Alert archive / North Carolina / High Wind Watches in 2008

High Wind Watch 2, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

February 8, 20086 counties in North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this high wind watch at Feb 8, 2008, 3:21 PM EST for 6 counties in North Carolina. It took effect at Feb 9, 2008, 6:00 PM EST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 8, 2008, 3:21 PM EST (20:21 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 9, 2008, 6:00 PM EST
Expired
Feb 9, 2008, 4:25 AM EST
In force
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

Counties Avery County, NC, Burke County, NC, Caldwell County, NC, McDowell County, NC, Mitchell County, NC, Yancey County, NC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:22 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 185 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2008-02-08Temperature 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2008-02-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 35 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
910 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
100 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
35 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
324 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 
WWUS72 KGSP 082021
NPWGSP

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
321 PM EST FRI FEB 8 2008

NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505-091000-
/O.NEW.KGSP.HW.A.0002.080209T2300Z-080211T0000Z/
AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWLAND...SPRUCE PINE
321 PM EST FRI FEB 8 2008

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A HIGH WIND WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING
THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND FOR THE WESTERN
FOOTHILLS ALONG THE EASTERN ESCARPMENT OF THE BLUE RIDGE.

A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE MOUNTAINS SATURDAY NIGHT.
STRONG NORTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE FRONT. WINDS OF
30 TO 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH...ARE POSSIBLE. MOST OF THE
WIND IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS
AND THE IMMEDIATE LEE SLOPES LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY
MORNING.

IF THE WIND FIELD BEHIND THE FRONT CONTINUES TO LOOK STRONGER AS
THE EVENT APPROACHES...HIGH WIND WATCHES OR WARNINGS MAY NEED TO
BE ISSUED ACROSS PARTS OF THE FRENCH BROAD VALLEY AND FARTHER OUT
INTO THE NORTH CAROLINA FOOTHILLS AND WESTERN PIEDMONT.

A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A HAZARDOUS
HIGH WIND EVENT. SUSTAINED WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH...OR GUSTS OF
58 MPH OR STRONGER MAY OCCUR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST
FORECASTS.

$$
MCAVOY
1 follow-up statement
000 
WWUS72 KGSP 090925
NPWGSP

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
425 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008

...VERY WINDY CONDITIONS DEVELOPING...

NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505-091730-
/O.UPG.KGSP.HW.A.0002.080209T2300Z-080211T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KGSP.HW.W.0002.080210T0300Z-080211T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KGSP.LW.Y.0009.080209T1700Z-080210T0300Z/
AVERY-YANCEY-MITCHELL-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-BURKE MOUNTAINS-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWLAND...SPRUCE PINE
425 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM
EST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A HIGH WIND WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING
TO 1 AM EST MONDAY. A LAKE WIND ADVISORY HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED.
THIS LAKE WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM EST
THIS EVENING. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA
MOUNTAINS TODAY AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. WINDS WILL
INCREASE TO THE 15 TO 25 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS AROUND 35 MPH.

THE STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT. STRONG
NORTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE FRONT. WINDS OF 30 TO
40 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH...ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTHERN
MOUNTAINS AND THE BLUE RIDGE SECTION OF THE NORTHERN FOOTHILLS.
MOST OF THE WIND IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND
THE IMMEDIATE LEE SLOPES OF THIS AREA LATER TONIGHT AND ON
SUNDAY.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF
58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

A LAKE WIND ADVISORY INDICATES THAT WINDS WILL CAUSE ROUGH CHOP
ON AREA LAKES. SMALL BOATS WILL BE ESPECIALLY PRONE TO CAPSIZING.

$$

NCZ048-051>053-058-059-062>065-507-509-091730-
/O.NEW.KGSP.LW.Y.0009.080209T1700Z-080210T0300Z/
/O.NEW.KGSP.WI.Y.0006.080210T0300Z-080211T0600Z/
MADISON-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-
SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-
POLK MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHEROKEE...WAYNESVILLE...ASHEVILLE...
SYLVA...FRANKLIN...BREVARD...HENDERSONVILLE...LAKE LURE
425 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM EST
MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED
A LAKE WIND ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO
10 PM EST THIS EVENING. A WIND ADVISORY HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED.
THIS WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM
EST MONDAY. 

SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE NORTH CAROLINA
MOUNTAINS TODAY AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. WINDS WILL
INCREASE TO THE 15 TO 25 MPH RANGE WITH GUSTS AROUND 35 MPH.

