Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Charleston, SC

July 29, 2012Chatham County, Georgia; Beaufort County, Jasper County, South Carolina

NWS Charleston, SC issued this tornado warning at Jul 29, 2012, 4:06 PM EDT for Chatham County, Georgia; Beaufort County, Jasper County, South Carolina. It was in force for 19 min. 1 report 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
Jul 29, 2012, 4:06 PM EDT (20:06 UTC)
Expired
Jul 29, 2012, 4:25 PM EDT
In force
19 min
Issued by
NWS Charleston, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Chatham County, GA, Beaufort County, SC, Jasper County, SC

The radar

The Charleston,SC radar (KCLX), 76 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:09 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
Jul 29, 4:09 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUD2 Nnw Whitemarsh Island, GATHUNDERBOLT FIREFIGHTER REPORTED SEEING A FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR THE PRESIDENT ST BOAT RAMP MOVING TOWARD TALAHI ISLAND. FUNNEL WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 150-200 YARDS WIDE AND ABOUT 500 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.

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
Jul 29, 2:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 8.1 hours before the alert went out and 136 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2012-07-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2597 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2012-07-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 63 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
2597 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-47 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
738 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
63 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
38 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.

235 
WFUS52 KCHS 292006
TORCHS
GAC051-SCC013-053-292045-
/O.NEW.KCHS.TO.W.0015.120729T2006Z-120729T2045Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
406 PM EDT SUN JUL 29 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN CHATHAM COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...
  EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...
  SOUTH CENTRAL JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 445 PM EDT

* AT 406 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO...NEAR
  HUTCHINSON ISLAND...MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...
  BELLINGER HILL AREA...HUTCHINSON ISLAND...SAVANNAH HISTORIC
  DISTRICT...WHITEMARSH ISLAND...RIVERSIDE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS TORNADO MAY BE WRAPPED IN RAIN AND NOT EASILY SEEN. IF YOU WAIT
UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING IT MAY BE TOO LATE. TAKE SHELTER NOW.

TAKE SHELTER AS THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH.

REPORT HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND POWER LINES DIRECTLY TO THE
CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT 1-888-383-2024...WHEN IT IS
SAFE TO DO SO.

&&

LAT...LON 3178 8107 3209 8113 3217 8103 3210 8086
      3208 8086 3207 8088 3205 8089 3203 8087
      3203 8084 3201 8083 3185 8100 3183 8103
      3182 8103
TIME...MOT...LOC 2006Z 352DEG 4KT 3211 8104

$$
3 follow-up statements
191 
WWUS52 KCHS 292016
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
416 PM EDT SUN JUL 29 2012

GAC051-SCC013-053-292045-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-120729T2045Z/
JASPER SC-CHATHAM GA-BEAUFORT SC-
416 PM EDT SUN JUL 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM EDT FOR EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN BEAUFORT...EAST CENTRAL CHATHAM AND SOUTH CENTRAL JASPER
COUNTIES...

AT 417 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR LEPAGEVILLE...OR
ABOUT OVER SAVANNAH...MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...FORT
PULASKI NATIONAL MONUMENT...HUTCHINSON ISLAND...WHITEMARSH ISLAND...
WILMINGTON ISLAND AND RIVERSIDE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS TORNADO MAY BE WRAPPED IN RAIN AND NOT EASILY SEEN. IF YOU WAIT
UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING IT MAY BE TOO LATE. TAKE SHELTER NOW.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND
POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR REPORTS TO
CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV.

&&

LAT...LON 3192 8095 3209 8110 3216 8102 3210 8086
      3208 8086 3207 8088 3205 8089 3203 8087
      3203 8084 3201 8083
TIME...MOT...LOC 2017Z 352DEG 4KT 3210 8104

$$
921 
WWUS52 KCHS 292021
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
421 PM EDT SUN JUL 29 2012

GAC051-SCC013-053-292045-
/O.CON.KCHS.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-120729T2045Z/
JASPER SC-CHATHAM GA-BEAUFORT SC-
421 PM EDT SUN JUL 29 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM EDT FOR EXTREME
SOUTHWESTERN BEAUFORT...EAST CENTRAL CHATHAM AND SOUTHEASTERN JASPER
COUNTIES...

