Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Charleston, SC

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

NWS Charleston, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2008, 7:51 PM EDT for Charleston County, Colleton County, Dorchester County, South Carolina. It was in force for 54 min. 24 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, 7:51 PM EDT (23:51 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2008, 8:45 PM EDT
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Charleston County, SC, Colleton County, SC, Dorchester County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 79 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:52 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, 7:55 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, 8:00 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 W Walterboro, SCLARGE TREE DOWN ON I-95 AT MILE MARKER 51. ALSO DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED.
Mar 15, 8:02 PM EDTHAIL 11 Nw Walterboro, SCQUARTER AND DIME SIZE HAIL.
Mar 15, 8:06 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 Nnw Hendersonville, SCPOSSIBLE TORNADO AT 3388 CANE BRANCH ROAD. TOPS OF TREES SNAPPED OFF WITH MAILBOXES BLOWN AWAY.
Mar 15, 8:07 PM EDTHAIL 0.751 N Walterboro, SCSPOTTER REPORTED PENNY SIZE HAIL OCCURRING PRESENTLY.
Mar 15, 8:08 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG2 E Islandton, SCAN OLD BARN COLLAPSED DUE TO THE STRONG WINDS.
Mar 15, 8:08 PM EDTHAIL 12 W Walterboro, SCTRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
Mar 15, 8:22 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 N Charleston, SCTHREE ROAD SIGNS BENT OVER OR BROKEN OFF MIDWAY UP STEEL POLE IN VARIOUS PLACES ALONG CAUSEWAY LEADING TO RAVENEL BRIDGE ON CHARLESTON CITY SIDE. ALL THREE SIGNS WERE BLOWN DOWN TO THE EAST.
Mar 15, 8:25 PM EDTHAIL 1.7515 W Walterboro, SCGOLF BALL SIZED HAIL LASTED ABOUT 20 MINUTES ALONG HWY 64.
Mar 15, 8:26 PM EDTHAIL 1Hendersonville, SCA SMALL DEAD TREE ALSO REPORTED DOWN.
Mar 15, 8:36 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG5 N Hendersonville, SCLARGE TREE DOWN ON HENDERSONVILLE HIGHWAY.
Mar 15, 8:40 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGGreen Pond, SCTREES DOWN AT THE 6000 BLOCK OF RITTER.
Mar 15, 8:40 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGJacksonboro, SCTREES AND POWERLINES DOWN AT HOPE PLANTATION AND BRIGHT.
Mar 15, 8:41 PM EDTTSTM WND GST 50Mount Pleasant, SC
Mar 15, 8:45 PM EDTHAIL 0.88James Island, SCNICKEL SIZED HAIL AND TREES CLIPPED OFF AT TOPS NEAR THE CHARLESTON MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE.
Mar 15, 8:45 PM EDTHAIL 1West Ashley, SC
Mar 15, 8:47 PM EDTHAIL 0.88Charleston, SC
Mar 15, 8:48 PM EDTHAIL 0.88Johns Island, SCNICKEL SIZED HAIL REPORTED ON PLOWGROUND RD.
Mar 15, 8:48 PM EDTHAIL 1Johns Island, SC
Mar 15, 8:50 PM EDTHAIL 0.75West Ashley, SCPENNY SIZED HAIL REPORTED OFF OF HWY 17 NEAR CAROLINA BAY.
Mar 15, 8:50 PM EDTHAIL 0.881 Nw Folly Beach, SCNICKEL AND DIME SIZED HAIL REPORTED BY A TRAINED SPOTTER ALONG FOLLY RD.
Mar 15, 8:50 PM EDTHAIL 1.5Charleston, SCDOWNTOWN CHARLESTON INTERSECTION OF MARKET AND KING STREETS. HAIL LASTED 10 TO 15 MINUTES. ALSO SAW A FUNNEL CLOUD.
Mar 15, 8:53 PM EDTHAIL 1.5West Ashley, SC
Mar 15, 8:54 PM EDTHAIL 0.88James Island, SCNICKEL SIZE HAIL AT FOLLY ROAD AND FORT JOHNSON ROAD

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, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 24 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°0°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 152350
TORCHS
SCC019-029-035-160045-
/O.NEW.KCHS.TO.W.0009.080315T2351Z-080316T0045Z/

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN CHARLESTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...
  COLLETON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHEASTERN DORCHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 845 PM EDT

* AT 751 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR
  ISLANDTON...OR ABOUT 11 MILES EAST OF HAMPTON...MOVING EAST AT 55
  MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THE STORM INCLUDE...
  ISLANDTON...
  RUFFIN...
  HENDERSONVILLE...
  WALTERBORO...RITTER...
  RITTER...ROUND O...

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 3282 8089 3293 8100 3301 8099 3303 8015
      3296 8003 3290 8000 3290 7995 3282 7992
      3286 7987 3279 7974 3275 7986 3267 7989
      3263 7999 3260 8000 3259 8009 3253 8017
      3255 8020 3251 8025
TIME...MOT...LOC 2351Z 281DEG 50KT 3290 8088

$$
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 160004
SVSCHS

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

SCC019-029-035-160045-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080316T0045Z/
DORCHESTER SC-COLLETON SC-CHARLESTON SC-
804 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR WESTERN
CHARLESTON...COLLETON AND SOUTHEASTERN DORCHESTER COUNTIES...

