Alert archive / South Carolina / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Columbia, SC

September 18, 20124 counties in South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this special weather statement at Sep 18, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT for 4 counties in South Carolina. It was in force for 80 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Sep 18, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT (15:25 UTC)
Expired: Sep 18, 2012, 12:45 PM EDT
In force: 80 min
Issued by: NWS Columbia, SC

Counties Fairfield County, SC, Lexington County, SC, Newberry County, SC, Saluda County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 50 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:26 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 3.4 hours before the alert went out and 205 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: 1687 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -1 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 620 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 135 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 147 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.8
Supercell composite: 5.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Sep 18, 10:35 AM EDT, 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 18, 10:35 AM EDT, 50 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1035 AM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
PRECIPITATION WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION TODAY AHEAD OF AN
APPROACHING WEATHER SYSTEM. A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE THROUGH
OUR REGION LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. FAIR WEATHER EXPECTED LATE
WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
TODAY...STRONG SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH SOUTHERN
ALABAMA THIS MORNING. MAIN UPPER TROUGH IS MOVING INTO THE LOWER
OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY. MAIN TROUGH WILL BE PICKING UP
THE SOUTHERN SHORTWAVE AND BEGIN LIFTING IT NORTHWARD THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON. REGIONAL RADARS NOW SHOWING A RATHER SOLID LINE OF
PRECIP MOVING OUT IF EASTERN GEORGIA AT THIS TIME. THIS ACTIVITY
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE CWA...WITH A
MAJORITY OF THE CWA RECEIVING RAINFALL AS IT MOVES THROUGH.

THE TRACK OF BEST UPPER LIFT AND STRONGEST LOW LEVEL JET WILL
STAY JUST TO OUR NORTH...BUT MODERATE INSTABILITY AND CONSIDERABLE
LOW LEVEL JET TO PROVIDE AN ISOLATED SEVERE THREAT WITH STRONG
WIND GUSTS POSSIBLE. CELL MOTION WILL BE RAPID...BUT IF ANY
TRAINING EFFECT ECHOES OCCUR...THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN GIVEN VERY HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES.
INDICATIONS OF WIND GUSTS APPROACHING LAKE WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA
TODAY. GIVEN CLOUDINESS AND PRECIPITATION LIMITING MIXING...THINK
CONFIDENCE OF PROLONGED WIND GUSTS OF 25 KNOTS OR HIGHER MAY BE
TOO LIMITED TO ISSUE LWA AT THIS TIME. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR
THROUGH THE DAY. PLENTY OF CLOUD COVER TODAY...BUT WITH STRONG
LOW-LEVEL WARM ADVECTION...STILL EXPECT HIGHS TO CLIMB INTO THE
80S FOR MOST AREAS.

TONIGHT...IT APPEARS MAIN BATCH OF PRECIPITATION AND BEST ATMOSPHERIC
MOISTURE WILL SHIFT TO OUR EAST THIS EVENING BEHIND THE UPPER
TROUGH...FOLLOWED BY A BAND OF PRECIPITATION AHEAD OF THE MAIN
COLD FRONT AS IT MOVES THROUGH LATE TONIGHT. LOWS IN THE 60S
OVERNIGHT.

&&

.SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
DRIER MID AND UPPER LEVEL AIR WILL ENTER THE REGION BUT LINGERING
UPPER TROUGHINESS TO OUR WEST WILL CAUSE THE FRONT TO STALL NEAR
THE COAST WITH INDICATIONS OF A NEW SURFACE LOW FORMING ALONG IT.
THIS MAY KEEP SOME LOWER CLOUDINESS AND POSSIBLY A FEW SHOWERS
LINGERING OVER OUR REGION WEDNESDAY.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE ONGOING FORECAST FOR THIS TIME PERIOD.
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS.

MEDIUM RANGE MODELS IN AGREEMENT WITH CONSISTENTLY SHOWING A MEAN
TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY DURING THE EXTENDED
FORECAST PERIOD...LEADING TO NEAR OR BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND
RELATIVELY DRY CONDITIONS.

AN EXPANSIVE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE SITUATED ACROSS MUCH OF THE
COUNTRY EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS ON FRIDAY WITH A FRONTAL
BOUNDARY LOCATED JUST OFF THE EAST THE COAST.  A COUPLE OF SURGES OF
UPPER ENERGY WILL DROP INTO THE UPPER TROUGH FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY...REINFORCING AND AMPLIFYING THE UPPER TROUGH AS IT
PERSISTS INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.  SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE
CENTERED OVER THE NORTHEASTERN STATES FRIDAY...RIDGING DOWN THE EAST
COAST INTO THE FORECAST AREA LIMITING PRECIPITATION CHANCES.  PWAT
VALUES AROUND AN INCH OR SO FRIDAY WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE AGAIN OVER
THE WEEKEND AS PERSISTENT SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT ALLOWS MOISTURE
TO RETURN TO THE AREA. A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY PUSH TOWARDS THE
FORECAST AREA ON SUNDAY INCREASING THE CHANCES FOR
PRECIPITATION...BUT OVERALL DEEP LAYER MOISTURE IS LACKING SO WILL
ONLY CARRY SLIGHT CHANCE POPS OVER THE WEEKEND.

MAX TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED IN THE LOWER TO MID 80S FRI AND
GRADUALLY COOL OVER THE WEEKEND INTO MONDAY WHILE OVERNIGHT LOWS
SHOULD BE IN THE LOWER 60S THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND INTO UPPER 50S
MONDAY MORNING.

