Alert archive / North Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 185, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 19, 2012, 5:37 PM EDT for Buncombe County, Henderson County, North Carolina. It was in force for 28 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
- May 19, 2012, 5:37 PM EDT (21:37 UTC)
- Expired
- May 19, 2012, 6:05 PM EDT
- In force
- 28 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
Counties Buncombe County, NC, Henderson County, NC
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 5:42 PM EDT | HAIL 1 | 2 Se Avery Creek, NC | HAIL RANGING IN SIZE UP TO A QUARTER FELL AT THE ASHEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT. THERE WERE TWO PERIODS OF HAIL IN THE STORM AND HAIL PARTIALLY COVERED THE GROUND DURING A MINUTE TO MINUTE AND A HALF OF HEAVIER HAIL. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 5 minutes after it went out.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 258 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1536 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 62 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 50 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
504
WUUS52 KGSP 192137
SVRGSP
NCC021-089-192230-
/O.NEW.KGSP.SV.W.0185.120519T2137Z-120519T2230Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
537 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
SOUTHWESTERN BUNCOMBE COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
NORTHWESTERN HENDERSON COUNTY IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA...
* UNTIL 630 PM EDT
* AT 533 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
FLETCHER...OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF HENDERSONVILLE...AND MOVING WEST
AT 5 MPH.
* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
AVERY CREEK.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
LARGE HAIL CAN CAUSE MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO VEHICLES.
DAMAGING WINDS MAY BLOW DOWN SCATTERED TREES AND POWER LINES. SEEK
SHELTER INSIDE AN INTERIOR ROOM.
TO REPORT DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...OR FLOODING THROUGH OUR AUTOMATED
REPORTING SYSTEM...CALL TOLL FREE...1 8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.
&&
LAT...LON 3537 8242 3530 8262 3540 8272 3544 8278
3547 8280 3549 8279 3551 8278 3556 8248
TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 075DEG 6KT 3543 8255
$$
ARK2 follow-up statements
511
WWUS52 KGSP 192154
SVSGSP
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
554 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012
NCC021-089-192230-
/O.CON.KGSP.SV.W.0185.000000T0000Z-120519T2230Z/
BUNCOMBE NC-HENDERSON NC-
554 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN
HENDERSON AND SOUTHWESTERN BUNCOMBE COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM EDT...
AT 551 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND
DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
AVERY CREEK...OR 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF HENDERSONVILLE...MOVING
SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
ETOWAH.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
LARGE HAIL CAN CAUSE MAJOR PROPERTY DAMAGE...ESPECIALLY TO VEHICLES.
DAMAGING WINDS MAY BLOW DOWN SCATTERED TREES AND POWER LINES. SEEK
SHELTER INSIDE AN INTERIOR ROOM.
TO REPORT DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...OR FLOODING THROUGH OUR AUTOMATED
REPORTING SYSTEM...CALL TOLL FREE...1 8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.
&&
LAT...LON 3549 8254 3538 8244 3533 8253 3530 8262
3539 8270 3544 8278 3546 8278
TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 063DEG 6KT 3541 8259
$$
ARK372
WWUS52 KGSP 192205
SVSGSP
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
605 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012
NCC021-089-192215-
/O.CAN.KGSP.SV.W.0185.000000T0000Z-120519T2230Z/
BUNCOMBE NC-HENDERSON NC-
605 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN HENDERSON AND
SOUTHWESTERN BUNCOMBE COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LEVELS.
