Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 21, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

April 27, 20114 counties in North Carolina; Rabun County, Georgia; Oconee County, Pickens County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Apr 27, 2011, 11:22 PM EDT for 4 counties in North Carolina; Rabun County, Georgia; Oconee County, Pickens County, South Carolina. It was in force for 38 min. 2 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: Apr 27, 2011, 11:22 PM EDT (03:22 UTC)
Expired: Apr 28, 2011, 12:00 AM EDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Rabun County, GA, Haywood County, NC, Jackson County, NC, Macon County, NC, Transylvania County, NC, Oconee County, SC, Pickens County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 60 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:23 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Apr 27, 11:27 PM EDT	HAIL 1	Scaly, NC	NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL.
Apr 28, 12:00 AM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Sapphire, NC	TREES DOWN ALL OVER SAPHIRE VALLEY WITH SEVERAL STORMS BETWEEN 1200 AND 0200 EDT. BLUE RIDGE PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT.

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.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Apr 27, 6:52 PM EDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 3.4 hours before the alert went out and 251 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 1215 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -15 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1433 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 244 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 408 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 1.6
Supercell composite: 15.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

144 
WFUS52 KGSP 280322
TORGSP
GAC241-NCC087-099-113-175-SCC073-077-280400-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0021.110428T0322Z-110428T0400Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1122 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN RABUN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
  NORTH CENTRAL OCONEE COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...
  NORTHWESTERN PICKENS COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHEASTERN HAYWOOD COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHEASTERN MACON COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF BREVARD...

* UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT

* AT 1118 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR SKY
  VALLEY...OR 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF CLAYTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60
  MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  HIGHLANDS AND PINE MOUNTAIN...
  CASHIERS AND THORPE RESERVOIR...
  SAPPHIRE AND LAKE JOCASSEE...
  LAKE TOXAWAY AND WOLF MOUNTAIN...
  BALSAM GROVE AND ROSMAN...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES WHICH OCCUR AFTER DARK ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. PEOPLE IN
THE WARNED AREA SHOULD PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS TORNADO. 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.

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 3547 8280 3530 8262 3514 8258 3512 8266
      3513 8268 3510 8269 3510 8272 3506 8276
      3505 8274 3506 8271 3506 8267 3486 8333
      3504 8348
TIME...MOT...LOC 0322Z 237DEG 51KT 3500 8327

$$
07

4 follow-up statements

101 
WWUS52 KGSP 280331
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1131 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

GAC241-NCC087-099-113-175-SCC073-077-280400-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110428T0400Z/
RABUN GA-HAYWOOD NC-MACON NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-JACKSON NC-OCONEE SC-
PICKENS SC-
1131 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN PICKENS...NORTH CENTRAL OCONEE...SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON...
TRANSYLVANIA...SOUTHEASTERN MACON...SOUTHEASTERN HAYWOOD AND
NORTHEASTERN RABUN COUNTIES...

AT 1127 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HIGHLANDS...OR 14
MILES NORTHEAST OF CLAYTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  CASHIERS AND THORPE RESERVOIR...
  SAPPHIRE AND LAKE JOCASSEE...
  LAKE TOXAWAY...WOLF MOUNTAIN AND ROCKY BOTTOM...
  ROSMAN AND BALSAM GROVE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES WHICH OCCUR AFTER DARK ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. PEOPLE IN
THE WARNED AREA SHOULD PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS TORNADO. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3547 8280 3544 8278 3530 8262 3514 8258
      3512 8266 3513 8268 3510 8269 3510 8272
      3506 8276 3505 8274 3506 8267 3494 8313
      3494 8327 3507 8335
TIME...MOT...LOC 0331Z 240DEG 45KT 3503 8317

$$

MOORE

918 
WWUS52 KGSP 280340
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1140 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

GAC241-NCC113-SCC073-077-280349-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110428T0400Z/
RABUN GA-MACON NC-OCONEE SC-PICKENS SC-
1140 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN PICKENS...NORTH CENTRAL
OCONEE...SOUTHEASTERN MACON AND NORTHEASTERN RABUN COUNTIES IS
CANCELLED...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM HAS MOVED INTO JACKSON COUNTY NORTH 
CAROLINA...SO THE WARNING FOR MACON COUNTY AND RABUN COUNTY HAS BEEN 
CANCELLED. THE STORM SHOULD REMAIN IN NORTH CAROLINA...SO THE 
WARNINGS FOR OCONEE COUNTY AND PICKENS COUNTIES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED.

