Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

March 15, 2008Elbert County, Franklin County, Hart County, Georgia

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2008, 2:17 PM EDT for Elbert County, Franklin County, Hart County, Georgia. It was in force for 58 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, 2:17 PM EDT (18:17 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2008, 3:15 PM EDT
In force
58 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Elbert County, GA, Franklin County, GA, Hart County, GA

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:18 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, 2:40 PM EDTHAIL 13 W Franklin Springs, GA
Mar 15, 2:45 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGFranklin Springs, GACOUNTY REPORTS WIDESPREAD TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN IN THE SANDY CROSS AREA. POSSIBLE TORNADO WITH SEVERAL REPORTED SIGHTINGS.
Mar 15, 2:57 PM EDTTORNADO3 Se Royston, GA911 CENTER REPORTED A PUBLIC REPORT OF A TORNADO 3 MILES SE OF ROYSTON ALONG HIGHWAY 17.
Mar 15, 3:10 PM EDTHAIL 0.75Nuberg, GAALONG HW-77 NEAR ELBERT COUNTY LINE.
Mar 15, 3:12 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGVanna, GATREES DOWN AND A TREE ON A HOUSE IN VANNA

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 40 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 15, 11:02 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 165 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2008-03-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 33 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2008-03-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 196 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
33 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-342 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1103 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
68 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
196 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
459 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 KGSP 151818
TORGSP
GAC105-119-147-151915-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0006.080315T1817Z-080315T1915Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
217 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN ELBERT COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA
  HART COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA
  FRANKLIN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

* UNTIL 315 PM EDT

* AT 216 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED   
  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGING         
  TORNADOES 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF COMMERCE...OR ABOUT 26 MILES WEST   
  OF ROYSTON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE TORNADO EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
  ROYSTON AND VANNA AROUND 250 PM EDT...
  NUBERG AND HARTWELL AROUND 305 PM EDT...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS 
TORNADO. MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED IMMEDIATELY 
FOR STURDIER SHELTER. OTHERWISE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE 
LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME OR PLACE OF BUSINESS. MAKE SURE THERE ARE 
AS MANY WALLS AND FLOORS BETWEEN YOU AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE. 
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED. 

TO REPORT TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...OR FLOODING...
THROUGH OUR AUTOMATED REPORTING SYSTEM...CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER...
1 8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

LAT...LON 3448 8331 3447 8318 3453 8311 3447 8302
      3447 8289 3410 8269 3413 8305 3417 8311
      3423 8309 3425 8312 3424 8316 3424 8334
      3432 8340 3445 8340
TIME...MOT...LOC 1817Z 266DEG 40KT 3426 8355

$$
LANE
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KGSP 151841
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
240 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

GAC105-119-147-151915-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-080315T1915Z/
ELBERT GA-HART GA-FRANKLIN GA-
240 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR
FRANKLIN...HART AND NORTHERN ELBERT COUNTIES...

AT 234 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
CARNESVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
  CANON AND FRANKLIN SPRINGS BY 250 PM EDT...
  BOWERSVILLE AND 9 MILES NORTH OF BOWMAN BY 255 PM EDT...
  HARTWELL AND 6 MILES NORTH OF NUBERG BY 305 PM EDT...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS STORM HAS PRODUCED SEVERAL 
TORNADOES ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN GEORGIA. MOBILE HOMES AND 
VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR STURDIER SHELTER. OTHERWISE...GO TO 
AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME OR PLACE OF 
BUSINESS. MAKE SURE THERE ARE AS MANY WALLS AND FLOORS BETWEEN YOU 
AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE.

LAT...LON 3448 8331 3447 8318 3453 8311 3447 8302
      3447 8289 3410 8269 3413 8305 3417 8311
      3423 8309 3425 8312 3424 8316 3424 8334
      3432 8340 3445 8340
TIME...MOT...LOC 1840Z 262DEG 40KT 3431 8325

$$
LANE
000 
WWUS52 KGSP 151906
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
306 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

GAC119-151916-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-080315T1915Z/
FRANKLIN GA-
306 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY IS CANCELLED...