LAT...LON 3549 8254 3538 8244 3533 8253 3530 8262
3539 8270 3544 8278 3546 8278
TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 063DEG 6KT 3540 8261
$$
ARKWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 19, 3:07 PM EDT, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 19, 3:07 PM EDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 307 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012 .SYNOPSIS... AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL CONTINUE TO PERSIST NEAR THE CAROLINA COAST THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. MEANWHILE...A RIDGE OF SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL WEAKEN THE REGION TONIGHT INTO MONDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION BY NEXT TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... FOR THE LATE AFTERNOON...EXPECT ALTERNATING SHEAVES OF THICK AND THIN CIRRUS TO MOVE OVERHEAD AND TO THE WEST AS HIGH CLOUDINESS EMANATES FROM LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING OFF THE SC COAST. WHERE THE HIGH CLOUDS ARE NOT AS THICK...OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF NE GEORGIA AND THE SRN MTNS OF NC...SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS SOME ENHANCED CU. EXPECT SOME OF THE CU TO DEVELOP INTO SHOWERS AND STORMS...SO THE LOW END PRECIP CHANCES LOOK GOOD. CAPE SHOULD BE HIGH ENOUGH...ALONG WITH DECENT LAPS RATES...THAT A FEW STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE. THE STORMS SHOULD WANE WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING AROUND SUNSET. WITH THAT...AND WITH SOME INTEREST...OUR ATTENTION WILL TURN TO LOW PRESSURE OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST. THE LOW MIGHT ULTIMATELY DEVELOP MORE THAN THE LATEST MODEL RUNS INDICATE...SO CONFIDENCE IS NOT THAT GREAT. FORTUNATELY...THE LOW IS NOT MOVING FAST...OR AT LEAST NOT FAST TO THE WEST. IN THESE SITUATIONS...THE WESTERN CAROLINAS TYPICALLY REMAIN UNDER SOME KIND OF WEAK SUBSIDENCE AND ONLY SEE PATCHES OF MID AND HIGH CLOUDS WRAPPING AROUND THE WEST AND NW SIDE OF THE SYSTEM...AND UNTIL FURTHER GUIDANCE IS OBTAINED FROM THE TPC...THAT IS THE PLAN WE GO WITH. PIEDMONT/FOOTHILL LOCATIONS SHOULD REMAIN DRY. BETTER LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND COVERGENCE WILL PERSIST OVER THE MTNS...SUCH THAT ISOLATED/SCATTERED SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL DEVELOP AGAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON. AS FOR TEMPS...THE OVERNIGHT LOWS WERE NUDGED TOWARD THE WARMER MET GUIDANCE OWING TO THE EXPECTED HIGH CLOUDINESS...AND TOWARD A GUIDANCE BLEND ON SUNDAY. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AT 1430 EDT SATURDAY...AN UPPER LOW ON THE CAROLINA COAST SUNDAY EVENING MOVES INLAND IN THE GFS TO SOUTHERN VA BY MONDAY MORNING... WHILE REMAINING NEARLY STATIONARY IN THE NAM. THE NAM LOW MOVES UP THE NC COAST ON MONDAY...WHILE THE GFS WEAKENS ITS INITIAL LOW... FORMING ANOTHER OVER THE GULF STREAM OFF VA. A SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE INTO THE TN VALLEY ON MONDAY NIGHT...AND OVER THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS ON TUESDAY...WHERE THE NAM CLOSES OFF A LOW. THE WESTERN EDGE OF MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COASTAL LOW IS SHOWN TO MOVE WEST TO THE INTERSTATE 77 CORRIDOR SUNDAY NIGHT IN BOTH THE NAM AND THE GFS...REMAINING THERE ON MONDAY. MEANWHILE... MOISTURE REMAINS OVER THE MOUNTAINS. THESE TWO AREAS WILL HAVE THE HIGHEST POPS DURING THIS TIME FRAME...HOWEVER POPS WILL NOT BE ESPECIALLY HIGH GIVEN THE LACK OF FORCING IN THE WEST AND MARGINAL CONFIDENCE CONCERNING THE MOISTURE IN THE EAST. ON MONDAY NIGHT THE MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER LOW MOVES OF TO THE EAST...WHILE MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT SPREADS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS. THIS WEAKENING FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA ON TUESDAY WITH NAM ML CAPE OVER 1600 K/KG... SUPPORTING THE BEST POPS YET. INSTABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH A MID LEVEL COOL POOL MAY SUPPORT LINGERING CONVECTION BEHIND THE FRONT LATE IN THE DAY. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN NEAR NORMAL...WITH A LIGHT INCREASE A WEAK UPPER RIDGING OCCURS BETWEEN THE DEPARTING LOW AND THE ARRIVING SHORTWAVE. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 200 PM SATURDAY...THE LATEST MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE THAT AN UPPER TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION ON TUESDAY. WITH INCREASING UPPER LEVEL FORCING AND MOIST/UNSTABLE AIR MASS IN PLACE...HIGH CHANCE POPS WILL BE CARRIED ACROSS MUCH OF OUR CWA. BY NEXT MID WEEK...THE MODELS ARE IN FAIR AGREEMENT THAT THE TROUGH WILL STALL JUST EAST OF THE AREA. THE ECMWF HINTS A CUT OFF LOW FORMING OVER THE CAROLINAS AND REMAINS THROUGH OUT THE EXTENDED FORECAST PERIOD WHILE THE GFS HAS THE LOW LINGERING OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST DURING THE PERIOD. WITH THAT SAID...THE AIR MASS WILL BE UNSTABLE ENOUGH TO TRIGGER SCATTERED CONVECTION MAINLY IN THE AFTERNOON. SO WILL CARRY AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE POPS OVER THE PIEDMONT WITH HIGHER POPS IN THE MOUNTAINS EACH DAY THROUGH DAY 7. