Alert archive / South Carolina / Special Weather Statements in 2012

Special Weather Statement, NWS Charleston, SC

March 14, 2012Dorchester County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this special weather statement at Mar 14, 2012, 5:44 PM EDT for Dorchester County, South Carolina. It was in force for 31 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: Mar 14, 2012, 5:44 PM EDT (21:44 UTC)
Expired: Mar 14, 2012, 6:15 PM EDT
In force: 31 min
Issued by: NWS Charleston, SC

County Dorchester County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 76 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:48 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, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 26 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: 676 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -43 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 771 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 37 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.

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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 Charleston, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Mar 14, 4:12 PM EDT, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 14, 4:12 PM EDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
412 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

.SYNOPSIS...
ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE WILL EXTEND ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH LATE
WEEK BEFORE A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT DESCENDS INTO THE AREA OVER THE
WEEKEND...THEN DISSIPATES EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THURSDAY MORNING/...
THIS AFTERNOON...SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP
ACROSS SE GA. SO FAR THE NEAR STORM ENVIRONMENT IS PRETTY MUCH AS IT
WAS EXPECTED WITH SURFACE BASED CAPE VALUES ON THE ORDER OF 2000
J/KG AND LI VALUES OF -5 C. DCAPES ARE AROUND 800 WITH WEAK DEEP
LAYER SHEAR. THIS SHOULD RESULT IN ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH THE THREAT OF A COUPLE OF
STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS. THE THREAT FOR LARGE HAIL MAY BE MARGINALLY
GREATER THAN THE THREAT FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS GIVEN THE RELATIVELY
LOW FREEZING LEVELS AROUND 10.5 KFT. ACCORDINGLY...WILL CONTINUE THE
SEVERE WEATHER MENTION IN THE HWO.

TONIGHT...LINGERING SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL DIMINISH
QUICKLY AFTER SUNSET WITH THE LOSS OF SURFACE HEATING. THE OVERALL
PATTERN WILL CONTINUE TO FEATURE WEAK NW FLOW ALOFT ON THE EAST SIDE
OF THE STRENGTHENING UPPER RIDGE AXIS. AT THE SURFACE...A RATHER
NEBULOUS PRESSURE PATTERN WILL PERSIST AS HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO
NOSE IN FROM THE EAST. THE FORECAST IS DRY OVERNIGHT AND THE FOCUS
TURNS TO THE FOG POTENTIAL. MODELS CONTINUE TO BE MIXED AS TO THE
COVERAGE AND INTENSITY OF FOG. THE LOW LEVEL AIRMASS IS STILL MOIST
AND THE MID AND UPPER LEVELS CONTINUE TO BE DRY. THE OVERALL FLOW
PATTERN FAVORS LIGHT TO CALM FLOW BUT MODEL TIME HEIGHTS SHOW
LINGERING 4-5 KFT CLOUDS THROUGH MUCH OF THE NIGHT. THIS MAY BE
ENOUGH TO PREVENT IDEAL RADIATIONAL COOLING AND FOG CONDITIONS. SREF
PROBS ARE PRETTY UNIMPRESSIVE AS WELL. I HAVE CONTINUED PATCHY FOG
EVERYWHERE AND ADDED A TIER OF AREAS OF FOG INLAND WHERE THE BEST
COOLING MAY BE. ISOLATED AREAS OF DENSE FOG CANNOT BE RULED OUT BUT
DO NOT APPEAR LIKELY AT THIS TIME. EXPECT LOWS IN THE LOW TO MID 50S
INLAND WITH UPPER 50S TO NEAR 60 ALONG THE COAST.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY/...
ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE AT THE START OF THE PERIOD WILL GIVE WAY TO A
COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST SATURDAY. EXPECT LITTLE TO
NO RAIN CHANCES THURSDAY WITH DEEP HIGH PRESSURE AND LIMITED
MOISTURE AVAILABLE BUT INCREASING MOISTURE AND THE BREAK DOWN OF
HIGH PRESSURE WILL ALLOW FOR A FEW SHOWERS/STORMS
FRIDAY...ESPECIALLY INLAND AREAS. RAIN CHANCES THEN INCREASE A BIT
MORE SATURDAY AS THE FRONT APPROACHES. MAX TEMPERATURES WILL
CONTINUE WELL ABOVE NORMAL THURSDAY WITH MID/UPPER 80S
EXPECTED...THEN AROUND 80/LOWER 80S FRIDAY...AND SLIGHTLY COOLER
SATURDAY.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD FROM THE NORTH BEHIND THE
DESCENDING/DISSIPATING FRONT ON SUNDAY. DRIER AIR WILL SHIFT INTO
THE REGION ACCORDINGLY. HOWEVER...ENOUGH LINGERING MOISTURE AND
CONVERGENCE IN THE VICINITY OF THE FRONT COULD SUPPORT ISOLATED
SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHWEST COUNTIES
AHEAD OF THE SEABREEZE. HIGH PRESSURE WILL GENERALLY REMAIN IN
CONTROL OF THE PATTERN THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY NEXT WEEK...WHILE A
HIGHLY AMPLIFIED UPPER RIDGE DEVELOPS OVER THE ENTIRE EASTERN
UNITED STATES. MID RANGE MODELS ALL SEEM TO DEVELOP A COASTAL
TROUGH OF VARYING DEGREES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST COAST...WHICH COULD
IMPACT MOISTURE CONVERGENCE AND RESULTING RAIN CHANCES...ESPECIALLY
ALONG THE COAST. PREFER TO KEEP POPS UNDER 15 PERCENT AT THIS
TIME...UNTIL BETTER MODEL CONSISTENCY LEADS TO HIGHER CONFIDENCE
IN SUCH DETAILS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN UNSEASONABLY WARM
THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD...WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES TYPICALLY
REACHING THE UPPER 70S AWAY FROM THE LOCALLY COOLER COASTLINE.