LAT...LON 3437 8283 3428 8278 3426 8278 3423 8276
      3420 8275 3419 8275 3424 8306 3435 8305
TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 275DEG 39KT 3430 8293

$$

GAC105-147-151915-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-080315T1915Z/
ELBERT GA-HART GA-
306 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM EDT FOR SOUTHERN
HART AND NORTHWESTERN ELBERT COUNTIES...

AT 302 PM EDT...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5
MILES SOUTHWEST OF HARTWELL...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS 
TORNADO NEAR ROYSTON. MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED 
IMMEDIATELY FOR STURDIER SHELTER. OTHERWISE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM 
ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME OR PLACE OF BUSINESS.

LAT...LON 3437 8283 3428 8278 3426 8278 3423 8276
      3420 8275 3419 8275 3424 8306 3435 8305
TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 275DEG 39KT 3430 8293

$$
LANE
000 
WWUS52 KGSP 151917
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
315 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

GAC105-147-151925-
/O.EXP.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-080315T1915Z/
ELBERT GA-HART GA-
315 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN HART AND NORTH CENTRAL ELBERT
COUNTIES EXPIRES AT 315 PM EDT...

ALTHOUGH THE TORNADO THREAT HAS ENDED FOR THE TIME BEING...ANOTHER 
DANGEROUS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM JUST WEST OF COMMERCE WILL APPROACH 
EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA BY 4 PM. THIS STORM WILL ALSO BE CAPABLE 
OF PRODUCING TORNADOES. PEOPLE ACROSS EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA 
SHOULD STAY ALERT FOR LATER WARNINGS. 

LAT...LON 3437 8283 3428 8278 3426 8278 3423 8276
      3420 8275 3419 8275 3424 8306 3435 8305
TIME...MOT...LOC 1915Z 275DEG 39KT 3429 8281

$$
LANE

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning 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 tornado warning went out at Mar 15, 1:36 PM EDT, 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 15, 1:36 PM EDT, 41 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
136 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

.SYNOPSIS...
A LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP ALONG A FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT WILL STALL
OVER THE AREA TODAY. THE LOW WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
INTO THE EVENING BRINGING WITH IT SOME ACTIVE WEATHER. BEHIND THIS
SYSTEM...HIGH PRESSURE WILL SET UP OVER THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE
COUNTRY FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK...BEFORE ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
APPROACHES BY MID WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
COLD FRONT STALLED ACROSS THE CWFA THIS MORNING AS STORM SYSTEM
APPROACHES THE AREA FROM THE WEST. EXPECT INCREASING CLOUDS THIS
MORNING ALONG WITH PRECIP SPREADING IN FROM THE WEST. EXPECT
WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND SCT THUNDERSTORMS SPREADING ACROSS THE AREA
THIS AFTERNOON. THAT MUCH IS IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT. HOWEVER...
MODELS STILL SHOW SOME DISAGREEMENT ON THE EXACT TRACK THE LOW WILL
TAKE THIS AFTERNOON. THAT MAY NOT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE AS IT APPEARS
THE STALLED SFC BOUNDARY WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE AREA. THIS BOUNDARY
COULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FOCUS FOR LOW LEVEL SHEAR AND INCREASE
SEVERE STORM POTENTIAL. THE POTENTIAL IS ALREADY QUITE HIGH. 21Z
SREF SHOWS MEDIAN BULK SHEAR FROM 60 KTS TO AS HIGH AS 80 KTS THIS
AFTERNOON. IT ALSO SHOWS MEDIAN VALUES OF 0-1KM HELICITY AS HIGH AS
300 M2/S2 AND 0-3KM VALUES AS HIGH AS 600 M2/S2. INSTABILITY NOT AS
HIGH AS PREVIOUS MODEL RUNS...BUT SREF SHOWS 700-500MB LAPSE RATES
OF 7 DEGREES C OR HIGHER MOVING INTO THE AREA. THIS LEADS TO MUCAPE
LEVELS AS HIGH AS 500 J/KG OVER NE GA AND THE UPSTATE. WHAT IS
TROUBLING IS THE NORMALLY LESS ROBUST GFS ALSO SHOWS LAPSE RATES
THIS HIGH WITH ELEVATED CAPES NEARING 1000 J/KG. SEVERE WX OUTLOOK
FROM SPC LOOKS WELL PLACED AND WILL CONTINUE HWO MENTION. HAVE GONE
WITH THE TIMING BRINGING IN BEST THUNDER CHANCES DURING THE
AFTERNOON...BUT WILL HAVE TO WATCH THE TIMING CLOSELY. FRONTAL
POSITION WILL HAVE A GREAT IMPACT OF HIGHS ACROSS THE AREA. HAVE NOT
GONE AS COOL AS THE MAV...BUT DID LOWER TEMPS SEVERAL DEGREES FROM
PREVIOUS FORECAST. WILL SEE SOME GUSTY WINDS THIS AFTERNOON OUTSIDE
OF STORMS...BUT SHOULD REMAIN BELOW ANY ADVISORY LEVELS.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY/...
AS OF 300 AM SATURDAY...AN UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE IN ZONAL FLOW WILL
CROSS THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS EARLY THIS EVENING...TAKING THE
ASSOCIATED SURFACE WAVE EAST WITH IT. EARLY IN THE EVENING
CONVECTION WILL BE ONGOING ACROSS THE AREA. DESPITE DIFFERENCES IN
MODEL HANDLING OF THE WAVE TRACK...BOTH THE NAM AND GFS SUGGEST THE
BACK EDGE OF MOISTURE WILL BE AROUND THE UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER
VALLEY...AND PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN TO TAPER OFF FROM THE
SOUTHWEST. ENOUGH INSTABILITY EXISTS BOTH MODELS TO CARRY THUNDER
ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA EARLY IN THE EVENING...AND EVEN LATE IN THE
EVENING EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS.

