Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2012

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

March 2, 2012Oconee County, Pickens County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at Mar 2, 2012, 4:14 PM EST for Oconee County, Pickens County, South Carolina. It was in force for 46 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 2, 2012, 4:14 PM EST (21:14 UTC)
Expired
Mar 2, 2012, 5:00 PM EST
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Oconee County, SC, Pickens County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:16 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 watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Mar 2, 3:19 PM ESTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 234 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2012-03-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 55 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2012-03-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 206 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
55 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-255 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
788 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
53 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
206 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
268 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.

465 
WFUS52 KGSP 022114
TORGSP
SCC073-077-022200-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0006.120302T2114Z-120302T2200Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
414 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHERN OCONEE COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WALHALLA...
  NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTY IN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF PICKENS...

* UNTIL 500 PM EST

* AT 413 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR MOUNTAIN
  REST...OR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF WALHALLA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WALHALLA...
  SALEM AND LAKE KEOWEE...
  NINE TIMES AND LAKE JOCASSEE...
  PICKENS AND ROCKY BOTTOM...
  PUMPKINTOWN...
  DACUSVILLE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR STURDIER SHELTER.
OTHERWISE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME
OR PLACE OF BUSINESS. MAKE SURE THERE ARE AS MANY WALLS AND FLOORS
BETWEEN YOU AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE.

TO REPORT TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...OR FLOODING...
THROUGH OUR AUTOMATED REPORTING SYSTEM...CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER...
1 8 7 7...6 3 3...6 7 7 2.

&&

LAT...LON 3488 8320 3493 8315 3493 8313 3495 8312
      3507 8277 3505 8274 3506 8271 3507 8257
      3505 8260 3503 8258 3501 8260 3501 8254
      3498 8254 3490 8251 3474 8317 3488 8323
TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 250DEG 34KT 3485 8310

$$

HG
3 follow-up statements
751 
WWUS52 KGSP 022129
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
429 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

SCC073-077-022200-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120302T2200Z/
OCONEE SC-PICKENS SC-
429 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EST FOR NORTHERN
PICKENS AND NORTHEASTERN OCONEE COUNTIES...

AT 427 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR SALEM...OR 9 MILES 
NORTHEAST OF WALHALLA...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

MOST AT RISK ARE THE AREAS FROM SALEM TO NEAR NINE TIMES TO 
PUMPKINTOWN. OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT 
LIMITED TO ROCKY BOTTOM...PICKENS...AND DACUSVILLE. HAIL OF QUARTER 
TO GOLF BALL SIZE WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM AS WELL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUILDING AND PUT AS 
MANY WALLS BETWEEN YOU AND THE OUTSIDE AS YOU CAN. MOBILE HOMES 
SHOULD ABANDONED FOR A STURDIER SHELTER.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND CENTRAL SOUTH
CAROLINA.

&&

LAT...LON 3495 8306 3507 8277 3505 8274 3506 8271
      3507 8257 3505 8260 3503 8258 3501 8260
      3501 8254 3490 8251 3480 8296 3483 8304
      3490 8307
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 248DEG 34KT 3490 8296

$$

HG
135 
WWUS52 KGSP 022139
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
439 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

SCC073-022148-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120302T2200Z/
OCONEE SC-
439 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

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

AT 438 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT 
THE TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM HAD MOVED EAST OF OCONEE COUNTY. A TORNADO 
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING FOR 
NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND CENTRAL SOUTH 
CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3494 8290 3497 8292 3499 8294 3501 8293
      3507 8278 3505 8274 3506 8271 3507 8258
      3506 8259 3501 8260 3500 8254 3495 8252
      3482 8290
TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 246DEG 36KT 3494 8285

$$

SCC077-022200-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120302T2200Z/
PICKENS SC-
439 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM EST FOR NORTHERN
PICKENS COUNTY...

AT 438 PM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 3 MILES WEST 
OF NINE TIMES...OR 11 MILES WEST OF PICKENS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 
MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  ROCKY BOTTOM...
  PUMPKINTOWN...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR STURDIER SHELTER.
OTHERWISE...GO TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST LEVEL OF YOUR HOME
OR PLACE OF BUSINESS. MAKE SURE THERE ARE AS MANY WALLS AND FLOORS
BETWEEN YOU AND THE OUTSIDE AS POSSIBLE.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND CENTRAL SOUTH
CAROLINA.

&&

LAT...LON 3494 8290 3497 8292 3499 8294 3501 8293
      3507 8278 3505 8274 3506 8271 3507 8258
      3506 8259 3501 8260 3500 8254 3495 8252
      3482 8290
TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 246DEG 36KT 3494 8285

$$

HG
857 
WWUS52 KGSP 022153
SVSGSP

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
453 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

SCC077-022201-
/O.EXP.KGSP.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-120302T2200Z/
PICKENS SC-
453 PM EST FRI MAR 2 2012

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 500
PM EST...

AT 451 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THAT 
THE THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES WEST OF PUMPKINTOWN WAS WEAKENING BELOW 
SEVERE LIMITS. THE TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 5 
PM. PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH MAY IMPACT THE NORTHEAST 
PART OF PICKENS COUNTY THROUGH 515 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM EST FRIDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND CENTRAL SOUTH
CAROLINA.

LAT...LON 3494 8290 3497 8292 3499 8294 3501 8293
      3507 8278 3505 8274 3506 8271 3507 8258
      3506 8259 3501 8260 3500 8254 3495 8252
      3482 8290
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 247DEG 27KT 3499 8271

$$

HG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 2, 3:40 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAbbeville35 min
Mar 2, 4:54 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementGSPLaurens36 min
Mar 2, 5:26 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementGSPUnion34 min
Mar 2, 5:41 AM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPChester, Union38 min
Mar 2, 6:05 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee40 min
Mar 2, 6:43 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee32 min
Mar 2, 7:49 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee41 min
Mar 2, 8:52 AM ESTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee38 min
Mar 2, 3:35 PM ESTTornado WarningGSPOconee40 min
Mar 2, 4:25 PM ESTSpecial Weather StatementGSPOconee35 min

Nearby

Tornado 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.