Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 25, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

April 28, 2011Habersham County, Rabun County, Georgia; Oconee County, Pickens County, South Carolina; Jackson County, Macon County, Transylvania County, North Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Apr 28, 2011, 12:54 AM EDT for Habersham County, Rabun County, Georgia; Oconee County, Pickens County, South Carolina; Jackson County, Macon County, Transylvania County, North Carolina. It was in force for 51 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 28, 2011, 12:54 AM EDT (04:54 UTC)
Expired
Apr 28, 2011, 1:45 AM EDT
In force
51 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

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

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:55 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
Apr 28, 1:00 AM EDTFUNNEL CLOUDMountain Rest, SCFUNNEL CLOUD MOVING NORTHEAST
Apr 28, 1:20 AM EDTFUNNEL CLOUD3 N Salem, SCCOUNTY 911 RELAYED FUNNEL CLOUD SIGHTINGS.

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
Apr 27, 6:52 PM EDTTornado Watch PDSSPC9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 198 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 00:00Z on 2011-04-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1215 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 00:00Z on 2011-04-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 244 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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.

843 
WFUS52 KGSP 280454
TORGSP
GAC137-241-NCC099-113-175-SCC073-077-280545-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0025.110428T0454Z-110428T0545Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1254 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EAST CENTRAL HABERSHAM COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
  EASTERN RABUN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF CLAYTON...
  NORTHERN OCONEE COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WALHALLA...
  NORTHWESTERN PICKENS COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF PICKENS...
  SOUTH CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHEASTERN MACON COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTHWESTERN TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 145 AM EDT

* AT 1251 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR TALLULAH
  FALLS...OR 10 MILES SOUTH OF CLAYTON...MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  LONG CREEK AND SKY VALLEY...
  MOUNTAIN REST AND PINE MOUNTAIN...
  WALHALLA...
  SALEM AND LAKE KEOWEE...
  NINE TIMES AND LAKE JOCASSEE...
  PICKENS...

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 3499 8334 3517 8290 3485 8269 3467 8331
      3468 8333 3468 8335 3465 8338 3464 8341
      3487 8346
TIME...MOT...LOC 0454Z 248DEG 47KT 3476 8332

$$

BSH
2 follow-up statements
575 
WWUS52 KGSP 280509
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
109 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

GAC137-280519-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-110428T0545Z/
HABERSHAM GA-
109 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL HABERSHAM COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

LAT...LON 3499 8334 3517 8290 3485 8269 3473 8319
      3492 8337
TIME...MOT...LOC 0509Z 238DEG 42KT 3487 8317

$$

GAC241-NCC099-113-175-SCC073-077-280545-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-110428T0545Z/
RABUN GA-MACON NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC-JACKSON NC-OCONEE SC-PICKENS SC-
109 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN PICKENS...NORTHERN OCONEE...SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON...
SOUTHWESTERN TRANSYLVANIA...SOUTHEASTERN MACON AND NORTHEASTERN RABUN
COUNTIES...

AT 104 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR MOUNTAIN REST...OR
10 MILES EAST OF CLAYTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
WALHALLA...PINE MOUNTAIN...LAKE KEOWEE...SALEM...SAPPHIRE...NINE
TIMES...LAKE JOCASSEE AND LAKE TOXAWAY

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 3499 8334 3517 8290 3485 8269 3473 8319
      3492 8337
TIME...MOT...LOC 0509Z 238DEG 42KT 3487 8317

$$

BSH
481 
WWUS52 KGSP 280526
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
126 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

GAC241-NCC099-113-280536-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-110428T0545Z/
RABUN GA-MACON NC-JACKSON NC-
126 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON...SOUTHEASTERN MACON
AND NORTHEASTERN RABUN COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

LAT...LON 3513 8299 3517 8290 3485 8269 3480 8293
      3502 8305 3503 8301 3505 8305 3506 8305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0526Z 238DEG 42KT 3499 8295

$$

NCC175-SCC073-077-280545-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-110428T0545Z/
TRANSYLVANIA NC-OCONEE SC-PICKENS SC-
126 AM EDT THU APR 28 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 145 AM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN PICKENS...NORTHEASTERN OCONEE AND SOUTHWESTERN
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES...

AT 125 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LAKE JOCASSEE...OR
16 MILES NORTH OF WALHALLA...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
SAPPHIRE...NINE TIMES AND LAKE TOXAWAY

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 3513 8299 3517 8290 3485 8269 3480 8293
      3502 8305 3503 8301 3505 8305 3506 8305
TIME...MOT...LOC 0526Z 238DEG 42KT 3499 8295

$$

BSH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Apr 27, 10:43 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPHabersham, Rabun47 min
Apr 27, 11:22 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPRabun38 min
Apr 28, 12:04 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPHabersham, Rabun41 min
Apr 28, 12:21 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPHabersham, Rabun, Stephens39 min
Apr 28, 2:06 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPElbert39 min
Apr 28, 2:29 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPElbert46 min
Apr 28, 1:31 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPGreenville, Oconee, Pickens44 min
Apr 28, 3:09 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPGreenwood, Laurens36 min
Apr 28, 12:41 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPHaywood, Jackson, Macon, Transylvania34 min
Apr 28, 1:17 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBuncombe, Burke, McDowell43 min
Apr 28, 2:03 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPBuncombe, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford42 min
Apr 28, 2:26 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPBuncombe, Burke, Henderson, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford49 min
Apr 28, 2:56 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPAlexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell64 min
Apr 28, 5:26 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCaldwell34 min
Apr 28, 5:51 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBurke24 min
Apr 28, 5:55 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPBurke35 min
Apr 28, 6:04 AM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPAlexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba29 min

Nearby

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