Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2016

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 141, NWS Columbia, SC

July 15, 2016Fairfield County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 15, 2016, 8:43 PM EDT for Fairfield County, South Carolina. It was in force for 32 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 15, 2016, 8:43 PM EDT (00:43 UTC)
Expired: Jul 15, 2016, 9:15 PM EDT
In force: 32 min
Issued by: NWS Columbia, SC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Fairfield County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 36 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:45 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
Jul 15, 9:05 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	6 Wsw Ridgeway, SC	REPORT OF TREE DOWN ON PEACH RD.

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 22 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

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 184 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: 546 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -140 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1280 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 15 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 65 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 100 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

411 
WUUS52 KCAE 160043
SVRCAE
SCC039-160115-
/O.NEW.KCAE.SV.W.0141.160716T0043Z-160716T0115Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
843 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN COLUMBIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTH CENTRAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY IN CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA...

* UNTIL 915 PM EDT

* AT 843 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 9 MILES SOUTHWEST
  OF WINNSBORO...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

  HAZARD...60 MPH WIND GUSTS AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL. 

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED. 

  IMPACT...HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE 
           TO ROOFS...SIDING...AND TREES. 

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  WINNSBORO AND WINNSBORO MILLS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS AND CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY.
LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURE'S LEADING KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN
HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

&&

LAT...LON 3436 8101 3424 8104 3423 8106 3423 8107
      3422 8108 3422 8109 3423 8114 3424 8128
      3438 8126
TIME...MOT...LOC 0043Z 276DEG 17KT 3429 8121 

HAIL...1.00IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

FWA

2 follow-up statements

823 
WWUS52 KCAE 160059
SVSCAE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
859 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

SCC039-160115-
/O.CON.KCAE.SV.W.0141.000000T0000Z-160716T0115Z/
FAIRFIELD SC-
859 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 915 PM EDT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY...

AT 858 PM EDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF WINNSBORO...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

HAZARD...60 MPH WIND GUSTS. 

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED. 

IMPACT...EXPECT DAMAGE TO ROOFS...SIDING...AND TREES. 

THIS SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTH
CENTRAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY. LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURE'S LEADING
KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO
BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

&&

LAT...LON 3424 8104 3423 8106 3423 8107 3422 8108
      3422 8109 3423 8114 3424 8124 3434 8116
      3434 8101
TIME...MOT...LOC 0058Z 275DEG 16KT 3429 8115 

HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

FWA

821 
WWUS52 KCAE 160111
SVSCAE

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
911 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

SCC039-160121-
/O.EXP.KCAE.SV.W.0141.000000T0000Z-160716T0115Z/
FAIRFIELD SC-
911 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL FAIRFIELD COUNTY
WILL EXPIRE AT 915 PM EDT...
                
THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED BELOW SEVERE
LIMITS...AND NO LONGER POSE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY.
THEREFORE THE WARNING WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.  HOWEVER GUSTY WINDS
ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 3424 8104 3423 8106 3423 8107 3422 8108
      3422 8109 3423 8114 3424 8124 3434 8116
      3434 8101
TIME...MOT...LOC 0110Z 276DEG 17KT 3429 8115 

