Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2008

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Wilmington, NC

March 15, 2008Columbus County, North Carolina; Horry County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this tornado warning at Mar 15, 2008, 7:01 PM EDT for Columbus County, North Carolina; Horry County, South Carolina. It was in force for 44 min. 4 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, 7:01 PM EDT (23:01 UTC)
Expired
Mar 15, 2008, 7:45 PM EDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Wilmington, NC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Columbus County, NC, Horry County, SC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:03 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, 7:13 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG8 Nw Conway, SCROOFS PEELED OFF HOMES. CARPORT TOSSED 150 YARDS. SEVERAL TREES DOWN. DAMAGE WAS ALONG HWY 501.
Mar 15, 7:13 PM EDTTORNADO 08 Nw Conway, SCROOFS PEELED OFF HOMES. CARPORT TOSSED 150 YARDS. SEVERAL TREES DOWN. THE TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ROUTE 501 AND 319 NEAR AYNOR. THE TORNADO WAS 25 YARDS IN WIDTH...AND HAD A PATH OF ABOUT 1/4 OF A MILE IN LENGTH.
Mar 15, 7:30 PM EDTHAIL 0.757 Ne Conway, SCHAIL REPORTED IN SHELL COMMUNITY NEAR INTERSECTION OF SC 22 AND 905.
Mar 15, 7:45 PM EDTTSTM WND GST 845 Nw North Myrtle Beach, SC84 MPH GUST MEASURED BY SKYWARN SPOTTER IN WAMPEE.

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, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 147 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 KILM 152302
TORILM
NCC047-SCC051-152345-
/O.NEW.KILM.TO.W.0009.080315T2301Z-080315T2345Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
701 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  CENTRAL HORRY COUNTY IN NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHERN COLUMBUS COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 745 PM EDT

* AT 659 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 6 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF GALIVANTS FERRY...OR ABOUT 13 MILES SOUTH OF MARION...
  MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
   HORRY BY 715 PM...
   HOMEWOOD BY 720 PM...
   BAYBORO BY 725 PM...
   ALLSBROOK BY 730 PM...
   LORIS BY 735 PM...
   GORETOWN BY 740 PM...

IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING GOLF 
BALL SIZE HAIL AND DESTRUCTIVE 60 MPH AND GREATER STRAIGHT LINE 
WINDS.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING...IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3385 7867 3390 7929 3393 7930 3397 7934
      3403 7930 3403 7929 3410 7922 3413 7865
TIME...MOT...LOC 2301Z 270DEG 37KT 3400 7931

$$
MBB/DCH
3 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS52 KILM 152323
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
721 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

NCC047-SCC051-152345-
/O.CON.KILM.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080315T2345Z/
COLUMBUS NC-HORRY SC-
721 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
HORRY AND EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL COLUMBUS COUNTIES...

AT 717 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO
IN THE VICINITY OF THE CITY OF HORRY...OR 7 MILES NORTH OF CONWAY.
MOVEMENT WAS TO THE EAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
   LORIS BY 730 PM EDT...
   HAMMOND BY 735 PM EDT...
   LONGS BY 740 PM EDT...
   WAMPEE BY 745 PM EDT...

IF YOU OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER OR WEATHER RELATED DAMAGE...REPORT IT
TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY THE
REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN WILMINGTON
NC.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3385 7867 3390 7929 3393 7930 3397 7934
      3403 7930 3403 7929 3410 7922 3413 7865
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 276DEG 36KT 3393 7903

$$
DCH/MBB
000 
WWUS52 KILM 152333
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
732 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

NCC047-152342-
/O.CAN.KILM.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080315T2345Z/
COLUMBUS NC-
732 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL COLUMBUS COUNTY IS
CANCELED...

IF YOU OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER OR WEATHER RELATED DAMAGE...REPORT IT
TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY THE
REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN WILMINGTON
NC.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3395 7866 3385 7867 3390 7929 3393 7930
      3397 7934 3403 7930 3408 7923 3410 7922
      3412 7885
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 276DEG 36KT 3392 7890

$$

SCC051-152345-
/O.CON.KILM.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080315T2345Z/
HORRY SC-
732 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
HORRY COUNTY...

AT 727 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.
THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR ADRIAN...OR 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF
CONWAY...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR...
   LONGS BY 740 PM EDT...
   WAMPEE BY 745 PM EDT...

IF YOU OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER OR WEATHER RELATED DAMAGE...REPORT IT
TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY THE
REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN WILMINGTON
NC.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3395 7866 3385 7867 3390 7929 3393 7930
      3397 7934 3403 7930 3408 7923 3410 7922
      3412 7885
TIME...MOT...LOC 2332Z 276DEG 36KT 3392 7890

$$
DCH/MBB
000 
WWUS52 KILM 152348
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
746 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

SCC051-152356-
/O.EXP.KILM.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-080315T2345Z/
HORRY SC-
746 PM EDT SAT MAR 15 2008

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL HORRY COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

AT 745 PM EDT...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WHICH PROMPTED THE 
TORNADO WARNING HAS MOVED SOUTHEAST...OUT OF THE WARNED AREA.
...THUS THE TORNADO WARNING WAS ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

IF YOU OBSERVED SEVERE WEATHER OR WEATHER RELATED DAMAGE...REPORT IT
TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ASK THEM TO RELAY THE
REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN WILMINGTON
NC.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM EDT SUNDAY MORNING FOR
SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3395 7866 3385 7867 3390 7929 3393 7930
      3397 7934 3403 7930 3408 7923 3410 7922
      3412 7885
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 276DEG 36KT 3392 7889

$$
DCH/MBB

The office that day

Everything else NWS Wilmington, NC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 15, 5:40 PM EDTTornado WarningILMRobeson35 min
Mar 15, 6:09 PM EDTTornado WarningILMColumbus51 min
Mar 15, 6:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMRobeson47 min
Mar 15, 6:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMRobeson35 min
Mar 15, 6:45 PM EDTTornado WarningILMBladen, Columbus30 min
Mar 15, 7:01 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMBladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender59 min
Mar 15, 4:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMDarlington42 min
Mar 15, 5:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMMarlboro40 min
Mar 15, 5:27 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMDillon48 min
Mar 15, 5:58 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMDarlington, Florence, Marion47 min
Mar 15, 6:20 PM EDTTornado WarningILMFlorence, Marion40 min
Mar 15, 7:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMGeorgetown, Williamsburg38 min
Mar 15, 7:17 PM EDTTornado WarningILMGeorgetown, Williamsburg43 min
Mar 15, 7:23 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningILM97 min
Mar 15, 7:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMHorry23 min
Mar 15, 7:59 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningILMGeorgetown, Horry31 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2008Tornado 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.