 9:59 PM EDT for Beaufort County, Jasper County, South Carolina. It was in force for 31 min. 11 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, 9:59 PM EDT (01:59 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2008, 10:30 PM EDT
In force
31 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Beaufort County, SC, Jasper County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 51 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:01 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 15, 10:10 PM EDTHAIL 1.251 W Hilton Head Airport, SCPUBLIC REPORTED QUARTER TO HALF DOLLAR SIZE HAIL ON HILTON HEAD PLANTATION.
Mar 15, 10:10 PM EDTHAIL 2.75Hilton Head Airport, SC62 PLANES DAMAGED DUE TO GOLF BALL TO BASEBALL SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY BOTH EMERGENCY MANAGER AND FIXED BASE OPERATOR AT AIRPORT. ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF THE PLANES A TOTAL LOSS...25 PERCENT CANNOT BE FLOWN...AND THE REST HAVE REPAIRABLE DAMAGE. NUMEROUS CARS DAMAGE
Mar 15, 10:15 PM EDTHAIL 1.25Bluffton, SC
Mar 15, 10:15 PM EDTHAIL 1.75Hilton Head Island, SC
Mar 15, 10:20 PM EDTHAIL 0.88Hilton Head Island, SC
Mar 15, 10:20 PM EDTHAIL 1.753 N Hilton Head Island, SCHAIL RANGING FROM GOLF BALL TO PENNY SIZE...ACCUMULATING TO A DEPTH OF ABOUT 1 INCH. MINOR DAMAGE TO TREES. REPORTED BY COCORAHS OBSERVER.
Mar 15, 10:20 PM EDTHAIL 1.75Hilton Head Island, SCGOLF BALL SIZED HAIL OCCURRING IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION.
Mar 15, 10:21 PM EDTHAIL 1Hilton Head Airport, SC
Mar 15, 10:21 PM EDTHAIL 1Hilton Head Island, SC
Mar 15, 10:22 PM EDTHAIL 1.75Hilton Head Island, SC
Mar 15, 10:30 PM EDTHAIL 2.753 Nw Hilton Head Airpor, SC

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 15, 4:36 PM EDTTornado Watch PDSSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 103 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 00:00Z on 2008-03-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 966 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Charleston AFB, SC at 00:00Z on 2008-03-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 0 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KCHS 160159
TORCHS
SCC013-053-160230-
/O.NEW.KCHS.TO.W.0018.080316T0159Z-080316T0230Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
959 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHERN JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 1030 PM EDT

* AT 956 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  HARDEEVILLE...OR ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTH OF RIDGELAND...MOVING EAST AT
  50 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE...
  HARDEEVILLE...
  PRITCHARDVILLE...
  BLUFFTON...
  FOLLY FIELD...HILTON HEAD AIRPORT...

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING
SITUATION. 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.

LAT...LON 3224 8115 3228 8113 3237 8084 3231 8073
      3228 8075 3227 8069 3232 8072 3227 8059
      3224 8064 3229 8066 3228 8068 3226 8069
      3223 8066 3220 8066 3212 8075 3206 8087
TIME...MOT...LOC 0159Z 290DEG 44KT 3230 8100

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 160214
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1013 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

SCC013-053-160230-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-080316T0230Z/
BEAUFORT SC-JASPER SC-
1013 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
JASPER AND SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTIES...

AT 1010 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A DANGEROUS TORNADO NEAR BLUFFTON...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHWEST 
OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
BLUFFTON...FOLLY FIELD...FOREST BEACH...HARDEEVILLE...HILTON HEAD
ISLAND...PRITCHARDVILLE AND HILTON HEAD AIRPORT.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
GOLF BALL SIZE 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 3224 8115 3228 8112 3237 8084 3231 8073
      3228 8075 3229 8070 3232 8072 3230 8066
      3227 8070 3224 8067 3229 8065 3227 8060
      3224 8066 3220 8066 3212 8075 3207 8087
TIME...MOT...LOC 0213Z 290DEG 44KT 3224 8081

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 160221
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1021 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

SCC013-160230-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-080316T0230Z/
BEAUFORT SC-
1021 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
BEAUFORT COUNTY...

AT 1020 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED
NEAR HILTON HEAD AIRPORT...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

AT 1020 PM EDT...THE PUBLIC REPORTED HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF A 
BASEBALL IN BLUFFTON WITH THIS STORM.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
BLUFFTON...FOLLY FIELD...FOREST BEACH...HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND HILTON
HEAD AIRPORT.

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 3226 8088 3233 8078 3231 8073 3228 8075
      3228 8072 3232 8071 3230 8067 3228 8071
      3224 8067 3229 8065 3227 8060 3224 8066
      3220 8066 3212 8075 3210 8083
TIME...MOT...LOC 0221Z 289DEG 43KT 3222 8072

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 160232
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1031 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

SCC013-160241-
/O.EXP.KCHS.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-080316T0230Z/
BEAUFORT SC-
1031 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
1030 PM EDT...

AT 1029 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH
PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD MOVED OFFSHORE AND OUT OF THE WARNED 
AREA...THUS THE TORNADO WARNING BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

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 3226 8088 3233 8078 3231 8073 3228 8075
      3228 8072 3232 8071 3230 8067 3228 8071
      3224 8067 3229 8065 3227 8060 3224 8066
      3220 8066 3212 8075 3210 8083
TIME...MOT...LOC 0221Z 289DEG 43KT 3222 8072

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Charleston, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 8:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSHampton17 min
Mar 15, 8:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSAllendale, Hampton57 min
Mar 15, 8:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSAllendale, Colleton, Hampton52 min
Mar 15, 8:32 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley20 min
Mar 15, 8:40 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Mar 15, 8:44 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSCharleston, Colleton, Dorchester46 min
Mar 15, 8:49 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSJasper56 min
Mar 15, 8:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper66 min
Mar 15, 9:03 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSBeaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper42 min
Mar 15, 9:17 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSHampton, Jasper34 min
Mar 15, 9:25 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSBeaufort, Charleston, Colleton50 min
Mar 15, 9:34 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS116 min
Mar 15, 9:34 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSJasper33 min
Mar 15, 9:38 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS97 min
Mar 15, 9:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Jasper35 min
Mar 15, 9:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Charleston, Colleton26 min
Mar 15, 10:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSJasper45 min
Mar 15, 10:16 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSJasper29 min
Mar 15, 10:39 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Jasper50 min
Mar 15, 10:43 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS92 min
Mar 15, 10:45 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSBeaufort, Jasper30 min
Mar 15, 10:58 PM EDTLake Wind AdvisoryCHSBerkeley15 hr
Mar 15, 11:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS55 min
Mar 16, 12:38 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS67 min

Nearby

Tornado 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.