$$

FWA

What 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 Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 15, 8:10 PM EDT, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 15, 8:10 PM EDT, 33 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
810 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
A pressure ridge will extend westward from the Atlantic into the
northern Gulf of Mexico through Saturday. North of the ridge a
pressure trough will be in the forecast area. There will also be
weak upper troughing over the area. The pattern supports an
increased chance of thunderstorms.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
Regional radar this evening shows a large area of storms in the
northwestern Midlands and Pee Dee region and another area of
storms in the eastern CSRA and central Midlands. There are several
boundaries across the area from earlier storms that may act to
enhance convection, however, the severe threat through tonight
appears low given reduced instability. Hi-resolution models
support shower and storm coverage diminishing through midnight.
Cannot rule out isolated showers and storms overnight given the
upper trough to our west and increasing moisture so have continued
with slight chance pops. Low temperatures forecast near guidance,
in the lower to middle 70s.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Persistent surface trough across the area will be a focus for
scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms as low level
convergence will be enhanced. Upper level trough over the eastern
CONUS with several weak short waves rotating northeast through the
region. Models suggest convection may be more widespread Saturday
afternoon with deeper moisture...strong upper level divergence and
moderate instability. Followed the guidance consensus for the pop
forecast but trended a little higher. Marginal severe
thunderstorm threat as deep layer shear a little stronger than
previous days. Also...with high precipitable water near 2
inches...potential for locally heavy rain. Thunderstorms may
linger into the overnight period. Sunday the focus may be in the
eastern midlands as surface trough shift toward the coast. So
highest pops in the east by Sunday afternoon. Maximum temperatures
will likely be lower compared to previous days because of deeper
moisture in the area. The temperature guidance was close.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
The GFS and ECMWF displayed surface ridging extending from the
Atlantic into the Gulf of Mexico during much of the medium-range
period. The models showed some troughing in the forecast area.
The models indicated upper ridging early but troughing along the
east coast by the middle of the week.  GFS ensemble suggests
lower pops toward the end of the period. will continue chance
afternoon and evening thunderstorms each day with near normal
temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
VFR conditions generally expected through the 24-hr TAF period
with restrictions possible in diurnal convection.

Radar imagery as of 00Z still showing scattered showers and
thunderstorms across the area. Expect coverage to gradually
diminish tonight with the loss of daytime heating. Hi-resolution
models show most of the activity east of AGS/DNL/CAE/CUB by 02Z
and east of OGB by 04Z. Winds will generally be out of the
southwest at 5 to 10 knots...except gusting to 25 to 35 kts in
thunderstorms. Models do not indicate fog/stratus development at
the TAF sites early Saturday morning which appears reasonable
given a 20 knot low level jet and expected debris cloudiness.
Convection is expected to develop again on Saturday and may once
again produce strong winds.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Increasing potential for restrictions
in convection this weekend.

&&

.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
SC...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...77
NEAR TERM...99
SHORT TERM...99
LONG TERM...99
AVIATION...77

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 15, 3:41 AM EDT, 17 hours 2 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
341 AM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-160745-
LINCOLN-MCDUFFIE-COLUMBIA-RICHMOND-BURKE-LANCASTER-CHESTERFIELD-
MCCORMICK-NEWBERRY-FAIRFIELD-KERSHAW-EDGEFIELD-SALUDA-LEXINGTON-
RICHLAND-LEE-AIKEN-SUMTER-BARNWELL-ORANGEBURG-CALHOUN-CLARENDON-
BAMBERG-
341 AM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MIDLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA
AND THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA OF GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING COULD POSSIBLY CONTAIN
DAMAGING WIND.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING COULD POSSIBLY
CONTAIN DAMAGING WIND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 15, 7:01 PM EDT, 1 hour 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
701 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0635 PM     TSTM WND DMG     17 NNW LANCASTER        34.95N 80.86W
07/15/2016                   LANCASTER          SC   911 CALL CENTER

            MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ON DOBY'S BRIDGE ROAD.

&&

DA

Special weather statement, Jul 15, 7:13 PM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
713 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

GAZ065-077-SCZ030-160015-
BURKE-RICHMOND-AIKEN-
713 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL BURKE...
EASTERN RICHMOND AND WESTERN AIKEN COUNTIES...

AT 713 PM EDT...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WAS ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM NEAR AUGUSTA TO NEAR WAYNESBORO...AND MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
AIKEN...NORTH AUGUSTA...WAYNESBORO...CLEARWATER...BELVEDERE...NEW
ELLENTON...JACKSON...GLOVERVILLE AND BURNETTOWN.