THE STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT. STRONG
NORTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE FRONT. WINDS OF 20 TO
30 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH...ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS AND THE BLUE RIDGE SECTION OF THE SOUTHERN
FOOTHILLS. MOST OF THE WIND IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS AND THE IMMEDIATE LEE SLOPES OF THIS AREA LATER
TONIGHT AND ON SUNDAY.

A LAKE WIND ADVISORY INDICATES THAT WINDS WILL CAUSE ROUGH CHOP
ON AREA LAKES. SMALL BOATS WILL BE ESPECIALLY PRONE TO CAPSIZING.

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS
THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH
PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

$$

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this high wind watch 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 high wind watch went out at Feb 8, 3:17 PM EST, 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 8, 3:17 PM EST, 4 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
317 PM EST FRI FEB 8 2008

.SYNOPSIS...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL WEAKEN AND MOVE EAST TONIGHT BEFORE A WEAK COLD
FRONT AFFECTS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS SATURDAY MORNING. STRONG ARCTIC
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM THE NORTHWEST SUNDAY AND REMAIN
THROUGH TUESDAY. THE NEXT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE
AREA LATE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
MOSTLY CLEAR CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS BEFORE
WEAK DPVA SLUG EFFECTS THE NW CWFA DURING THE PRE-DAWN HOURS. JUST
LIKE LAST NIGHT...A BRIEF PERIOD OF WEAK LIFT AND LIMITED SHALLOW
MOISTURE EXPECTED TO PRECLUDE PCPN CHANCES ACRS THE NC MTNS...SAVE
FOR A FEW FLURRIES AND SPRINKLES...BUT WILL LEAVE OUT ANY MENTION
FOR NOW AND SEE IF REGIONAL RADAR LOOPS DEPICT ANY WEAK ECHOES
DEVELOPING AHEAD OF VORT OVERNIGHT.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
AS OF 145 PM FRIDAY...SATURDAY LOOKS TO BE MILD AND A LITTLE ON THE
BREEZY SIDE IN THE AFTERNOON...PARTICULARLY OVER THE UPSTATE AND NE
GA. WEAK LLVL WAA WILL RESULT IN SOME SOME PASSING CLOUD
COVER...ESPECIALLY OVER THE MTNS ALONG THE TN LINE. MODEL
THICKNESSES WOULD SUPPORT HIGHS IN THE M-U60S OVER THE PIEDMONT AND
FOOTHILLS...AND WELL INTO THE 50S IN THE MOUNTAINS.

A STRONG TROUGH WILL DIG INTO NEW ENGLAND ON SUNDAY. SOUTH OF THE
TROUGH...A BAND OF STRONG WESTERLIES WILL DEVELOP. THE NAM HAS AN
IMPRESSIVE LOW LEVEL WIND FIELD OVER MOST OF THE FA SAT NGHT AND
SUN. BY 12 UTC SUN...WINDS ALONG THE LEE ARE IN THE 70 TO 75 KT
RANGE ON THE NAM AT H8...WHILE AT THE SAME TIME AND LOCATION ON THE
GFS THEY ARE 20 TO 30 KTS WEAKER. AT THIS POINT I DO THINK THAT THE
NAM IS OVERDONE. THE BELT OF THE STRONGEST WESTERLIES...AND THE PAST
PRESSURE RISES...PASSES JUST TO THE NORTH OF THE FA. THIS WILL MAKE
IT DIFFICULT TO GET MUCH IN THE WAY OF MIX DOWN OTHER THAN THROUGH
SOME OF THE HIGHER MOUNTAIN GAPS...AND PERHAPS VIA MOUNTAIN WAVE
FORMATION ALONG THE IMMEDIATE LEE. THE LATER COUPLE PROCESSES ARE
WHAT I/VE ISSUED THE HIGH WIND WATCH FOR...WHICH COVERS THE NORTHERN
NC MTNS AND THE LEE SLOPES INTO THE FAR WESTERN FOOTHILLS. IF THE
MIXING AND COLD ADVECTION LOOKS STRONGER IN LATER RUNS...THE WATCH
OR A WARNING COULD BE EXPANDED DOWN ACROSS THE FRENCH BROAD VALLEY
AND FARTHER OUT INTO THE NC FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT FOR SUNDAY.

