Alert archive / South Carolina / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jan 11, 2020, 8:21 PM EST for Abbeville County, Greenwood County, South Carolina; Elbert County, Georgia. It was in force for 39 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
- Jan 11, 2020, 8:21 PM EST (01:21 UTC)
- Expired
- Jan 11, 2020, 9:00 PM EST
- In force
- 39 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Elbert County, GA, Abbeville County, SC, Greenwood County, SC
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 11, 8:40 PM EST | TSTM WND DMG | 5 N Verdery, SC | PUBLIC REPORTED NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED AND UPROOTED ON MILL RD S NEAR THE GREENWOOD COUNTY LINE, WITH TREES ON A CAMPER AND FENCING. POSSIBLE TORNADO. |
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 19 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 11, 5:38 PM EST | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Charleston AFB, SC (KCHS), launched 00:00Z, 1.4 hours before the alert went out and 262 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 804 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -35 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 504 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 45 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 264 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 330 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.1
- Supercell composite
- 6.5
The text
As transmitted.
746
WUUS52 KGSP 120121
SVRGSP
GAC105-SCC001-047-120200-
/O.NEW.KGSP.SV.W.0013.200112T0121Z-200112T0200Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
821 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southeastern Elbert County in northeastern Georgia...
Abbeville County in Upstate South Carolina...
Greenwood County in Upstate South Carolina...
* Until 900 PM EST.
* At 821 PM EST, a severe thunderstorm was located 11 miles southwest
of Abbeville, or near Calhoun Falls, moving northeast at 50 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
* Locations impacted include...
Greenwood, Abbeville, Ware Shoals, Calhoun Falls, Ninety Six, Due
West, Lake Secession, Donalds, Cokesbury and Hodges.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Conditions are favorable for the development of brief, weak
tornadoes. Seek shelter inside an interior room.
Please report damaging winds, hail, or flooding to the National
Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg by calling toll free, 1, 800,
2 6 7, 8 1 0 1, or by posting on our Facebook page, or Tweet it using
hashtag nwsgsp. Your message should describe the event and the
specific location where it occurred.
&&
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight EST for northeastern
Georgia...and Upstate South Carolina.
LAT...LON 3398 8261 3400 8269 3421 8274 3448 8232
3435 8217 3433 8217 3433 8215 3420 8194
3397 8231 3406 8233 3406 8244 3408 8248
3407 8253 3401 8260 3396 8257
TIME...MOT...LOC 0121Z 232DEG 45KT 3407 8253
HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
$$
MOOREWhat 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 Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jan 11, 7:01 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 11, 7:01 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
701 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
.SYNOPSIS...
A strong low pressure system with its associated cold front will
cross the southern Appalachians tonight bringing storms and heavy
rain. After brief drying on Sunday, unsettled weather returns for
the first half of the week. Cooler and dry high pressure will be in
control Thursday and Friday. Another wet system arrives next
Saturday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/...
As of 645 PM EST Saturday: A solid QLCS has pushed into the western
portions of our forecast area early this evening, and has been
producing damaging winds across the NC mountains, and likely over
northeast GA. The line should hold together thru at least the
western 2/3rd of the CWA, but will gradually lose steam, as it
encounters a little less instability and weaker upper support. With
coordinating with SPC and CAE/FFC WFOs, have issued a Tornado Watch
for all but the I-77 corridor until midnight EST (05z). The watch
may need to be extended east to include Charlotte, if the line holds
together better than expected. The main threat will be damaging wind
gusts, but an isolated tornado threat will exist, especially across
the piedmont.
Otherwise, CAM guidance shows favorable muCAPE, shear, and helicity
values developing as the squall line approaches. This guidance shows
streaks of updraft helicity moving in as well. The system is very
dynamic, a strong lead short wave does cross the area providing
plenty of forcing even with the main short wave passing to our NW.
there is also quite a bit of divergence as the right entrance region
of an upper jet moves in. This will provide plenty of forcing for
ascent. Despite the clouds and showers across the area, there is no
sign of any cold air damming developing with very anomalously high
temps and dew points in place and gusty southerly winds. When it's
warm, humid, and windy in January, bad things can happen. After
coordinating with SPC, the Slight Risk of severe storms will be
expanded east into our area to give some lead time for a potential
Watch. There are still some timing differences with the squall line
with some guidance faster than others. A couple of runs even show
the initial line weakening and a second line along the front
strengthening. This the faster, stronger initial line scenario is
better. This brings the squall line into the CWFA around 00Z, into
the I-26 corridor by 03Z, and into the I-77 corridor by 06Z. This
could even be a little slow. Will leave the Wind Advisory as is for
now, as the strongest gradient winds will be over the higher
elevations. Stronger winds into the High Wind Warning criteria will
likely be associated with the squall line itself and can be
addressed with Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. Given the strength of
this system and amount of shear and helicity, an isolated tornado is
possible as well. There will still be quite a bit of QPF across the
southern Escarpment and Southwestern NC mountains. However, given
the fast movement of this system, do not expect any widespread
flooding problems. Isolated flooding will be possible.
