Alert archive / South Carolina / Tornado Warnings in 2017

Tornado Warning 24, NWS Columbia, SC

May 24, 2017Lancaster County, South Carolina

NWS Columbia, SC issued this tornado warning at May 24, 2017, 3:54 PM EDT for Lancaster County, South Carolina. It was in force for 36 min. 6 reports 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
May 24, 2017, 3:54 PM EDT (19:54 UTC)
Expired
May 24, 2017, 4:30 PM EDT
In force
36 min
Issued by
NWS Columbia, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
0.75 in

County Lancaster County, SC

The radar

The Columbia radar (KCAE), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:57 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 24, 4:01 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUDLancaster, SC3 TRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUDS WITH ROTATION IN THE BUFORD, BROOKLYN AND ELGIN COMMUNITIES IN THE LANCASTER AREA.
May 24, 4:02 PM EDTFUNNEL CLOUD7 Ne Elgin, SC3 TRAINED SPOTTERS REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUDS WITH ROTATION IN THE BUFORD, BROOKLYN AND ELGIN COMMUNITIES IN THE LANCASTER AREA. THIS IS A CORRECTION FOR COORDINATES.
May 24, 4:02 PM EDTHAIL 0.251 Wnw Lancaster Mill, SCPEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN THE BUFORD COMMUNITY.
May 24, 4:13 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG6 Nne Lancaster, SCTREES IN ROADWAY MONROE HIGHWAY AND CAPRICORN ROAD.
May 24, 4:19 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG11 Ne Elgin, SCTREES IN ROADWAY CAMP CREEK AND GEORGE CARNES ROAD.
May 24, 4:19 PM EDTTORNADO10 Ne Lancaster, SCNWS STORM SURVEY TEAM FOUND EF-0 TORNADO DAMAGE IN EXTREME NORTHERN LANCASTER COUNTY FROM SHILOH UNITY ROAD NORTHEAST TO THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE LINE. THE DAMAGE WAS MOSTLY CONFINED TO A CROP FIELD AND TREES. THE PATH WAS 50 YARDS OR SHORTER IN WIDTH WITH A L

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 24, 10:04 AM EDTTornado WatchSPC11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 167 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2017-05-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 52 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, Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC at 12:00Z on 2017-05-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 105 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
52 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-47 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
553 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
50 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
105 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
137 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

350 
WFUS52 KCAE 241954
TORCAE
SCC057-242030-
/O.NEW.KCAE.TO.W.0024.170524T1954Z-170524T2030Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Columbia SC
354 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017

The National Weather Service in Columbia has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Lancaster County in central South Carolina...

* Until 430 PM EDT
    
* At 353 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Irwin, or near Lancaster, moving northeast at 35
  mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado. 

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. 

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely. 

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Lancaster and Elgin around 405 PM EDT. 

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Lancaster Mill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3493 8078 3482 8079 3482 8057 3479 8055
      3476 8052 3456 8083 3459 8089 3463 8089
      3468 8088 3469 8086 3471 8087 3496 8080
TIME...MOT...LOC 1953Z 211DEG 29KT 3464 8082 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$
2 follow-up statements
856 
WWUS52 KCAE 242000
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
400 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017

SCC057-242030-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0024.000000T0000Z-170524T2030Z/
Lancaster SC-
400 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN LANCASTER COUNTY...
    
At 358 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Irwin, or near Lancaster, moving northeast at 35
mph.

HAZARD...Tornado. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. 

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely. 

The town of Lancaster is in the path of this storm. If you live in 
the town of Lancaster take shelter immediately.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3493 8078 3482 8079 3482 8057 3479 8055
      3476 8052 3459 8078 3465 8089 3468 8088
      3469 8086 3471 8087 3496 8080
TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 211DEG 29KT 3468 8079 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

CJR
823 
WWUS52 KCAE 242009
SVSCAE

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
409 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017

SCC057-242030-
/O.CON.KCAE.TO.W.0024.000000T0000Z-170524T2030Z/
Lancaster SC-
409 PM EDT WED MAY 24 2017

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
LANCASTER COUNTY...
    
At 407 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Lancaster, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado. 

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. 

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely. 

Locations impacted include...  
    Lancaster and northeast of the town of Lancaster.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3482 8057 3466 8072 3471 8081 3482 8075
TIME...MOT...LOC 2007Z 212DEG 27KT 3474 8074 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

CJR

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 24, 2:28 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEBamberg47 min
May 24, 1:21 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEEdgefield, McCormick39 min
May 24, 1:57 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEEdgefield, McCormick48 min
May 24, 2:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEEdgefield, Lexington, Newberry, Saluda45 min
May 24, 2:33 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEEdgefield, Saluda27 min
May 24, 2:57 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEEdgefield, McCormick, Saluda2 hr
May 24, 3:00 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEFairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda30 min
May 24, 3:14 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAEFairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda61 min
May 24, 3:28 PM EDTTornado WarningCAEFairfield, Newberry32 min
May 24, 3:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningCAELancaster42 min
May 24, 4:12 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryCAEFairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Saluda2 hr
May 24, 4:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementCAEAiken27 min
May 24, 5:40 PM EDTRiver Flood AdvisoryCAELexington, Richland48 hr
May 24, 6:46 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningCAECalhoun, Lexington, Richland3 days

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2017Every tornado warning in 2017Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.