WENT WITH MUCH LOWER DEWPOINTS LATER SUNDAY AND SUNDAY
NIGHT...ESPECIALLY OVER THE NC ZONES. RAH BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT
BASED UPON THE EXPECTED MIXING...THE MOS DEWPOINTS LOOK MUCH TOO
HIGH...SOMETHING THAT THE MOS OFTEN DOES. THEREFORE I TOOK A
GOOD...AVERAGE MIXED LAYER DEWPOINT FROM BUFKIT AND USED IT FOR
DEWPOINTS. MAX TEMPS ON SUNDAY WILL BE COOLER THAN ON SAT...BUT
THICKNESSES STILL ABOVE NORMAL HIGHS.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 230 PM FRIDAY...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED NEAR WEST
VIRGINIA EARLY MONDAY MOVES TO THE MID ATLANTIC COAST BY MONDAY
EVENING.  MOISTURE AND CLOUDINESS WILL BE INCREASING FROM THE WEST
BY LATE TUESDAY AS A COLD FRONT CROSSES THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.  THE
GFS SHOWS THE MAIN SLUG OF MOISTURE MOVING WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE
GULF STATES TUESDAY NIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH A WEAK SURFACE LOW JUST
AHEAD OF THE UPPER TROUGH WHICH FORMS A CLOSED UPPER LOW OVER
LOUISIANA BY 12Z WEDNESDAY.  THE ECMWF HAS MORE PRECIP IN AREAL
COVERAGE AND AMOUNT FROM THE WESTERN GULF TO THE FRONT THROUGH THE
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.  THE GFS KEEPS MOST OF THE RAIN NEAR THE GULF
COAST AND THE SLUG OF MOISTURE MOVING TO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS
FADES OUT...THEREFORE VERY LITTLE MAKES IT TO THE CAROLINA PIEDMONT
BY EARLY WEDNESDAY.  AT 00Z WEDNESDAY...THE SURFACE LOW CENTER ON
THE ECMWF IS OVER PENSACOLA WHILE THE GFS HAS IT WEAKER AND OVER NEW
ORLEANS.  ALL PRECIP IS RAIN BASED ON THE THICKNESS DURING THE
PERIOD THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY. THE ECMWF MAINTAINS MORE PRECIP TO THE
CAROLINAS THAN THE GFS.  THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT DURING DAY 4 AND 5
I HAVE BLENDED HPC WITH GMOS ALONG WITH CONSIDERATION OF GFS AND
ECMWF.

FOR DAYS 6 AND 7...ABOVE BLENDING TECHNIQUE PRETTY MUCH APPLIES TO
THIS PERIOD. THE SURFACE LOW ORIGINATING FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO
MAKES ITS WAY NORTHEAST UP THE CAROLINA COAST LATER ON WEDNESDAY WHILE
ANOTHER WEAK LOW IS PROJECTED TO FORM IN THE VICINITY OF BERMUDA
EARLY THURSDAY. HIGH PRESSURE GRADUALLY BUILDS BACK IN OVER FRIDAY
AND IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN OVER THE WEEKEND...HOWEVER THE EXTENT
IS FAIRLY UNCERTAIN. BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIP REMAIN ON WEDNESDAY AS
THE GULF LOW TRANSITIONS OVER THE SOUTHEAST AND PROVIDES
WARM...MOIST...SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW. THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE
PERIOD STILL LOOKS DRY WITH THE BROAD RIDGE BUILDING IN LATER ON
FRIDAY.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
JUST SPOTTY VFR LVL CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE TAF PERIOD. LIGHT
WINDS WILL TAKE ON A SOUTHERLY COMPONENT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND
REMAIN LIGHT THROUGH TONIGHT. INCREASING WSW WINDS WILL BE SEEN
SATURDAY MORNING AND BECOMING GUSTY BY MIDDAY.

AVIATION OUTLOOK...MAINLY DRY WX CONDS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY NIGHT
THROUGH MONDAY...WITH SHOWER CHANCES INCREASING ON TUESDAY. STRONG
AND GUSTY NW WINDS ARE EXPECTED ON SUNDAY.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...HIGH WIND WATCH FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING
     FOR NCZ033-049-050-501-503-505.
SC...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...CSH
NEAR TERM...CSH
SHORT TERM...MCAVOY
LONG TERM...DEO
AVIATION...CSH
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 8, 5:55 AM EST, 9 hours 26 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
555 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2008

NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-501>510-091100-
AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-GRAHAM-
NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-
CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-EASTERN MCDOWELL-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-
GREATER RUTHERFORD-POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-
555 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP ON SATURDAY. GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED. WINDS WILL INCREASE SATURDAY NIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH
SUNDAY THEN DIMINISH SUNDAY NIGHT. WIND SPEEDS COULD REACH 35 MPH
WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 55 MPH...MAINLY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS...ON
SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-SCZ001>014-
019-091100-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-
DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-
UNION NC-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-
CHEROKEE-YORK-ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
555 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2008

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP ON SUNDAY. GUSTS FROM 35 TO 40 MPH
ARE EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

Nearby

High Wind Watches in North Carolina, 2008Every high wind watch 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.