Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 9, NWS Wilmington, NC

April 16, 2011Georgetown County, Williamsburg County, South Carolina

NWS Wilmington, NC issued this tornado warning at Apr 16, 2011, 5:28 PM EDT for Georgetown County, Williamsburg County, South Carolina. It was in force for 47 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: Apr 16, 2011, 5:28 PM EDT (21:28 UTC)
Expired: Apr 16, 2011, 6:15 PM EDT
In force: 47 min
Issued by: NWS Wilmington, NC
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Georgetown County, SC, Williamsburg County, SC

The radar

The Wilmington radar (KLTX), 132 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:28 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 16, 5:43 PM EDT	HAIL 1.75	Andrews, SC	OFF DUTY FIRE FIGHTER REPORTS GOLF BALL SIZE HALL NEAR ANDREWS.
Apr 16, 5:45 PM EDT	TORNADO	8 Ssw Andrews, SC	BOATS THROWN ONTO A YARD. NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.
Apr 16, 5:52 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Andrews, SC	TREES DOWN. SMALL HAIL WAS ALSO REPORTED.
Apr 16, 6:04 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 S Andrews, SC	TREE IN THE ROADWAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 17A AND SC 41.

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 16, 12:02 PM EDT	Tornado Watch PDS	SPC	11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 9.5 hours before the alert went out and 64 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: 421 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 687 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 0 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 0 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 0 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.

751 
WFUS52 KILM 162128
TORILM
SCC043-089-162215-
/O.NEW.KILM.TO.W.0009.110416T2128Z-110416T2215Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
528 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN GEORGETOWN COUNTY IN NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA
  SOUTHERN WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY IN NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA

* UNTIL 615 PM EDT

* AT 524 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 10 MILES
  SOUTHWEST OF TRIO...OR ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAINT STEPHEN...
  MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
   EARLE...
   ANDREWS...
   GRAVES...
   OATLAND...

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

GET UNDER A TABLE OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. SEEK SHELTER ON
THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH
AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE
NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

&&

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC...TOLL FREE AT 877-633-6772...WHEN
YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3329 7964 3330 7968 3332 7974 3338 7979
      3340 7984 3342 7988 3344 7988 3346 7991
      3347 7992 3369 7924 3354 7923 3331 7930
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 249DEG 50KT 3339 7976

$$

DCH

2 follow-up statements

160 
WWUS52 KILM 162202
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
602 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

SCC043-089-162215-
/O.CON.KILM.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110416T2215Z/
WILLIAMSBURG SC-GEORGETOWN SC-
602 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN GEORGETOWN AND EAST CENTRAL WILLIAMSBURG COUNTIES...

AT 558 PM EDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 
TORNADOES. THE TORNADO WILL TRACK NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH...AND WILL 
MOVE ACROSS STATE ROAD 51 IN THE VICINITY OF OATLAND BY 606 PM. 

LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...
   OATLAND...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A
STURDY SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST
DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

&&

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC...TOLL FREE AT 877-633-6772...WHEN
YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3340 7928 3336 7937 3330 7953 3350 7966
      3368 7924 3366 7924 3351 7924 3348 7925
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 242DEG 35KT 3347 7943

$$

DCH

484 
WWUS52 KILM 162223
SVSILM

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
623 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

SCC043-089-162231-
/O.EXP.KILM.TO.W.0009.000000T0000Z-110416T2215Z/
WILLIAMSBURG SC-GEORGETOWN SC-
623 PM EDT SAT APR 16 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL GEORGETOWN AND EAST CENTRAL
WILLIAMSBURG COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED...

AT 619 PM EDT...THE TORNADO WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED 
NORTHEAST OUT OF THE WARNED AREA...THUS THE TORNADO WARNING WAS 
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. ADDITIONAL STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS 
THE AREA AND COULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL WARNINGS. 

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SATURDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

PLEASE REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES OR DAMAGING WINDS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON NC...TOLL FREE AT 877-633-6772...WHEN
YOU CAN DO SO SAFELY.

LAT...LON 3340 7928 3336 7937 3330 7953 3350 7966
      3368 7924 3366 7924 3351 7924 3348 7925
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 242DEG 35KT 3348 7940

$$

DCH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Apr 16, 12:07 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Dillon, Horry, Marion	37 min
Apr 16, 1:16 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	ILM	Horry	29 min
Apr 16, 2:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILM	Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marlboro	44 min
Apr 16, 2:48 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Darlington, Dillon, Marlboro	42 min
Apr 16, 3:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILM	Dillon, Marlboro	70 min
Apr 16, 3:27 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Dillon, Marlboro	48 min
Apr 16, 3:40 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILM	Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Williamsburg	35 min
Apr 16, 4:17 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Dillon, Horry, Marion	58 min
Apr 16, 4:18 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Florence, Williamsburg	42 min
Apr 16, 4:49 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILM	Dillon, Florence, Horry, Marion, Williamsburg	41 min
Apr 16, 5:03 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Williamsburg	42 min
Apr 16, 5:03 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Dillon, Horry	57 min
Apr 16, 5:48 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	ILM	Horry	42 min
Apr 16, 6:19 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	ILM	Georgetown	26 min
Apr 16, 6:47 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	ILM		43 min
Apr 16, 7:10 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	ILM		110 min
Apr 16, 7:48 PM EDT	Special Marine Warning	ILM		57 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 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.