Alert archive / Georgia / Special Weather Statements in 2015

Special Weather Statement, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 18, 2015Oconee County, Pickens County, South Carolina; Elbert County, Franklin County, Hart County, Georgia

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this special weather statement at May 18, 2015, 4:00 PM EDT for Oconee County, Pickens County, South Carolina; Elbert County, Franklin County, Hart County, Georgia. It was in force for 60 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: May 18, 2015, 4:00 PM EDT (20:00 UTC)
Expired: May 18, 2015, 5:00 PM EDT
In force: 60 min
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

Counties Elbert County, GA, Franklin County, GA, Hart County, GA, Oconee County, SC, Pickens County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 93 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:01 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

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 180 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: 133 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -105 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1120 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 40 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 Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at May 18, 2:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 18, 2:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before

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      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
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        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 4:48 AM EDT, 11 hours 12 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
448 AM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-190900-
RABUN-HABERSHAM-STEPHENS-FRANKLIN-HART-ELBERT-AVERY-ALEXANDER-
IREDELL-DAVIE-MADISON-YANCEY-MITCHELL-SWAIN-HAYWOOD-BUNCOMBE-CATAWBA-
ROWAN-GRAHAM-NORTHERN JACKSON-MACON-SOUTHERN JACKSON-TRANSYLVANIA-
HENDERSON-CLEVELAND-LINCOLN-GASTON-MECKLENBURG-CABARRUS-UNION-
CALDWELL MOUNTAINS-GREATER CALDWELL-BURKE MOUNTAINS-GREATER BURKE-
MCDOWELL MOUNTAINS-EASTERN MCDOWELL-RUTHERFORD MOUNTAINS-
GREATER RUTHERFORD-POLK MOUNTAINS-EASTERN POLK-OCONEE MOUNTAINS-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS-GREATER OCONEE-
GREATER PICKENS-GREATER GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG-CHEROKEE-YORK-
ANDERSON-ABBEVILLE-LAURENS-CHESTER-GREENWOOD-
448 AM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA...PIEDMONT
NORTH CAROLINA...WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE
WESTERN CAROLINAS AND NORTHEAST GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. ANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
PRODUCE DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND LOCALLY HEAVY
RAINFALL. MINOR FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS
AND LOCATIONS AFFECTED BY MULTIPLE THUNDERSTORMS IN A SHORT PERIOD
OF TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

..TUESDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..WEDNESDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..THURSDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..FRIDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..SATURDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
..SUNDAY...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

NONE.

HG

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 18, 1:27 PM EDT, 2 hours 33 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
127 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

NCZ065-181800-
HENDERSON NC-
127 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...A HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF CENTRAL HENDERSON
COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM EDT...

AT 125 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS 5
MILES WEST OF HENDERSONVILLE...OR OVER ETOWAH...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
10 MPH.

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL RATES UP TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH THESE SHOWERS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HENDERSONVILLE...ETOWAH...MOUNTAIN HOME...LAUREL PARK...FLAT ROCK...
VALLEY HILL...CRAB CREEK...HORSE SHOE AND FORGE MOUNTAIN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL MAY FLOOD AREAS WITH POOR DRAINAGE...SUCH AS
DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. AVOID THESE AREAS AND DO NOT CROSS FLOODED
ROADS. WATER LEVELS OF SMALL STREAMS AND RIVERS MAY ALSO RISE
RAPIDLY. SEEK HIGHER GROUND IF THREATENED BY FLOOD WATERS.

&&

LAT...LON 3539 8250 3526 8246 3523 8258 3527 8262
      3529 8261 3529 8262 3530 8262 3533 8265
TIME...MOT...LOC 1725Z 242DEG 7KT 3531 8257

LANE

Special weather statement, May 18, 3:37 PM EDT, 23 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
337 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

GAZ018-026-028-029-SCZ001-002-004-005-010-011-019-182000-
FRANKLIN GA-HART GA-STEPHENS GA-ELBERT GA-GREATER PICKENS SC-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS SC-GREATER OCONEE SC-OCONEE MOUNTAINS SC-
ABBEVILLE SC-GREENWOOD SC-ANDERSON SC-
337 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF HART...
ELBERT...SOUTHEASTERN STEPHENS...EASTERN FRANKLIN...OCONEE...
SOUTHWESTERN GREENWOOD...PICKENS...SOUTHERN ABBEVILLE AND ANDERSON
COUNTIES UNTIL 400 PM EDT...

