Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Charleston, SC

March 15, 2008Berkeley County, Colleton County, Dorchester County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2008, 7:09 PM EDT for Berkeley County, Colleton County, Dorchester County, South Carolina. It was in force for 66 min. 5 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, 7:09 PM EDT (23:09 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2008, 8:15 PM EDT
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Berkeley County, SC, Colleton County, SC, Dorchester County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:10 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, 7:35 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGRidgeville, SCTREES UPROOTED. 1 MOBILE HOME ROOF REMOVED. 1 MOBILE HOME MOVED.
Mar 15, 7:55 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGWalterboro, SCTREES DOWN IN AND AROUND THE CITY OF WALTERBORO AT POPLAR AND SIXTH, 639 BAY STREET, 200 BLOCK OF WILKEY AND AT MILE MARKER 51 OF 95 NORTHBOUND.
Mar 15, 8:02 PM EDTHAIL 11 Nw Walterboro, SCQUARTER AND DIME SIZE HAIL.
Mar 15, 8:07 PM EDTHAIL 0.751 N Walterboro, SCSPOTTER REPORTED PENNY SIZE HAIL OCCURRING PRESENTLY.
Mar 15, 8:08 PM EDTTORNADO1 N Ridgeville, SCEF1 TORNADO CONFIRMED BY NWS CHARLESTON STORM SURVEY. TOUCHED DOWN ALONG HWY 78 WITH A PATH LENGTH OF 2.2 MILES AND A PATH WIDTH OF ABOUT 40 YARDS. DAMAGED 2 MOBILE HOMES...MOVING ONE HOME 5 FT OFF ITS FOUNDATION AND PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT ROOF/WINDOW/DOOR DAMAG

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 12:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 62 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 12:00Z on 2008-03-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 585 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 12:00Z on 2008-03-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 71 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
585 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-85 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
636 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
38 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
WFUS52 KCHS 152309
TORCHS
SCC015-029-035-160015-
/O.NEW.KCHS.TO.W.0007.080315T2309Z-080316T0015Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WEST CENTRAL BERKELEY COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...
  NORTHERN COLLETON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...
  DORCHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 815 PM EDT

* AT 709 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 25 MILES
  NORTHWEST OF LODGE...OR ABOUT 6 MILES WEST OF DENMARK...MOVING EAST
  AT 45 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE...
  LODGE...
  PADGETTS...
  SMOAKS...WILLIAMS...
  RUFFIN...
  REEVESVILLE...

A TORNADO MAY FORM AT ANY TIME. TAKE COVER NOW. ABANDON MOBILE HOMES
AND VEHICLES. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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 3310 8093 3307 8091 3314 8087 3334 8051
      3327 8041 3328 8035 3328 8029 3333 8025
      3331 8013 3276 8045 3308 8099
TIME...MOT...LOC 2309Z 288DEG 42KT 3334 8119

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 152326
SVSCHS

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

SCC015-029-035-160015-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-080316T0015Z/
BERKELEY SC-DORCHESTER SC-COLLETON SC-
726 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
COLLETON...DORCHESTER AND WEST CENTRAL BERKELEY COUNTIES...

AT 726 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 13 MILES NORTH OF
LODGE...OR ABOUT OVER BAMBERG...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...CANADYS...
COLLETON...COTTAGEVILLE...DORCHESTER...GIVHANS...HARLEYVILLE...
JACKSONBORO...LODGE...PADGETTS...REEVESVILLE...RIDGEVILLE...ROUND
O...RUFFIN...SAINT GEORGE...SMOAKS...WALTERBORO AND WILLIAMS.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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 3310 8093 3307 8091 3314 8087 3334 8051
      3327 8041 3328 8035 3328 8029 3333 8025
      3331 8013 3276 8045 3308 8099
TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 288DEG 47KT 3325 8092

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 152342
SVSCHS

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

SCC015-029-035-160015-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-080316T0015Z/
BERKELEY SC-DORCHESTER SC-COLLETON SC-
742 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR NORTHERN
COLLETON...DORCHESTER AND WEST CENTRAL BERKELEY COUNTIES...

AT 742 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF
REEVESVILLE...OR ABOUT 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF SAINT GEORGE...MOVING
EAST AT 45 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...CANADYS...
COLLETON...COTTAGEVILLE...DORCHESTER...GIVHANS...HARLEYVILLE...
JACKSONBORO...LODGE...PADGETTS...REEVESVILLE...RIDGEVILLE...ROUND
O...RUFFIN...SAINT GEORGE...SMOAKS...WALTERBORO AND WILLIAMS.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

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 3310 8093 3307 8091 3314 8087 3334 8051
      3327 8041 3328 8029 3329 8026 3333 8025
      3331 8013 3276 8045 3308 8099
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 278DEG 40KT 3325 8071

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 160017
SVSCHS

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

SCC015-029-035-160027-
/O.EXP.KCHS.TO.W.0007.000000T0000Z-080316T0015Z/
BERKELEY SC-DORCHESTER SC-COLLETON SC-
817 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN COLLETON...DORCHESTER AND WEST
CENTRAL BERKELEY COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 815 PM EDT...

AT 817 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH
PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD MOVED OUT OF THE WARNED AREA...THUS THE
TORNADO WARNING BEEN ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS...TV OR YOUR LOCAL NEW
SOURCE FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. REPORT ANY SEVERE WEATHER
OR STORM RELATED DAMAGE TO LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OR LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND ASK THEM TO IMMEDIATELY RELAY THE REPORT TO
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON.

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 3310 8093 3307 8091 3314 8087 3334 8051
      3327 8041 3328 8029 3329 8026 3333 8025
      3331 8013 3276 8045 3308 8099
TIME...MOT...LOC 2342Z 278DEG 40KT 3325 8071

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 5:45 PM EDTWind AdvisoryCHSAllendale, Berkeley, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton5 hr
Mar 15, 6:41 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSAllendale64 min
Mar 15, 6:49 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSBerkeley45 min
Mar 15, 7:14 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSAllendale, Colleton, Hampton46 min
Mar 15, 7:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSAllendale60 min
Mar 15, 7:51 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSCharleston, Colleton, Dorchester54 min
Mar 15, 7:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSColleton, Hampton64 min
Mar 15, 7:57 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSBerkeley, Charleston, Dorchester63 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.