Severe Thunderstorm Warning 55, NWS Columbia, SC

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Columbia SC
157 PM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019

.SYNOPSIS...
Surface troughing will be enhanced by a cold front dropping
southward and into the region this afternoon and tonight. This
pattern plus strong heating will bring a potential for severe
thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. There will be a break
Friday because of drier air over the area with the frontal
boundary just to the south. The front will lift northward
Saturday bringing back a possibility of potentially severe
thunderstorms. The front will become diffuse under upper
ridging early next week and this pattern supports mainly
scattered afternoon thunderstorms and above normal temperatures.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
The main concern is a threat of severe thunderstorms this
afternoon and evening. SPC has issued a severe thunderstorm
watch until 800 pm. The main threat time will be 300 pm - 800 pm
for central SC and east central GA/CSRA. The main impact will
be damaging wind gusts Meso-convective system.

Air mass becoming strongly unstable with SB CAPE above 3000 J/kg
and LI -7 to -10. Low level convergence will increase this
afternoon associated with lee-side Piedmont trough. A cold front
will be approaching late from the central Mississippi Valley
region. Amplified upper trough approaching from the Tennessee
River Valley with embedded strong short wave over
Kentucky/Tennessee into northern Alabama. Additional weaker
short waves along the Gulf coast. Strong lift expected
associated with upper trough.

The models have been consistent showing a 35- to 40-knot h85
jet in the area. Severe thunderstorms may occur because of the
instability and shear combination. Believe the main threat is
damaging straight- line wind because of mainly uni-directional
shear. Some dry air in the mid levels should help lower wet-
bulb zero heights and wind potential enhanced DCAPE >1100 J/kg.
Forecast soundings have considerable CAPE in the hail growth
region. Large hail may occur. The threat of thunderstorms will
diminish this evening in the wake of the mid- level shortwave
trough. High pops late this afternoon and early evening then low
pops especially by midnight. Temperature guidance consistent
with lows in the low 70s.

Heavy rain potential...The NAM and GFS indicate precipitable
water will peak around 2 inches so heavy downpours may occur,
but we believe there is a diminished risk of flooding because of
storm movement. The GFS plus SREF mean suggest a most likely
rain total around 0.25 of an inch.

It will be breezy this afternoon. The GFS LAMP plus GFS and NAM
Bufkit momentum transfer tool suggest gusts around 25 knots.
Lake wind advisory in effect.

&&

.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
The potential for severe weather on Saturday remains the biggest
concern of the period.

An upper level trough will move off the coast Friday, with weak
upper ridging building from the west. A trailing frontal
boundary will drop just south of the area and stall. This will
bring dry and warm northwest/downslope flow across the area.
The forecast continues to favor the warmer end of guidance given
the downslope flow, with highs in the lower to mid 90s across
the area.

On Saturday, the upper ridge remains to the west, but a quick
moving and rather potent short wave will drop southeast across
the area along the periphery of the ridge. At the surface, the
frontal boundary will lift northward into the forecast area.
Models have been consistent showing a favorable setup for a
severe weather event. Though organized convection is uncertain,
strong instability with a frontal boundary over the area during
this time of the year is typical for at least pulse/multicell
damaging downburst winds and hail. Mean SREF sbCAPE indicates
values above 3000 J/kg in the CSRA with deterministic models
even higher. Unusually strong mid-level lapse rates, dry air
aloft and moderate instability in the hail growth zone supports
damaging winds and large hail. One factor which limits
confidence is a capping inversion which may hinder convective
development/coverage through much of the day.

At this time, we expect scattered convection during the
afternoon/early evening, with the greatest coverage along and
south of the I-26 corridor. High temperatures should once again
be in the lower to mid 90s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Little change to the long term forecast. The models have
remained in fairly good agreement with upper ridging prevailing
Sunday and Monday. Then an upper trough should pass to the
north Tuesday and Wednesday. This pattern supports isolated to
scattered diurnal convection that may be enhanced at times by
series of shortwaves moving along the northern edge of the
ridge. Above normal temperatures are likely through the period
with highs generally in the mid to upper 90s.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
There may be areas of stratus early this morning. Severe
thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening. It will
be generally breezy.

High low-level moisture may result in a few areas of IFR or
MVFR ceilings early this morning. We believe mixing will
continue to limit the fog threat. Heating and increased mixing
should dissipate any low cloudiness early this morning.