AT 336 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES WEST OF WALHALLA TO
6 MILES SOUTH OF CARNESVILLE TO 10 MILES SOUTH OF ELBERTON...AND
MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
ELBERTON...HARTWELL...WALHALLA...AND CARNESVILLE.

LAT...LON 3399 8265 3398 8286 3401 8294 3417 8310
      3423 8308 3427 8312 3424 8317 3425 8326
      3480 8320 3501 8255 3491 8251 3440 8257
      3397 8219 3397 8231 3406 8233 3406 8244
      3408 8248 3401 8260 3396 8257
TIME...MOT...LOC 1936Z 255DEG 31KT 3475 8316 3427 8322 3396 8293

RWH

Special weather statement, May 18, 3:58 PM EDT, 2 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
358 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

NCZ035-056-502-504-182030-
GREATER BURKE NC-ALEXANDER NC-CATAWBA NC-GREATER CALDWELL NC-
358 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN
CALDWELL...SOUTHEASTERN BURKE...WESTERN CATAWBA AND SOUTHWESTERN
ALEXANDER COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT...

AT 358 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES WEST OF HICKORY...OR OVER CONNELLY SPRINGS...MOVING EAST AT 15
MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HICKORY...MORGANTON...NEWTON...LENOIR...ST. STEPHENS...LONGVIEW...
SAWMILLS...GRANITE FALLS...VALDESE AND BETHLEHEM.

LAT...LON 3586 8120 3559 8125 3570 8173 3587 8158
TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 278DEG 12KT 3576 8147

RWH

Special weather statement, May 18, 4:00 PM EDT, 0 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
400 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

GAZ018-026-028-029-SCZ001-002-004-005-010-011-182100-
FRANKLIN GA-HART GA-STEPHENS GA-ELBERT GA-GREATER PICKENS SC-
PICKENS MOUNTAINS SC-GREATER OCONEE SC-OCONEE MOUNTAINS SC-
ABBEVILLE SC-ANDERSON SC-
400 PM EDT MON MAY 18 2015

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT PORTIONS OF HART...
ELBERT...SOUTHEASTERN STEPHENS...FRANKLIN...OCONEE...PICKENS...
SOUTHWESTERN ABBEVILLE AND WESTERN ANDERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 500 PM
EDT...

AT 400 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTH OF WALHALLA
TO 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CARNESVILLE TO NEAR ELBERTON TO 6 MILES WEST
OF WASHINGTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE
STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CLEMSON...SENECA...ELBERTON...HARTWELL...WALHALLA...PICKENS...
CARNESVILLE...MIDDLETON...ANDERSON AND CENTRAL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FREQUENT LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. IF OUTDOORS...TRY
TO GET INDOORS OR INTO A HARD TOPPED VEHICLE. OTHERWISE...STAY AWAY
FROM OPEN AREAS AND ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. WHEN
INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING WIRED
ELECTRONIC DEVICES. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY APPLIANCES BEFORE THE
STORMS APPROACH.

&&

LAT...LON 3399 8265 3397 8278 3401 8294 3417 8310
      3423 8308 3427 8312 3424 8318 3425 8327
      3428 8329 3489 8320 3504 8259 3433 8270
      3418 8248 3408 8247 3407 8253 3401 8260
      3396 8257
TIME...MOT...LOC 2000Z 263DEG 22KT 3486 8302 3430 8310 3415 8288 3377
8284

RWH

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 18, 1:27 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Henderson	33 min
May 18, 3:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Burke	32 min
May 18, 4:17 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Avery	43 min
May 18, 4:48 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Madison	27 min
May 18, 5:27 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Yancey	33 min
May 18, 7:07 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Polk	23 min
May 18, 7:18 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Cabarrus, Rowan	27 min
May 18, 7:39 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Macon	36 min
May 18, 3:37 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Abbeville, Anderson, Oconee, Pickens	23 min
May 18, 4:59 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Abbeville, Anderson, Pickens	61 min
May 18, 5:34 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens	26 min
May 18, 6:01 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Greenville, Laurens, Spartanburg, Union	59 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Georgia, 2015 Special Weather Statements in South Carolina, 2015 Every special weather statement in 2015

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.