Alert archive / South Carolina / Special Weather Statements in 2017

Special Weather Statement, NWS Columbia, SC

May 4, 2017Sumter County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this special weather statement at May 4, 2017, 7:29 PM EDT for Sumter 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
May 4, 2017, 7:29 PM EDT (23:29 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 2017, 8:15 PM EDT
In force
46 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC

County Sumter County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:29 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

Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 12:00Z, 11.5 hours before the alert went out and 107 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, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2017-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 10 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Charleston AFB, SC at 12:00Z on 2017-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 10 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
10 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-155 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1414 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
88 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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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 Columbia, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at May 4, 7:11 PM EDT, 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 4, 7:11 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
711 PM EDT Thu May 4 2017

.SYNOPSIS...
A warm front will linger in the forecast area this evening
ahead of an approaching cold front. The cold front will cross
the area tonight. Associated strong low pressure moving into the
Ohio River Valley today will reach the Mid-Atlantic States
Friday. The low will be farther north of the area Saturday.
Cooler and drier air will dominate over the weekend into early
next week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
Main concern remains possible severe weather potential this
evening and overnight.

Latest surface analysis at 23z indicates warm front in the
southeast Midlands and the CSRA region with strong
thunderstorms confined to southeast coastal Ga and the low
country SC. Thunderstorms moving across the Midlands are
shallow and further development appears unlikely in the short
term with air mass north of warm front stable. Stronger Deep
layer effective shear over Ga and higher precipitable water will
likely shift into SC this evening. Limiting factor for severe
weather appears to be lack of instability at the moment.

Later this evening...As shear increases the threat for rotating
storms will be possible and cannot rule out an isolated brief
weak tornado threat in addition to damaging wind gusts if
instability increases and is realized as forecast through the
evening hours. Greatest region for threat appears to be
southeast Midlands/CSRA. Note that the latest HRRR model appears
less threatening with convection later this evening.

Later tonight as the upper low and attendant surface low slowly
move eastward through tonight the cold front will shift east
across the forecast area. Increasing upper dynamics with
diffluent 500mb flow will overspread the region overnight and
could enhance convection along and ahead of the front with
the best shear and instability (albeit weak) in place. The one
potential limiting factor may be decreasing deep moisture.
Hi-Res ARW/NMM WRF models show most of the convection shifting
east of the forecast area around 06z-08z with cooler and drier
air moving in behind the front. SPC continues to outlook the
area in a marginal risk through tonight.

Temperatures will be limited by mixing and clouds overnight and
have raised temps a bit from previous forecast in the
northeastern portions of the forecast area where the cooler air
is slower to arrive.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Cold front will be east of the area early in the day Friday,
with much of the rainfall also pushing east during the morning.
The main upper low will still be west of the region through the
day, and we should see some dry slotting across the cwa during
the morning. By the afternoon hours, as the cold pool aloft
slowly nears, there may be some redevelopment of some scattered
low topped showers. Models also showing stronger winds aloft
through the day mixing down the surface. Sustained winds 15 to
20, with the momentum transport from soundings showing gusts
around 25 knots. Although conditions appear to remain below
criteria at this time, a Lake Wind Advisory may still be
needed through the day Friday if winds are stronger.
Temperatures through the day Friday will be noticeably cooler,
with highs mainly in the 60s. Dry conditions return by Friday
night, with overnight lows cooling down into the upper 40s to
around 50.

Saturday into Saturday night, Temperatures begin to slowly
rebound during the afternoon under plenty of sunshine. Highs
should be able to climb into the lower 70s for many areas. The
models do show another shortwave moving southward on the
backside of the eastern low late in the day Saturday, with the
system still bringing enough moisture with it to passably eek
out a shower or two late in the day or into the evening hours
across the extreme western/northern counties. Will have low end
slight chance pops for that period, with very light qpf amounts.
Dry after midnight Saturday, with lows still falling down to
around 50 degrees.

Sunday through Sunday night, region remains under northwesterly
flow aloft. Dry weather expected to continue, along with the
slowly moderating temperature trend. Temperatures in the middle
to possibly upper 70s. A reinforcing shot of dry air during the
day possible, which will bring slightly cooler overnight lows
for Sunday night. Readings back into the middle to upper 40s.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Dry weather from Monday through Wednesday, with temperatures
continuing to warm slightly each day and night. The next chance
for any measurable rainfall may not occur until Wednesday
evening through Thursday as the models show a stronger shortwave
moving through the region at that time.