LAT...LON 3293 8206 3353 8198 3378 8162 3328 8165
TIME...MOT...LOC 2313Z 225DEG 15KT 3340 8193 3305 8199

FWA

Local storm report, Jul 15, 7:17 PM EDT, 1 hour 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
717 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0641 PM     TSTM WND DMG     21 NNW LANCASTER        35.01N 80.86W
07/15/2016                   LANCASTER          SC   911 CALL CENTER

            TREES DOWN CALVIN HALL RD AND HARRISBURG RD.

&&

DA

Special weather statement, Jul 15, 7:26 PM EDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
726 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

SCZ020-021-160015-
NEWBERRY-FAIRFIELD-
726 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WESTERN FAIRFIELD AND
NORTHEASTERN NEWBERRY COUNTIES...

AT 726 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS NEAR WHITMIRE...OR 11 MILES
NORTHWEST OF NEWBERRY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
NEWBERRY...WHITMIRE...PROSPERITY...POMARIA AND PEAK.

LAT...LON 3457 8125 3456 8124 3429 8110 3418 8159
      3440 8176 3444 8173 3446 8169 3453 8164
      3449 8157 3445 8154 3449 8149 3449 8146
      3450 8142 3457 8142
TIME...MOT...LOC 2326Z 244DEG 25KT 3443 8169

FWA

Special weather statement, Jul 15, 7:45 PM EDT, 58 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
745 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

SCZ027-030-036-160045-
LEXINGTON-ORANGEBURG-AIKEN-
745 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN
ORANGEBURG...SOUTHWESTERN LEXINGTON AND CENTRAL AIKEN COUNTIES...

AT 744 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 14 MILES NORTH OF
WILLISTON...OR 15 MILES EAST OF AIKEN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
RED BANK...NEW ELLENTON...SWANSEA...WAGENER...PELION...GILBERT...
SUMMIT...SALLEY...PERRY...WOODFORD AND WINDSOR.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

LAT...LON 3329 8164 3352 8164 3378 8162 3403 8133
      3371 8105 3349 8137 3349 8138
TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 241DEG 31KT 3360 8147

FWA

Special weather statement, Jul 15, 8:41 PM EDT, 2 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
841 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

SCZ030-035-036-041-160145-
BARNWELL-ORANGEBURG-BAMBERG-AIKEN-
841 PM EDT FRI JUL 15 2016

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL ORANGEBURG...
CENTRAL BARNWELL...NORTHWESTERN BAMBERG AND CENTRAL AIKEN COUNTIES...

AT 840 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS OVER WILLISTON...OR 12
MILES NORTHWEST OF BARNWELL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SAVANNAH RIVER SITE...WILLISTON...BLACKVILLE...NEW ELLENTON...
WAGENER...SPRINGFIELD...SALLEY...NORWAY...SNELLING...PERRY...
ELKO AND WINDSOR.

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

LAT...LON 3314 8161 3341 8178 3367 8134 3345 8108
TIME...MOT...LOC 0040Z 234DEG 13KT 3341 8146

WRS

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 15, 8:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Fairfield, Newberry	30 min
Jul 15, 8:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Barnwell	64 min
Jul 15, 8:52 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CAE	Aiken, Barnwell	113 min
Jul 15, 9:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg	51 min
Jul 15, 9:48 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Bamberg, Calhoun, Orangeburg	42 min
Jul 15, 10:24 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Calhoun, Orangeburg	66 min
Jul 15, 11:01 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Lee, Sumter	59 min
Jul 16, 3:47 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Aiken	58 min
Jul 16, 4:34 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Lexington	41 min
Jul 16, 4:53 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	CAE	Aiken	112 min
Jul 16, 5:14 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Fairfield, Lexington, Richland	46 min
Jul 16, 5:44 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Fairfield, Richland	46 min
Jul 16, 6:01 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster	44 min
Jul 16, 6:46 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Chesterfield, Lancaster	29 min
Jul 16, 7:04 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Chesterfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee	41 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2016 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2016

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.