Alert archive / South Carolina / Special Weather Statements in 2017

Special Weather Statement, NWS Columbia, SC

May 1, 2017Fairfield County, Lancaster County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this special weather statement at May 1, 2017, 5:24 PM EDT for Fairfield County, Lancaster County, South Carolina. It was in force for 51 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 1, 2017, 5:24 PM EDT (21:24 UTC)
Expired: May 1, 2017, 6:15 PM EDT
In force: 51 min
Issued by: NWS Columbia, SC

Counties Fairfield County, SC, Lancaster County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:26 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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 193 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: 76 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -9 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 679 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 129 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 163 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

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 Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at May 1, 5:21 PM EDT, 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 1, 5:21 PM EDT, 3 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
521 PM EDT Mon May 1 2017

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will cross the region this evening bringing showers
and thunderstorms to the area. Cooler high pressure will build
in behind the front tonight through midweek. Another
significant weather system will impact the region Thursday into
Friday.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING/...
Strong upper level low continues to lift north into the western
Great Lakes region while a strong cold front currently extends
from central SC through eastern Georgia. Regional radar showing
a line of showers and isolated thunderstorms just ahead of the
frontal boundary from central SC southward to eastern GA.

Overall convection to this point has been surprisingly
underwhelming given the shear in place which is strong,
southerly 45 knot 850mb jet and moderate instability with LI
values around -5C. Isolated severe storms still possible. Line
of convection expected to continue crossing the Midlands through
9 pm. Precipitable water values are very high just ahead of the
front around 1.8 inches which would support a heavy rain threat
but storms will have enough movement to minimize that threat
although urban areas which have poor drainage could see some
minor issues.

Lake wind advisory remains in effect through 8pm. The cold front
will push across the region this evening and storms should exit
the forecast area by 9pm with clearing expected overnight.
Winds will stay up overnight limiting radiational cooling but
there will be some cool advection which will support lows in the
50s to around 60 degrees.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY/...
A zonal flow aloft will prevail across the Southeast U.S. Tuesday
through Wednesday.  Dew point temperatures drop into the 40s which
will allow overnight lows to dip into the 50s. Highs will be near
normal both days.

The next closed upper level low pressure system drops into the Mid
South on Thursday which pushes a cold front through the CSRA and
Midlands late Thursday afternoon into Thursday Night. Surface based
CAPE values may be up to 750 J/KG ahead the front and passage occurs
after peak diurnal heating.  That being said, the shear is quite
impressive with 0-1 km helicity values up to 300 m2/s2.  Strong to
severe thunderstorms will be possible.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
The Midlands and CSRA are forecast to be in the "dry slot" of the
aforementioned upper low Friday into Saturday. It will be breezy to
windy with below normal temperatures.  There is a low chance of a
thunderstorms on Friday. The upper low pulls farther away into
Quebec early next week which will allow winds to subside and
temperatures to warmer closer to climatology for early May.

&&

.AVIATION /21Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
The cold front has moved east of AGS/DNL and should move through
CAE/CUB 21Z-23Z and through OGB 23Z-24Z. Showers and
thunderstorms ahead of the front will bring brief MVFR/IFR
conditions. Conditions should improve behind the front this
evening with clearing skies. Strong southerly winds ahead of
the front will shift to the southwest and west overnight behind
the front. Winds will pick back up after 15Z Tuesday with a
westerly direction and gusts to around 20 knots.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Visibility and ceiling restrictions
will be possible Thursday through Friday in showers and
thunderstorms.

&&

.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Lake Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for GAZ040-
     063>065-077.
SC...Lake Wind Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for SCZ015-016-
     018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, May 1, 3:36 AM EDT, 13 hours 48 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Columbia SC
336 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017

GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-020745-
Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Lancaster-Chesterfield-
McCormick-Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-
Richland-Lee-Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-
Bamberg-
336 AM EDT Mon May 1 2017

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT
THIS EVENING...