&&

.AVIATION /23Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Radar indicates heavier shower activity and a few thunderstorms will
push east of CAE/CUB/OGB after 00Z. Main cold front, still to our
west near the GA/AL line, will come through our forecast area (FA)
late tonight. Shower and thunderstorms activity currently along the
front may weaken as it approaches our FA. Ahead of the front,
periods of light to moderate shower activity possible. At this
point, based on radar trends and latest high resolution guidance,
confidence of thunder affecting our TAF sites insufficient to
include TS in the TAFs at this time. Combination of rain-cooled air,
and currently existing CIG restrictions to our west advecting
into our FA, suggests MVFR CIGS for our TAF sites tonight into
Friday morning. Though CIG heights could gradually lift Friday,
high end MVFR CIGs could linger into Friday afternoon. Despite
cooler and some drier air filtering into our FA Friday behind
the cold front, main upper low still over our FA could provide
some brief light scattered showers Friday afternoon. Will handle
with VCSH. Breezy conditions expected through Friday, with a
strong low level jet tonight. Will indicate LLWS.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Breezy conditions at times through
Saturday, possibly into Sunday.

&&

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

&&
Hazardous weather outlook, May 4, 3:39 AM EDT, 15 hours 50 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 4, 6:08 PM EDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
608 PM EDT THU MAY 4 2017

SCZ041-042245-
Bamberg-
608 PM EDT THU MAY 4 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT BAMBERG COUNTy...

At 608 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Ulmer, or 11
miles east of Allendale, moving northeast at 30 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Bamberg, Denmark, Ehrhardt, Olar and Govan.

LAT...LON 3313 8121 3316 8123 3344 8122 3341 8119
      3338 8108 3333 8102 3334 8100 3331 8094
      3324 8085 3321 8084 3318 8080 3312 8089
      3309 8088 3306 8090 3310 8094 3303 8108
TIME...MOT...LOC 2208Z 216DEG 26KT 3306 8111

fwa
Special weather statement, May 4, 6:43 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
643 PM EDT THU MAY 4 2017

SCZ036-042315-
Orangeburg-
643 PM EDT THU MAY 4 2017

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT ORANGEBURG COUNTY...

At 643 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Branchville, or
9 miles east of Bamberg, moving north at 45 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Orangeburg, Brookdale, Branchville, Bowman, Rowesville, Cordova,
Wilkinson Heights and Edisto.

LAT...LON 3321 8084 3325 8086 3332 8098 3366 8100
      3363 8097 3364 8094 3361 8094 3362 8087
      3360 8080 3352 8069 3351 8070 3347 8066
      3347 8061 3353 8059 3333 8051 3318 8080
TIME...MOT...LOC 2243Z 183DEG 40KT 3332 8087

fwa
Special weather statement, May 4, 7:29 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
729 PM EDT THU MAY 4 2017

SCZ031-036>038-050015-
Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Sumter-
729 PM EDT THU MAY 4 2017

...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN
CALHOUN...SOUTHWESTERN CLARENDON...WESTERN SUMTER...AND EAST CENTRAL
ORANGEBURG COUNTIES...

At 729 PM EDT, radar indicated strong thunderstorms were located
along a line extending from 7 miles southeast of Eastover to near
Elloree to near Bowman. Movement was northeast at 30 mph.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph are possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Sumter, South Sumter, Summerton, Elloree, Oakland, Millwood, Santee,
Pinewood, Paxville, Cane Savannah, Dalzell, Lakewood, Privateer,
Wedgewood, Cherryvale and Stateburg.

LAT...LON 3352 8038 3330 8064 3347 8064 3377 8067
      3377 8066 3375 8064 3375 8061 3379 8060
      3385 8063 3388 8062 3411 8049 3408 8039
      3383 8030
TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 213DEG 25KT 3379 8061 3355 8053 3335 8060

fwa

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 4, 6:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEBamberg37 min
May 4, 6:43 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEOrangeburg32 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in South Carolina, 2017Every 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.