AT 804 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HENDERSONVILLE...
OR ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WALTERBORO...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...ADAMS
RUN...ASHEPOO...CHARLESTON...CHARLESTON AIRPORT...COTTAGEVILLE...
DELEMAR CROSSROADS...EDISTO ISLAND...FOLLY BEACH...GIVHANS...GREEN
POND...HANAHAN...HENDERSONVILLE...HOLLYWOOD...ISLANDTON...
JACKSONBORO...JAMES ISLAND...JOHNS ISLAND...KIAWAH ISLAND...
KNIGHTSVILLE...LADSON...MEGGETT...MOUNT PLEASANT...NORTH
CHARLESTON...RAVENEL...RITTER...ROCKVILLE...ROUND O...RUFFIN...
SEABROOK ISLAND...SHADOWMOSS...SULLIVANS ISLAND...SUMMERVILLE...
WADMALAW ISLAND...WALTERBORO...WEST ASHLEY...YONGES ISLAND AND ISLE
OF PALMS.

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 3282 8089 3293 8100 3301 8099 3303 8015
      3296 8003 3290 8000 3290 7995 3282 7992
      3286 7987 3279 7974 3275 7986 3267 7989
      3263 7999 3260 8000 3259 8009 3253 8017
      3255 8020 3251 8025
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 284DEG 45KT 3284 8071

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 160029 RRA
SVSCHS

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

SCC019-029-035-160045-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080316T0045Z/
DORCHESTER SC-COLLETON SC-CHARLESTON SC-
828 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR WESTERN
CHARLESTON...COLLETON AND SOUTHEASTERN DORCHESTER COUNTIES...

AT 828 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR PARKERS FERRY...OR
ABOUT 17 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WALTERBORO...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...ADAMS
RUN...ASHEPOO...CHARLESTON...CHARLESTON AIRPORT...COTTAGEVILLE...
DELEMAR CROSSROADS...EDISTO ISLAND...FOLLY BEACH...GIVHANS...GREEN
POND...HANAHAN...HENDERSONVILLE...HOLLYWOOD...ISLANDTON...
JACKSONBORO...JAMES ISLAND...JOHNS ISLAND...KIAWAH ISLAND...
KNIGHTSVILLE...LADSON...MEGGETT...MOUNT PLEASANT...NORTH
CHARLESTON...RAVENEL...RITTER...ROCKVILLE...ROUND O...RUFFIN...
SEABROOK ISLAND...SHADOWMOSS...SULLIVANS ISLAND...SUMMERVILLE...
WADMALAW ISLAND...WALTERBORO...WEST ASHLEY...YONGES ISLAND AND ISLE
OF PALMS.

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
QUARTER 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 3282 8089 3293 8100 3301 8099 3303 8015
      3296 8003 3290 8000 3290 7995 3282 7992
      3286 7987 3279 7974 3275 7986 3267 7989
      3263 7999 3260 8000 3259 8009 3253 8017
      3255 8020 3251 8025
TIME...MOT...LOC 0028Z 283DEG 50KT 3276 8034

$$
000 
WWUS52 KCHS 160036
SVSCHS

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

SCC019-029-035-160045-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080316T0045Z/
DORCHESTER SC-COLLETON SC-CHARLESTON SC-
836 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM EDT FOR WESTERN
CHARLESTON...COLLETON AND SOUTHEASTERN DORCHESTER COUNTIES...

AT 836 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HOLLYWOOD...OR
ABOUT 17 MILES NORTH OF EDISTO BEACH...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...ADAMS
RUN...ASHEPOO...CHARLESTON...CHARLESTON AIRPORT...COTTAGEVILLE...
DELEMAR CROSSROADS...EDISTO ISLAND...FOLLY BEACH...GIVHANS...GREEN
POND...HANAHAN...HENDERSONVILLE...HOLLYWOOD...ISLANDTON...
JACKSONBORO...JAMES ISLAND...JOHNS ISLAND...KIAWAH ISLAND...
KNIGHTSVILLE...LADSON...MEGGETT...MOUNT PLEASANT...NORTH
CHARLESTON...RAVENEL...RITTER...ROCKVILLE...ROUND O...RUFFIN...
SEABROOK ISLAND...SHADOWMOSS...SULLIVANS ISLAND...SUMMERVILLE...
WADMALAW ISLAND...WALTERBORO...WEST ASHLEY...YONGES ISLAND AND ISLE
OF PALMS.

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

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A
WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT IS
AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO
COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL 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 3282 8089 3293 8100 3301 8099 3303 8015
      3296 8003 3290 8000 3290 7995 3282 7992
      3286 7987 3279 7974 3275 7986 3267 7989
      3263 7999 3260 8000 3259 8009 3253 8017
      3255 8020 3251 8025
TIME...MOT...LOC 0036Z 283DEG 50KT 3272 8021

$$

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, 7:09 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSBerkeley, Colleton, Dorchester66 min
Mar 15, 7:14 PM EDTTornado WarningCHSAllendale, Colleton, Hampton46 min
Mar 15, 7:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSAllendale60 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.