BEHIND THE SURFACE WAVE NORTHWEST UPSLOPE FLOW SETS UP SHOWERS ALONG
THE TN BORDER. THE MODEL HAVE SLOWED THE ARRIVAL OF COLD AIR UNTIL
ALMOST DAWN SUNDAY...AND MODEL SOUNDINGS ONLY SUPPORT SNOW ABOVE
2500 FEET. MODEL WINDS ALOFT BEHIND THE WAVE ARE ONLY 35 KNOTS IN
BOTH THE NAM AND GFS...AND DOWNWARD VERTICAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO
TRANSPORT WIND VELOCITIES OF LESS THAN ADVISORY CRITERIA TO THE
SURFACE. MOISTURE AND PRECIPITATION DIMINISH BY MID MORNING
SUNDAY...ALTHOUGH GUSTY WINDS CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY. SUNDAY NIGHT
AND MONDAY FEATURE A DRY SURFACE RIDGE WITH FEW CLOUDS. TEMPERATURES
WILL BE ABOVE NORMAL SATURDAY NIGHT BEFORE COLD ADVECTION SETS
IN...THEN ON SUNDAY WILL EXHIBIT A WIDER RANGE BETWEEN COLD
ADVECTION IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DOWNSLOPE FLOW IN THE LEE. COOLER
TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY AS THE RIDGE AXIS
CROSSES THE EAST COAST.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS OF 300 AM SATURDAY...THE GFS SHOWS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
MOVING ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...WHILE A
CLOSED UPPER LOW CROSSES THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. THIS LOW
LIFTS NORTHEAST TO THE GREAT LAKES ON WEDNESDAY...AND A TRAILING
TROUGH CROSSES THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
NORTHWEST FLOW BEHIND THE TROUGH AXIS CONTINUES THROUGH FRIDAY. A
SURFACE LOW WILL SLOWLY APPROACH FROM THE WEST ON TUESDAY....WITH AN
OPEN GULF AHEAD OF IT. MOISTURE REMAINS WEST OF OUR AREA UNTIL LATE
TUESDAY NIGHT...JUST BEFORE FRONTAL PASSAGE....WHICH OCCURS ON
WEDNESDAY. THIS SYSTEM APPEARS TO GIVE THE AREA A BRIEF YET INTENSE
SHOT OF RAINFALL AND PROBABLY THUNDER. FOLLOWING THE FRONT...WINDS
AND UPSLOPE FLOW SHOWERS PLAGUE THE TN BORDER...WITH THICKNESS
SUPPORTING A CHANGEOVER TO SNOW SHOWERS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THESE
SHOWERS ABATE ON THURSDAY...BUT WINDS CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY
EVENING. THE FORECAST FOR FRIDAY IS LESS CLEAR...WITH AN INNOCUOUS
PATCH OF MOISTURE RIDING ALONG A WEAK SECONDARY FRONT. TEMPERATURES
WILL RISE ABOVE NORMAL BEFORE THE WEDNESDAY FRONTAL PASSAGE...THEN
NORTHWESTERLY SURFACE FLOW WILL COOL THE MOUNTAINS...WHILE DOWNSLOPE
FLOW TEMPERS COLD ADVECTION IN THE LEE.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT KAVL AND THE UPSTATE TAF SITES OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE HOURS AS A BROAD AREA OF RAIN AND EMBEDDED TSTMS MOVES
QUICKLY INTO THE REGION. KCLT SHOULD SEE THEM BETWEEN 20 AND 22
UTC...THOUGH I WAIT A LITTLE LONGER BEFORE CARRYING A PREVAILING OR
TEMPO GROUP AT THAT AIRFIELD. WINDS WILL INCREASE OUT OF THE SSE AND
GRADUALLY VEER MORE TO THE SOUTHWEST THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE
AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL TURN OUT OF THE NORTHWEST LATER TONIGHT AS THE
SFC LOW MOVES EAST OF THE REGION. MVFR CIGS WILL AFFECT MOST SITES
THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS...THOUGH AT LOT OF THAT CLOUD COVER WILL BE
IN THE FORM OF CB/S. THE CLOUDS SHOULD CLEAR OUT OF MOST SITES
BETWEEN 00 AND 03 UTC. AT KAVL LOW CLOUDS MAY HANG ON LONGER...
THOUGH CONFIDENCE WAS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE RAF.