The next concern will be the development of thunderstorms ahead
of an approaching cold front. Moderate to strong instability is
forecast. There also will be considerable shear associated with
a 35- to 40-knot 850 mb jet. This combination supports a
possibility of thunderstorms with damaging wind. Forecast
soundings have considerable CAPE in the hail growth region.
Large hail may occur. The high-resolution models suggest the
main threat time will be 18z to 01z this afternoon and evening.
We have not included thunderstorms in the terminal forecast at
this time because of too much timing uncertainty during this
window. The threat of thunderstorms will diminish overnight in
the wake of a mid-level shortwave trough. Mixing should
continue to limit fog. Stratus may develop again but the GFS
and NAM MOS were consistent maintaining VFR conditions with dry
air advection in a westerly flow.

It will be generally breezy this afternoon. The GFS LAMP plus
GFS and NAM Bufkit momentum transfer tool suggest gusts around
25 knots.

EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...Brief drying is forecast Friday.
Scattered mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms are
forecast during the rest of the outlook period. Severe
thunderstorms are possible Saturday. Over the outlook period, a
few locations may have early morning stratus and fog.

&&

.CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Lake Wind Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for GAZ040-
     063>065-077.
SC...Lake Wind Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for SCZ016-018-
     020>022-025>031-035>038-041-115-116.

&&

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

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Columbia SC
413 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019

GAZ040-063>065-077-SCZ016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041-115-116-
210900-
Lincoln-McDuffie-Columbia-Richmond-Burke-Chesterfield-McCormick-
Newberry-Fairfield-Kershaw-Edgefield-Saluda-Lexington-Richland-Lee-
Aiken-Sumter-Barnwell-Orangeburg-Calhoun-Clarendon-Bamberg-
Northern Lancaster-Southern Lancaster-
413 AM EDT Thu Jun 20 2019

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 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.

Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the
Internet for more information about the following hazards.

   Lake Wind Advisory.

There is an Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms along and north of
a line extending from Newberry to Camden, with a Slight Risk
elsewhere. Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected this
afternoon and evening, some of which could become severe. The primary
severe weather hazards will be damaging straight-line winds and large
hail. The severe weather potential will be greatest from about 2 PM
to 9 PM today.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

There is the potential for severe thunderstorms to develop during
the afternoon and early evening on Saturday. The primary hazard will
be damaging straight-line winds, but large hail could also occur.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will likely be needed this afternoon and evening.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
443 PM EDT THU JUN 20 2019

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

0354 PM     TSTM WND DMG     6 WNW BLYTHEWOOD        34.24N 81.07W
06/20/2019                   FAIRFIELD          SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SCHP REPORTED A TREE IN ROADWAY AT US321 BYP
            AND PLANTATION RD IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY. TIME
            ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

&&

JD

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
445 PM EDT THU JUN 20 2019

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

0413 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NW BROOKDALE          33.53N 80.86W
06/20/2019                   ORANGEBURG         SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SCHP REPORTED A TREE DOWN IN ROAD WAY US 21
            NEAR SIMMONS FUNERAL HOME. TIME ESTIMATED BY
            RADAR 4:13 PM.

&&

AH

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
446 PM EDT THU JUN 20 2019

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

0401 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 WNW LEXINGTON         34.02N 81.32W
06/20/2019                   LEXINGTON          SC   AMATEUR RADIO

            REPORTED TREES DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF
            BEECHCREEK ROAD AND OLD CHEROKEE ROAD.

&&

LCV

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
454 PM EDT THU JUN 20 2019

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

0441 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 WSW MANNING           33.67N 80.28W
06/20/2019                   CLARENDON          SC   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            SCHP REPORTED A TREE DOWN IN ROAD WAY AT
            INTERSTATE 95 116 SB. TIME ESTIMATED BY
            RADAR 4:41 PM.

&&

AH

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
455 PM EDT THU JUN 20 2019

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

0430 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 SSE COLUMBIA          33.97N 81.02W
06/20/2019  M79 MPH          RICHLAND           SC   MESONET

            WILLIAM BRICE STADIUM MESONET SITE.

&&

RJO

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA SC
500 PM EDT THU JUN 20 2019

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

0420 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ELGIN                   34.17N 80.79W
06/20/2019                   KERSHAW            SC   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SKYWARN SPOTTER VIA HAM RADIO REPORTED
            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN THE CITY OF ELGIN. NO
            OTHER SPECIFIC DETAILS. TIME ESTIMATED BY
            RADAR.

&&

DA