LAT...LON 3547 8280 3544 8278 3530 8262 3514 8258
      3512 8266 3513 8268 3510 8269 3502 8310
      3506 8317 3507 8317 3509 8315 3511 8318
      3516 8322
TIME...MOT...LOC 0339Z 236DEG 46KT 3510 8307

$$

NCC087-099-175-280400-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110428T0400Z/
HAYWOOD NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-JACKSON NC-
1140 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON...TRANSYLVANIA AND SOUTHEASTERN HAYWOOD
COUNTIES...

AT 1135 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR CASHIERS...OR 17
MILES SOUTHEAST OF FRANKLIN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SAPPHIRE AND LAKE TOXAWAY...
  WOLF MOUNTAIN...
  BALSAM GROVE AND ROSMAN...
  BREVARD...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES WHICH OCCUR AFTER DARK ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. PEOPLE IN
THE WARNED AREA SHOULD PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS TORNADO. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3547 8280 3544 8278 3530 8262 3514 8258
      3512 8266 3513 8268 3510 8269 3502 8310
      3506 8317 3507 8317 3509 8315 3511 8318
      3516 8322
TIME...MOT...LOC 0339Z 236DEG 46KT 3510 8307

$$

MOORE

340 
WWUS52 KGSP 280351
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1151 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

NCC087-099-175-280400-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110428T0400Z/
HAYWOOD NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-JACKSON NC-
1151 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL JACKSON...TRANSYLVANIA AND SOUTHEASTERN HAYWOOD COUNTIES...

AT 1148 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WOLF MOUNTAIN...OR
16 MILES WEST OF BREVARD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO BALSAM 
GROVE AND CRUSO

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES WHICH OCCUR AFTER DARK ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. PEOPLE IN
THE WARNED AREA SHOULD PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR THIS TORNADO. 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.

&&

LAT...LON 3522 8269 3518 8273 3514 8282 3509 8298
      3512 8305 3515 8309 3522 8312 3547 8280
      3544 8278 3530 8262
TIME...MOT...LOC 0351Z 230DEG 43KT 3520 8296

$$

MOORE

727 
WWUS52 KGSP 280356
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1156 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

NCC087-099-175-280406-
/O.EXP.KGSP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110428T0400Z/
HAYWOOD NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-JACKSON NC-
1156 PM EDT WED APR 27 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL JACKSON...TRANSYLVANIA AND
SOUTHEASTERN HAYWOOD COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT EDT...

THE THUNDERSTORM CONTINUES TO WEAKEN...SO THE WARNING WILL BE 
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE...

LAT...LON 3522 8269 3518 8273 3514 8282 3509 8298
      3512 8305 3515 8309 3522 8312 3547 8280
      3544 8278 3530 8262
TIME...MOT...LOC 0356Z 230DEG 43KT 3524 8290

$$

MOORE

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 27, 10:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Macon	47 min
Apr 28, 12:04 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Jackson, Macon	41 min
Apr 28, 12:41 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Transylvania	34 min
Apr 28, 12:54 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Jackson, Macon, Transylvania	51 min
Apr 28, 1:17 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Buncombe, Burke, McDowell	43 min
Apr 28, 1:31 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Henderson, Transylvania	44 min
Apr 28, 2:03 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford	42 min
Apr 28, 2:26 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Buncombe, Burke, Henderson, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford	49 min
Apr 28, 2:56 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell	64 min
Apr 28, 5:26 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Caldwell	34 min
Apr 28, 5:51 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Burke	24 min
Apr 28, 5:55 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Burke	35 min
Apr 28, 6:04 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba	29 min
Apr 28, 12:21 AM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Habersham, Rabun, Stephens	39 min
Apr 28, 2:06 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Elbert	39 min
Apr 28, 2:29 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Elbert	46 min
Apr 28, 3:09 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenwood, Laurens	36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2011 Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2011 Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2011 Every tornado warning in 2011 Tornadoes in 2011

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.