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Midlands of South Carolina
and the Central Savannah River area of Georgia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.
Moderate to strong instability and shear will occur ahead of a cold
front today. Thunderstorms with damaging wind and hail may occur. A
tornado is possible. Expect a fast storm movement with a diminished
flood threat. However, very heavy downpours may occur with possible
localized flooding in flood-prone locations if cell training happens
to occur. Based on the high-resolution models the strongest
convection may move into the west part of the outlook area around
200 pm. The most likely timing in Augusta may be 300 pm to 500 pm,
and in Columbia 400 pm to 600 pm. The strongest storms may extend
through the eastern Midlands 600 pm to 800 pm.

Also, please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on
the Internet for more information about the following hazard.

   Lake Wind Advisory.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Strong instability and shear along with high moisture may be
associated with another system supporting possible severe
thunderstorms and localized flooding Thursday and Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required this afternoon.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 1, 2:21 PM EDT, 3 hours 3 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
221 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017

GAZ040-063-064-SCZ018-011845-
McDuffie-Lincoln-Columbia-McCormick-
221 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN
COLUMBIA...MCDUFFIE...LINCOLN AND NORTHWESTERN MCCORMICK COUNTIES...

At 219 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Washington to 7 miles north of
Deepstep. Movement was northeast at 40 mph.

Winds around 40 mph are possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Thomson, McCormick, Lincolnton, Lake Strom Thurmond, Willington and
Mount Carmel.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

LAT...LON 3364 8261 3363 8258 3365 8258 3364 8256
      3365 8249 3383 8260 3386 8257 3386 8261
      3393 8263 3396 8257 3406 8244 3406 8233
      3397 8230 3402 8225 3399 8222 3333 8243
      3334 8250 3336 8255 3341 8255 3360 8265
TIME...MOT...LOC 1819Z 236DEG 35KT 3380 8276 3312 8298

awp

Special weather statement, May 1, 3:55 PM EDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
355 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017

SCZ020-021-012045-
Fairfield-Newberry-
355 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT Newberry
and NORTHWESTERN FAIRFIELD COUNTIES...

At 354 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from near Joanna to Chappells. Movement was
northeast at 60 mph.

Locations impacted include...
Newberry, Whitmire, Pomaria, Silverstreet, Chappells, Kinards and
Blackstock.

LAT...LON 3455 8109 3430 8136 3417 8169 3419 8173
      3417 8177 3418 8186 3417 8187 3413 8187
      3414 8188 3424 8186 3430 8189 3437 8178
      3453 8164 3449 8157 3445 8154 3449 8149
      3450 8142 3457 8142
TIME...MOT...LOC 1954Z 226DEG 52KT 3440 8186 3429 8181 3418 8186

Special weather statement, May 1, 5:24 PM EDT, 0 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
524 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017

SCZ015-021-022-012215-
Fairfield-Lancaster-Kershaw-
524 PM EDT MON MAY 1 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT CENTRAL FAIRFIELD...SOUTHWESTERN
LANCASTER AND NORTHWESTERN KERSHAW COUNTIES...

At 523 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located over Winnsboro,
moving northeast at 40 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Lancaster, Winnsboro, Kershaw, Elgin, Heath Springs, Irwin, Fishing
Creek Reservoir, Ridgeway, Winnsboro Mills and Lancaster Mill.

If you are on or near Lake Wateree, get out of the water and move
indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to
10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you
are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter
now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

LAT...LON 3479 8072 3441 8043 3422 8113 3437 8125
      3455 8102 3454 8088 3466 8089
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 236DEG 34KT 3434 8112

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 1, 2:21 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	McCormick	24 min
May 1, 2:45 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	McCormick	45 min
May 1, 3:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Edgefield, McCormick	50 min
May 1, 3:55 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Newberry	50 min
May 1, 6:41 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Kershaw	34 min
May 1, 7:03 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	CAE	Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Orangeburg	42 min
May 1, 7:58 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	CAE	Clarendon, Sumter	62 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in South Carolina, 2017 Every special weather statement in 2017

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.