OUTLOOK...CONDITIONS SHOULD REMAIN VFR FROM SUNDAY THROUGH
TUESDAY...UNTIL THE NEXT SYSTEM BRINGS ANOTHER CHANCE OF CEILING/VIS
RESTRICTIONS IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WEEK.

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
NC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 2 AM TO 10 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR NCZ033-
     048>053-058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509.
SC...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...JAT
NEAR TERM...RWH
SHORT TERM...JAT
LONG TERM...JAT
AVIATION...MCAVOY
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 15, 11:59 AM EDT, 2 hours 18 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1159 AM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-SCZ001>014-019-161600-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-
GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-
ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
1159 AM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...TORNADO WATCH 119 IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   TORNADO WATCH.

THE COMBINATION OF SIGNIFICANT INSTABILITY...STRONG WIND SHEAR AND
A WEAK WARM FRONT OVER THE REGION...WILL RESULT IN AN UNUSUALLY
HIGH CHANCE OF SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES OVER EXTREME NORTHEAST
GEORGIA AND THE UPSTATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE AREA
MOST AT RISK FOR SEEING TORNADOES WILL BE ALONG AND JUST SOUTH OF
THE FRONT. AS THE FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE NORTH DURING THE
AFTERNOON...THIS PUTS MUCH OF THE UPSTATE AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA
AT RISK.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON.

NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082-501>510-161600-
AVERY-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-
BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-ROWAN-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-
SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-HENDERSON-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-
MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC-CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-
BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-EASTERN MCDOWELL-
RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-GREATER RUTHERFORD-POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-
1159 AM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA AND
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A VIGOROUS AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS
THIS EVENING. WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP
AHEAD OF THE LOW. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BECOME
SEVERE...PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. ACROSS THE
SOUTHERN NORTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT AND FOOTHILLS...INCLUDING THE
CHARLOTTE METRO AREA...AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.