&&

.AVIATION /20Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PREVAIL INTO THE EVENING. I HAVE
ADDED A TEMPO GROUP FOR VICINITY SHOWERS AND A CB MENTION AT KSAV AS
ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP
ALONG THE SEABREEZE. THE LIKELIHOOD IS HIGHER AT KSAV COMPARED TO
KCHS SO I HAVE LEFT IT OUT THERE.

TONIGHT THE FOCUS ONCE AGAIN TURNS TO THE POTENTIAL FOR FOG
DEVELOPMENT. MODEL GUIDANCE IS MIXED WITH SOME INDICATIONS OF THE
POTENTIAL FOR DENSE FOG...AND OTHER INDICATIONS OF ONLY PATCHY
MVFR FOG OR SHALLOW GROUND FOG. AGAIN FOG CHANCES ARE HIGHLY
DEPENDENT ON THE COVERAGE OF CLOUDS OVERNIGHT. MODELS CONTINUE TO
DEPICT AT LEAST SOME DEGREE OF CLOUDINESS IN THE 4-6 KFT RANGE
WHICH MAY PREVENT VSBYS FROM GETTING TOO LOW. I HAVE ADDED MVFR
LEVEL FOG TO THE TAF/S THIS PACKAGE THOUGH FUTURE ISSUANCES MAY
NEED TEMPO GROUPS TO ACCOUNT FOR LOWER VSBYS.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...MODERATE TO HIGH POTENTIAL FOR LATE
NIGHT/EARLY MORNING FOG AND/OR LOW CEILINGS THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY
MORNING.

&&

.MARINE...
TONIGHT...NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IS EXPECTED TO THE OVERALL SURFACE
PATTERN AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT REMAINS WEAK WITHIN THE WESTERN
EXTENSION OF THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH. THIS WILL KEEP WINDS VERY LIGHT
AND PERHAPS EVEN CALM AT TIMES THROUGH SUNRISE ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE
GA WATERS. REGARDLESS WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 10 KTS OR LESS WITH
SEAS GENERALLY 2-3 FT.

THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY...EXPECT GENERALLY QUIET MARINE CONDITIONS
THROUGH SATURDAY DUE TO A WEAK PRESSURE PATTERN IN PLACE...AS
ATLANTIC HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES. COULD SEE A BIT OF A N/NE WIND
SURGE EARLY NEXT WEEK BEHIND A WEAK COLD FRONT PUSHING SOUTH OF THE
AREA. SEAS WILL BE 2 TO 4 FT...MAINLY IN A NEARLY 8 SECOND EAST SWELL.
CONDITIONS COULD BECOME FAVORABLE FOR SEA FOG DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE
COOL NEARSHORE WATERS LATER THIS WEEK...BUT PROBABILITIES
ARE TOO LOW TO JUSTIFY MENTIONING IN THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME.

&&

.CHS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...NONE.
SC...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.