AT 421 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A TORNADO.  THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR FORT PULASKI 
NATIONAL MONUMENT...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

SOME LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...FORT 
PULASKI NATIONAL MONUMENT AND TYBEE ISLAND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS TORNADO MAY BE WRAPPED IN RAIN AND NOT EASILY SEEN. IF YOU WAIT
UNTIL YOU SEE OR HEAR IT COMING IT MAY BE TOO LATE. TAKE SHELTER NOW.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND
POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR REPORTS TO
CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV.

&&

LAT...LON 3198 8091 3208 8103 3213 8099 3210 8086
      3208 8086 3207 8088 3205 8089 3203 8087
      3203 8084 3201 8083
TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 293DEG 19KT 3207 8093

$$
710 
WWUS52 KCHS 292025
SVSCHS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
425 PM EDT SUN JUL 29 2012

GAC051-SCC013-053-292035-
/O.CAN.KCHS.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-120729T2045Z/
JASPER SC-CHATHAM GA-BEAUFORT SC-
425 PM EDT SUN JUL 29 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN BEAUFORT...EAST
CENTRAL CHATHAM AND SOUTHEASTERN JASPER COUNTIES HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

AT 425 PM EDT...RADAR INDICATED THAT THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WHICH
PROMPTED THE WARNING HAD WEAKENED...AND WAS NO LONGER CAPABLE OF 
PRODUCING TORNADOES. THE TORNADO WARNING HAS THEREFORE BEEN 
CANCELED...BUT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT.

TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS HAIL...DOWNED TREES...LIMBS...AND 
POWER LINES...PLEASE CONTACT THE CHARLESTON NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 
TOLL FREE AT 1-888-383-2024 OR EMAIL YOUR REPORTS TO 
CHS.SKYWARN@NOAA.GOV.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT SUNDAY
EVENING FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3198 8091 3208 8103 3213 8099 3210 8086
      3208 8086 3207 8088 3205 8089 3203 8087
      3203 8084 3201 8083
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 293DEG 19KT 3206 8091

$$

JAQ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 28, 9:40 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS54 min
Jul 29, 1:23 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSJenkins37 min
Jul 29, 2:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSEvans33 min
Jul 29, 2:34 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBulloch, Candler56 min
Jul 29, 3:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBryan24 min
Jul 29, 3:12 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Jul 29, 3:12 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBryan, Bulloch, Effingham, Screven63 min
Jul 29, 3:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSLong28 min
Jul 29, 3:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSChatham, Effingham53 min
Jul 29, 3:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBryan, Bulloch, Evans, Liberty, Long, Tattnall60 min
Jul 29, 3:59 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Jul 29, 4:07 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSJenkins, Screven53 min
Jul 29, 4:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, Long, McIntosh54 min
Jul 29, 5:13 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Jul 29, 5:16 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSMcIntosh44 min
Jul 29, 5:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSLiberty, McIntosh57 min
Jul 29, 5:56 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS2 hr
Jul 29, 6:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSMcIntosh44 min
Jul 29, 6:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSMcIntosh39 min
Jul 29, 6:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSLiberty26 min
Jul 29, 7:11 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS94 min
Jul 29, 7:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSMcIntosh25 min
Jul 29, 7:45 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBulloch, Candler, Evans45 min
Jul 29, 7:57 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningCHS48 min
Jul 29, 2:08 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper52 min
Jul 29, 2:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Charleston, Colleton67 min
Jul 29, 2:47 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Colleton, Jasper58 min
Jul 29, 3:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSCharleston44 min
Jul 29, 3:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley, Colleton, Dorchester54 min
Jul 29, 3:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley, Charleston, Dorchester66 min
Jul 29, 3:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSCharleston, Colleton61 min
Jul 29, 3:43 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBeaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Jasper62 min
Jul 29, 3:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley, Dorchester63 min
Jul 29, 4:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCHSBerkeley, Charleston38 min
Jul 29, 4:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSCharleston24 min
Jul 29, 4:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBeaufort29 min
Jul 29, 5:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSCharleston37 min
Jul 29, 5:18 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBerkeley27 min
Jul 29, 5:42 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSBerkeley33 min
Jul 29, 6:09 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSAllendale51 min
Jul 29, 7:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSAllendale52 min
Jul 29, 7:54 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCHSColleton36 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2012Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2012Every tornado warning in 2012Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.