MCAVOY

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 15, 12:11 PM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1211 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0839 AM     HAIL             1 SE HODGES             34.28N 82.24W
03/15/2008  M0.88 INCH       GREENWOOD          SC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORTED BY COCORAHS OBSERVER

&&

CSH
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 1:06 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
106 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-SCZ001-002-004-005-010-011-019-151915-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-ANDERSON-
ABBEVILLE-GREENWOOD-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CLAYTON...CLARKESVILLE...TOCCOA...
HARTWELL...ELBERTON...ANDERSON...ABBEVILLE...GREENWOOD
106 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...DANGEROUS SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BEGIN AFFECTING EXTREME
NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE WESTERN UPSTATE BETWEEN 230 AND 3 PM...

AT 1 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA...MOVING EAST/NORTHEAST AT
AROUND 45 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE PRODUCING WIDESPREAD WIND
DAMAGE...TORNADOES...AND VERY LARGE HAIL ACROSS CENTRAL
GEORGIA...AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS THEY APPROACH NORTHEAST
GEORGIA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. ALTHOUGH A FEW SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF THESE STORMS...THE MOST
DANGEROUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AFTER ABOUT 230 PM. THE
MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL EXIST SOUTH OF I-85...ALONG A
CORRIDOR FROM CARNESVILLE...HARTWELL...AND ELBERTON...TO ANDERSON
AND ABBEVILLE...TO GREENWOOD. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE
AREA UNTIL 7 PM.

THIS IS AN UNUSUAL WEATHER SITUATION FOR THE WESTERN CAROLINAS AND
NORTHEAST GEORGIA. IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF DESTRUCTIVE WINDS
AND HAIL...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR STRONG TORNADOES TO DEVELOP.
PEOPLE ACROSS EXTREME NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE WESTERN UPSTATE
SHOULD PREPARE NOW FOR DANGEROUS WEATHER.

LANE
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 1:20 PM EDT, 57 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
120 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

SCZ001-002-004-005-151800-
GREATER OCONEE-GREATER PICKENS-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
120 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT EASTERN OCONEE AND NORTHERN
PICKENS COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM EDT...

AT 116 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3 MILES EAST OF WALHALLA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45
MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  NINE TIMES BY 135 PM EDT.
  PICKENS BY 140 PM EDT.

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

LANE
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 1:49 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
149 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

NCZ509-SCZ002-003-005-151815-
GREATER PICKENS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-POLK
MOUNTAINS-
149 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN PICKENS...NORTHERN
GREENVILLE AND SOUTHWESTERN POLK COUNTIES THROUGH 215 PM EDT...

AT 147 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTH OF TABLE ROCK...OR 7 MILES
NORTHEAST OF PICKENS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  MARIETTA BY 200 PM EDT.
  TIGERVILLE BY 210 PM EDT.

MOTHBALL SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.

LANE
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 2:10 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
210 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

NCZ509-510-SCZ003-007-151845-
EASTERN POLK-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS-SPARTANBURG-
210 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN GREENVILLE...
NORTHWESTERN SPARTANBURG AND SOUTHEASTERN POLK COUNTIES THROUGH 245
PM EDT...

AT 209 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR TIGERVILLE...OR 15 MILES NORTH OF
GREENVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO NORTH
  SALUDA RESERVOIR...TRYON...MILL SPRING...COLUMBUS...TIGERVILLE...
  LANDRUM...GOWENSVILLE...FINGERVILLE AND CAMPOBELLO.

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
Special weather statement, Mar 15, 2:15 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
215 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

SCZ002-005-151845-
GREATER PICKENS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-
215 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL PICKENS COUNTY THROUGH
245 PM EDT...

AT 213 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF LIBERTY...OR 4 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF PICKENS...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* OTHER LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SIX MILE...
  PICKENS...NORRIS...LIBERTY...EASLEY AND DACUSVILLE.

SMALL HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 4:51 AM EDTDense Fog AdvisoryGSPElbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Rabun, Stephens5 hr
Mar 15, 7:59 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPElbert46 min
Mar 15, 3:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPElbert, Hart54 min
Mar 15, 3:54 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPElbert37 min
Mar 15, 4:20 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPFranklin, Hart40 min
Mar 15, 5:26 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPElbert37 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 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.