Alert archive / North Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

October 2, 2012Cleveland County, North Carolina; Cherokee County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Oct 2, 2012, 9:17 AM EDT for Cleveland County, North Carolina; Cherokee County, South Carolina. It was in force for 43 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
Oct 2, 2012, 9:17 AM EDT (13:17 UTC)
Expired
Oct 2, 2012, 10:00 AM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Cleveland County, NC, Cherokee County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 59 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 13:20 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
Oct 2, 9:49 AM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sw Earl, NCTWO SMALL TREES BLOWN DOWN

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 1.3 hours before the alert went out and 191 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2012-10-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 415 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2012-10-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 158 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
415 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-29 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
468 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
158 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
205 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

457 
WFUS52 KGSP 021317
TORGSP
NCC045-SCC021-021400-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0015.121002T1317Z-121002T1400Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
917 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHERN CLEVELAND COUNTY IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA...
  CHEROKEE COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 1000 AM EDT

* AT 916 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR THICKETTY...OR NEAR GAFFNEY...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT
  25 MPH.

* THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
  GAFFNEY.
  BLACKSBURG.
  EARL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BRIEF...WEAK TORNADO IS LIKELY. MOBILE HOMES COULD BE FLIPPED.
FALLING TREES CAN CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY...AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO
HOUSES. SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF A
HOUSE OR OFFICE BUILDING.

TO REPORT DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...OR FLOODING...CALL TOLL FREE...1...
800...2 6 7...8 1 0 1...AND LEAVE A MESSAGE EXPLAINING THE EVENT AND
THE APPROXIMATE ADDRESS WHERE IT OCCURRED.

&&

LAT...LON 3534 8136 3508 8141 3493 8175 3500 8179
      3503 8179 3504 8180 3512 8184
TIME...MOT...LOC 1317Z 244DEG 22KT 3505 8170

$$

NED
4 follow-up statements
498 
WWUS52 KGSP 021326
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
926 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

NCC045-SCC021-021400-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-121002T1400Z/
CLEVELAND NC-CHEROKEE SC-
926 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN CHEROKEE AND
SOUTHERN CLEVELAND COUNTIES UNTIL 1000 AM EDT...

AT 923 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR GAFFNEY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
  BLACKSBURG.
  EARL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BRIEF...WEAK TORNADO IS LIKELY. MOBILE HOMES COULD BE FLIPPED.
FALLING TREES CAN CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY...AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO
HOUSES. SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF A
HOUSE OR OFFICE BUILDING.

TO REPORT DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...OR FLOODING...CALL TOLL FREE...1...
800...2 6 7...8 1 0 1...AND LEAVE A MESSAGE EXPLAINING THE EVENT AND
THE APPROXIMATE ADDRESS WHERE IT OCCURRED.

&&

LAT...LON 3534 8136 3508 8141 3501 8171 3506 8176
      3514 8179
TIME...MOT...LOC 1325Z 230DEG 22KT 3509 8166

$$

NED
012 
WWUS52 KGSP 021340
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
940 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

NCC045-SCC021-021400-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-121002T1400Z/
CLEVELAND NC-CHEROKEE SC-
940 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN CHEROKEE AND
SOUTHERN CLEVELAND COUNTIES UNTIL 1000 AM EDT...

AT 935 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF GAFFNEY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

AT 930 AM EDT...A TRAINED SPOTTER LOCATED A MILE NORTHEAST OF 
GAFFNEY OBSERVED A FUNNEL CLOUD.

THIS STORM WILL IMPACT LOCATIONS NEAR...
  EARL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BRIEF...WEAK TORNADO IS LIKELY. MOBILE HOMES COULD BE FLIPPED.
FALLING TREES CAN CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY...AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO
HOUSES. SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF A
HOUSE OR OFFICE BUILDING.

TO REPORT DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...OR FLOODING...CALL TOLL FREE...1...
800...2 6 7...8 1 0 1...AND LEAVE A MESSAGE EXPLAINING THE EVENT AND
THE APPROXIMATE ADDRESS WHERE IT OCCURRED.

&&

LAT...LON 3507 8162 3512 8168 3517 8172 3534 8136
      3510 8141
TIME...MOT...LOC 1339Z 226DEG 22KT 3516 8159

$$

NED
016 
WWUS52 KGSP 021349
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
949 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

SCC021-021358-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-121002T1400Z/
CHEROKEE SC-
949 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS MOVED OUT OF THIS AREA.

LAT...LON 3534 8136 3517 8139 3518 8165 3521 8165
TIME...MOT...LOC 1348Z 221DEG 26KT 3521 8156

$$

NCC045-021400-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-121002T1400Z/
CLEVELAND NC-
949 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN CLEVELAND COUNTY
UNTIL 1000 AM EDT...

AT 945 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS STORM WAS
LOCATED NEAR EARL...OR 7 MILES SOUTH OF SHELBY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
30 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHERN CLEVELAND COUNTY...INCLUDING THE 
FOLLOWING LOCATION...PATTERSON SPRINGS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BRIEF...WEAK TORNADO IS LIKELY. MOBILE HOMES COULD BE FLIPPED.
FALLING TREES CAN CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY...AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO
HOUSES. SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF A
HOUSE OR OFFICE BUILDING.

TO REPORT DAMAGING WINDS...HAIL...OR FLOODING...CALL TOLL FREE...1...
800...2 6 7...8 1 0 1...AND LEAVE A MESSAGE EXPLAINING THE EVENT AND
THE APPROXIMATE ADDRESS WHERE IT OCCURRED.

&&

LAT...LON 3534 8136 3517 8139 3518 8165 3521 8165
TIME...MOT...LOC 1348Z 221DEG 26KT 3521 8156

$$

NED
716 
WWUS52 KGSP 021401
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1001 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

NCC045-021410-
/O.EXP.KGSP.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-121002T1400Z/
CLEVELAND NC-
1001 AM EDT TUE OCT 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHERN CLEVELAND COUNTY HAS EXPIRED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LEVELS.  HOWEVER GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH
THIS THUNDERSTORM.

THE ENVIRONMENT REMAINS FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRIEF 
TORNADOES ACROSS THE PIEDMONT. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS 
WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR LATER WARNINGS.  

LAT...LON 3534 8136 3517 8139 3518 8165 3521 8165
TIME...MOT...LOC 1349Z 221DEG 26KT 3522 8155

$$
LANE

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 2, 3:39 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPMacon111 min
Oct 2, 6:32 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPHenderson, Transylvania3 hr
Oct 2, 8:00 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHenderson3 hr
Oct 2, 10:04 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGaston, Lincoln41 min
Oct 2, 10:45 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPIredell, Mecklenburg45 min
Oct 2, 10:59 AM EDTTornado WarningGSPCatawba, Iredell, Lincoln31 min
Oct 2, 11:15 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPHenderson, Transylvania8 hr
Oct 2, 4:59 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPAnderson3 hr
Oct 2, 5:43 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPGreenville, Pickens56 min
Oct 2, 6:05 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningGSPAnderson2 hr
Oct 2, 6:13 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGreenville47 min
Oct 2, 6:23 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPAnderson, Greenville, Pickens2 hr
Oct 2, 7:47 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGreenville28 min
Oct 2, 7:59 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPLaurens31 min
Oct 2, 8:25 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPSpartanburg35 min
Oct 2, 9:00 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee, Union45 min
Oct 2, 6:56 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPAnderson, Greenville, Pickens6 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Carolina, 2012Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 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.