&&

BSH/RJB

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 14, 11:12 AM EDT, 6 hours 32 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
1112 AM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042-047-048-051-151515-
JENKINS-SCREVEN-CANDLER-BULLOCH-EFFINGHAM-TATTNALL-EVANS-
INLAND BRYAN-COASTAL BRYAN-INLAND CHATHAM-COASTAL CHATHAM-LONG-
INLAND LIBERTY-COASTAL LIBERTY-INLAND MCINTOSH-COASTAL MCINTOSH-
ALLENDALE-HAMPTON-INLAND JASPER-BEAUFORT-COASTAL JASPER-
1112 AM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND
SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS PORTIONS OF FAR SOUTHERN SOUTH
CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. A COUPLE OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME
SEVERE...AND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND
GUSTS. EXPECT ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP TO PRODUCE LOCALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

AMZ330-350-352-354-374-SCZ043>045-049-050-052-151515-
CHARLESTON HARBOR-
WATERS FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER TO EDISTO BEACH SC OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM EDISTO BEACH SC TO SAVANNAH GA OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA OUT 20 NM...INCLUDING
GRAYS REEF NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-
WATERS FROM SAVANNAH GA TO ALTAMAHA SOUND GA EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-INLAND COLLETON-DORCHESTER-INLAND BERKELEY-COASTAL COLLETON-
CHARLESTON-TIDAL BERKELEY-
1112 AM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS AND
SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 14, 3:36 PM EDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
336 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0330 PM     HAIL             WALTHOURVILLE           31.77N  81.63W
03/14/2012  E0.25 INCH       LIBERTY            GA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER CHS1200040

VB

Special weather statement, Mar 14, 4:28 PM EDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
428 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

GAZ137-140-141-142100-
COASTAL MCINTOSH-INLAND MCINTOSH-LONG-
428 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF LONG AND MCINTOSH
COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM EDT...

AT 427 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR BRICKSTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
COX...EULONIA...JONES...PINE HARBOR...SHELLMAN BLUFF...TIBET AND
TOWNSEND...

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AS STORMS APPROACH.
BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN CASE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3162 8164 3169 8149 3167 8146 3164 8143
      3165 8142 3158 8130 3141 8157
TIME...MOT...LOC 2028Z 337DEG 10KT 3162 8152

Special weather statement, Mar 14, 5:19 PM EDT, 25 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
519 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

SCZ044-142145-
DORCHESTER-
519 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
THROUGH 545 PM EDT...

AT 518 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR SLANDS BRIDGE  ... NEARLY STATIONARY.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
GIVHANS...JEDBURG...KNIGHTSVILLE AND SLANDS BRIDGE...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...
NICKEL SIZE HAIL...
TORRENTIAL RAIN WHICH MAY PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AS STORMS APPROACH.
BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN CASE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3301 8038 3309 8025 3292 8010 3287 8031
TIME...MOT...LOC 2119Z 090DEG 1KT 3298 8023

Special weather statement, Mar 14, 5:28 PM EDT, 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
528 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

SCZ045-142200-
INLAND BERKELEY-
528 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF BERKELEY COUNTY
THROUGH 600 PM EDT...

AT 526 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR ALVIN  ... NEARLY STATIONARY.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
JAMESTOWN AND SAINT STEPHEN...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
GUSTY WINDS OF 40 TO 50 MPH...
PENNY SIZE HAIL...
TORRENTIAL RAIN WHICH MAY PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AS STORMS APPROACH.
BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN CASE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3326 7966 3321 7980 3340 7994 3342 7985
      3341 7985 3338 7980 3338 7979 3332 7974
      3332 7970 3331 7968
TIME...MOT...LOC 2129Z 020DEG 2KT 3334 7981

Special weather statement, Mar 14, 5:44 PM EDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
544 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

SCZ044-050-142215-
CHARLESTON-DORCHESTER-
544 PM EDT WED MAR 14 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF DORCHESTER AND
CHARLESTON COUNTIES THROUGH 615 PM EDT...

AT 543 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM...NEAR CANAAN...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE...
DELEMAR CROSSROADS AND SLANDS BRIDGE...

PREPARE NOW FOR THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS...
STRONG WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH...
PENNY SIZE HAIL...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AS STORMS APPROACH.
BE READY TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IN CASE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3281 8019 3284 8039 3287 8040 3299 8032
      3297 8017
TIME...MOT...LOC 2144Z 011DEG 8KT 3293 8027

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Mar 13, 9:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CHS	Bulloch, Candler, Tattnall	39 min
Mar 14, 6:26 AM EDT	Dense Fog Advisory	CHS	Bulloch, Candler, Jenkins, Screven	3 hr
Mar 14, 4:28 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CHS	McIntosh	32 min
Mar 14, 5:19 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CHS	Dorchester	26 min
Mar 14, 5:28 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CHS	Berkeley	32 min
Mar 14, 5:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CHS	Berkeley	35 min
Mar 14, 5:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CHS	Charleston, Dorchester	35 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.