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN IN THE LOW TO MID 80S DURING THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AT KCLT...VFR THROUGH THE PERIOD. PATCHES OF CIRRUS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE OVERHEAD AND TO THE WEST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT. THE CIRRUS VEIL SHOULD BE THICK ENOUGH TO CONSTITUTE A HIGH LEVEL CEILING FOR THE REST OF THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. SURFACE WIND WILL REMAIN NE WITH A FEW GUSTS...BUT NOT AS PREVALENT AS THOUGHT EARLIER. THE HIGH AND MID CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD. CANNOT RULE OUT A PATCH OF VERY LIGHT RAIN MOVING IN FROM THE EAST ON SUNDAY MORNING...BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE DEVELOPING LOW OFF THE SC COAST...BUT THIS WOULD NOT RESULT IN A FLIGHT RESTRICTION. ELSEWHERE...VFR THROUGH THE PERIOD AT THE REST OF THE TAF SITES... ALTHOUGH SOME IFR FOG AND STRATUS WILL DEVELOP ONCE AGAIN OVER THE LITTLE TN VALLEY. THE SRN MTNS WILL ALSO HAVE A FEW SHOWERS...BUT THINK THE THICK CIRRUS WILL KEEP THIS FROM DEVELOPING AS FAR E AS KAVL. AFTER THE CONVECTIVE CLOUDS DIE OFF WITH SUNSET...EXPECT PATCHES OF THICK CIRRUS TO MOVE OVERHEAD TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. WINDS WILL GENERALLY REMAIN OUT OF THE NORTHEAST OUTSIDE THE MTNS. OUTLOOK...UNCERTAINTY CREEPS IN REGARDING A COASTAL LOW ON SUNDAY...BUT THE LOCATION OF THE LOW USUALLY MEANS ONLY MID/HIGH CLOUDS FOR THE WRN CAROLINAS. SHOWER AND TSTM CHANCES WILL INCREASE MON THROUGH TUE AS A COLD FRONT ARRIVES FROM THE WEST. DRYING IS THEN EXPECTED MID WEEK. AN EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLE SHOWING THE PERCENTAGE OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING WITH THE SCHEDULED ISSUANCE CATEGORY IS AVAILABLE AT FOLLOWING LINK (USE LOWER CASE)... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION/TABLES.HTM && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. NC...NONE. SC...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...JOH NEAR TERM...PM SHORT TERM...JAT LONG TERM...JOH AVIATION...PM
Hazardous weather outlook, May 19, 5:02 PM EDT, 35 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 502 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012 GAZ010-017-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-505-507-509-SCZ001>003- 202115- RABUN-HABERSHAM-AVERY-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE- GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA- HENDERSON-MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-POLK MOUNTAINS- OCONEE MOUNTAINS-PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS- 502 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. ISOLATED TO WIDELY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE MOUNTAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ALTHOUGH THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE FROM CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL...ONE OR TWO STORMS MAY PRODUCE A BRIEF PERIOD OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-501>504-506-508- 510-SCZ004>014-019-202115- STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-ALEXANDER-IREDELL-DAVIE-CATAWBA-ROWAN- CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION NC- CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE- EASTERN MCDOWELL-GREATER RUTHERFORD-EASTERN POLK-GREATER OCONEE- GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK- ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-UNION SC-CHESTER-GREENWOOD- 502 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... NONE. 07
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 19, 4:37 PM EDT, 1 hour before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED FOR HAIL AREA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
748 PM EDT FRI MAY 18 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM HAIL 3 W MAYO 35.08N 81.91W
05/15/2012 E1.00 INCH SPARTANBURG SC PUBLIC
HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM DIME TO QUARTER SIZED FELL FROM
PARRIS BRIDGE ROAD TO AROUND HIDDEN SPRINGS DRIVE WITH
SOME OF THE LARGER HAIL AROUND TAFT DRIVE IN THE STORM
LAST TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE TREE THAT FELL ON SANDY FORD
ROAD BROKE OFF...NOT UPROOTED...AND MAY HAVE BEEN
PARTIALLY ROTTEN. CORRECTION WAS BASED ON NOTES TAKEN
STATING DIME SIZED HAIL ALSO FELL ON HIDDEN SPRINGS DRIVE.
&&
OUTLAWSpecial weather statement, May 19, 5:26 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
526 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012
NCZ053-065-192200-
BUNCOMBE-HENDERSON-
526 PM EDT SAT MAY 19 2012
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN BUNCOMBE AND WESTERN
HENDERSON COUNTIES THROUGH 600 PM EDT...
AT 523 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FLETCHER...OR 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF
HENDERSONVILLE...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 5 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
MOUNTAIN HOME...
ETOWAH...
DIME SIZE HAIL...AND WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH
THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3545 8235 3524 8255 3529 8262 3532 8263
3541 8273 3558 8255
ARKThe office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 5:26 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | GSP | Henderson | 34 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 2012Every severe thunderstorm warning 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.