&&

.AVIATION /15Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
SHOWERS WILL BE MOVING ACROSS THE REGION IN ADVANCE OF A COLD
FRONT. CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MAINLY MVFR THIS MORNING WITH
CEILINGS 1-2 KFT AND VISIBILITIES 3-4 MILES IN SHOWERS. WILL
INCLUDE TEMPO GROUPS IN TAF SITES FOR STRONGER WINDS IN HEAVIER
SHOWERS. PREVAILING CONDITIONS SHOULD BECOME VFR THIS AFTERNOON AND
DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. AFTER 00Z THIS EVENING...WILL NOT
HAVE MENTION OF MUCH CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY AS SHOWER COVERAGE SHOULD
BE DECREASING. WILL GO MAINLY VFR AFTER 00Z THIS EVENING.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...WIDESPREAD MVFR OR IFR CONDITIONS MAY
OCCUR TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY ASSOCIATED WITH THE SLOW MOVING
FRONTAL SYSTEM.

&&

.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SC...NONE.
GA...NONE.
&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 18, 4:15 AM EDT, 7 hours 10 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
415 AM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-190815-
LINCOLN-MCDUFFIE-COLUMBIA-RICHMOND-BURKE-LANCASTER-CHESTERFIELD-
MCCORMICK-NEWBERRY-FAIRFIELD-KERSHAW-EDGEFIELD-SALUDA-LEXINGTON-
RICHLAND-LEE-AIKEN-SUMTER-BARNWELL-ORANGEBURG-CALHOUN-CLARENDON-
BAMBERG-
415 AM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND
CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY. A FEW
STORMS MAY PRODUCE STRONG WINDS. ALSO...SOME HEAVY RAINFALL
MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 18, 8:38 AM EDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
838 AM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

SCZ027-028-030-035-036-181330-
AIKEN-BARNWELL-LEXINGTON-ORANGEBURG-RICHLAND-
838 AM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF LEXINGTON...
RICHLAND...AIKEN...ORANGEBURG AND BARNWELL COUNTIES THROUGH 930 AM
EDT...

AT 833 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW ELLENTON...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
CAYCE...COLUMBIA...GASTON...LEXINGTON...NEW ELLENTON...OAK GROVE...
PINE RIDGE...RED BANK...SOUTH CONGAREE...SPRINGDALE...WEST COLUMBIA
AND WILLISTON...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REPORT LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OR FLOODING TO YOUR COUNTY
SHERIFF...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1...8 7
7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3340 8183 3412 8125 3392 8086 3384 8095
      3385 8098 3388 8100 3387 8104 3379 8105
      3377 8101 3378 8105 3375 8106 3376 8102
      3322 8159
TIME...MOT...LOC 1235Z 216DEG 40KT 3336 8162

HC

Special weather statement, Sep 18, 10:04 AM EDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1004 AM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

GAZ040-063-064-SCZ018-025-181500-
COLUMBIA-EDGEFIELD-LINCOLN-MCCORMICK-MCDUFFIE-
1004 AM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF MCDUFFIE...LINCOLN...
COLUMBIA...EDGEFIELD AND MCCORMICK COUNTIES THROUGH 1100 AM EDT...

AT 1002 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...14 MILES WEST OF THOMSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
40 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
MCCORMICK...EVANS...GROVETOWN...HARLEM...LINCOLNTON...MARTINEZ AND
THOMSON...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REPORT LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OR FLOODING TO YOUR COUNTY
SHERIFF...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1...8 7
7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3365 8259 3366 8250 3382 8260 3387 8258
      3386 8261 3390 8262 3408 8249 3406 8245
      3407 8233 3398 8230 3401 8225 3368 8182
      3359 8193 3331 8240 3334 8245 3335 8255
      3341 8255 3346 8260 3361 8265
TIME...MOT...LOC 1404Z 226DEG 35KT 3341 8272

HC

Special weather statement, Sep 18, 11:25 AM EDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
1125 AM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

SCZ020-021-025>028-030-181645-
AIKEN-EDGEFIELD-FAIRFIELD-LEXINGTON-NEWBERRY-RICHLAND-SALUDA-
1125 AM EDT TUE SEP 18 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF EDGEFIELD...
FAIRFIELD...LEXINGTON...NEWBERRY...RICHLAND...SALUDA AND AIKEN
COUNTIES THROUGH 1245 PM EDT...

AT 1122 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 12 MILES WEST OF
WHITMIRE TO CHAPPELLS TO RIDGE SPRING...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
BATESBURG...COLUMBIA...DENTSVILLE...FOREST
ACRES...IRMO...JOHNSTON...LEESVILLE...LEXINGTON...
NEWBERRY...PROSPERITY...RED BANK...RIDGE
SPRING...SALUDA...SPRINGDALE...ST. ANDREWS...WEST
COLUMBIA...WHITMIRE...WINNSBORO...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REPORT LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS OR FLOODING TO YOUR COUNTY
SHERIFF...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOLL FREE AT 1...8 7
7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3455 8090 3448 8090 3445 8087 3428 8082
      3418 8087 3410 8077 3366 8177 3409 8192
      3413 8188 3419 8193 3430 8190 3437 8178
      3453 8165 3453 8162 3445 8153 3449 8149
      3450 8143 3458 8142
TIME...MOT...LOC 1524Z 242DEG 38KT 3451 8181 3419 8180
          3380 8167

The office that day

Everything else NWS Columbia, SC issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 18, 8:38 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Aiken, Lexington	52 min
Sep 18, 10:04 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Edgefield, McCormick	56 min
Sep 18, 11:43 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Aiken, Calhoun	62 min
Sep 18, 1:46 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Clarendon, Sumter	59 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in South Carolina, 2012 Every special weather statement in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.