Weak high pressure builds in behind the front Sunday. The pressure
gradient relaxes quickly given the weakness of the high. Winds
should drop off quickly, even across the mountains. Expect clearing
skies during the morning. The front stalls to our south with waves
of low pressure moving along it. This will bring moisture and clouds
back into the area south of I-85 during the afternoon along low
precip chances. Highs will be 15 to 20 degrees above normal.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
As of 130 PM Sat: Longwave central-CONUS trough and western Atlantic
high pressure will remain in place into midweek. Between these
features, a wavering, weak baroclinic zone will maintain generally
unsettled weather for our FA. This will begin Sunday night as
southwesterly flow atop the old cold front brings it northward again,
and weak isentropic lift occurs overhead; slight elevated instability
could produce the occasional rumble of thunder. The lift over the
front strengthens later Monday, and especially Monday night, in
advance of a low pressure system that will move from the northern
Plains toward the northeast, within the so-called wave train. Models
differ somewhat in how the eastward movement of that low affects the
area but depict the next shortwave in the train soon following
behind. The consensus suggests a drying trend between the lows, and
a decline in PoPs, to end the short range.
Max temps will remain 15 to 20 degrees above normal, with mins on the
order of 25 above normal--close to if not warmer than normal maxes.
&&
.LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 200 PM Sat: The ill-defined baroclinic zone will remain across
the region until one more shortwave crosses the Upper Midwest. This
suggests warm and wet conditions will continue for the FA until cold
front sweeps through sometime Thursday. Though temps will trend down
immediately following the fropa, downsloping will keep them
substantially above normal for one more day. A narrow upper ridge and
strong sfc high then move into the eastern CONUS, setting up dry wx
and more seasonable temps for the region Thu night and Fri. A
full-latitude trough sweeping across the Plains will induce deep
cyclogenesis around that time. As this new system nears the area
Friday night and moisture spreads back in from the west/southwest, it
is not out of the question high elevations will experience mixed
wintry precip.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Cigs have mostly gone to VFR or high MVFR
ahead of the approaching squall line. The main concern will be
timing the tstms. Have tried to base the tempo groups on the faster
side of the high-res models, but even that may be too slow. Gusty
south winds will shift to SW with the line and stay SW thru the
period, losing their gusts by daybreak Sunday. Low clouds should
clear out, but a fair amount of cirrus should linger. Not expecting
any fog being the precip early Sunday, due to enough wind lingering.
Outlook: Moisture, precip, and associated restrictions will return
from the south Sunday night and persist thru at least the first half
of next week.
Confidence Table...
00-06Z 06-12Z 12-18Z 18-00Z
KCLT High 99% High 88% High 100% High 100%
KGSP High 85% High 95% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 85% High 98% High 96% High 100%
KHKY High 91% High 96% High 100% High 100%
KGMU Med 75% High 95% High 97% High 100%
KAND High 89% High 96% High 100% High 100%
The percentage reflects the number of guidance members agreeing
with the scheduled TAF issuance flight rule category. Complete hourly
experimental aviation forecast consistency tables and ensemble forecasts
are available at the following link:
www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Sunday for GAZ010-017.
NC...Wind Advisory until 1 AM EST Sunday for NCZ033-048>053-058-059-
062>065-501-503-505-507-509.
SC...None.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DEO
NEAR TERM...ARK/RWH
SHORT TERM...08
LONG TERM...08
AVIATION...ARKHazardous weather outlook, Jan 11, 7:48 PM EST, 33 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 748 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ068-502-504-506-508-510-SCZ001>008-010>013-019- 130100- Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Cleveland-Greater Caldwell- Greater Burke-Eastern McDowell-Greater Rutherford-Eastern Polk- Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg- Cherokee-Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Union-Greenwood- 748 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 ...TORNADO WATCH 17 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. NCZ035>037-056-057-069>072-082-SCZ009-014-130100- Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg- Cabarrus-Union-York-Chester- 748 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for piedmont North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A line of heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms is expected to cross the area tonight along a cold front. Very gusty winds are expected to accompany the line of showers and storms, with isolated damaging winds possible. A brief tornado also cannot be ruled out. Occasional cloud to ground lightning and very heavy rainfall can occur with any storm. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. NCZ048-051-052-058-059-130100- Madison-Swain-Haywood-Graham-Northern Jackson- 748 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... None. NCZ033-049-050-053-501-503-505-130100- Avery-Yancey-Mitchell-Buncombe-Caldwell Mountains-Burke Mountains- McDowell Mountains- 748 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY... ...TORNADO WATCH 17 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Wind Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. NCZ064-065-507-509-130100- Transylvania-Henderson-Rutherford Mountains-Polk Mountains- 748 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY... ...TORNADO WATCH 17 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Tornado Watch. Wind Advisory. In addition to the Wind Advisory, a line of heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms is expected to begin crossing the area this evening. Heavy rain falling on top of an already wet ground could result in localized flooding of streams, creeks, and poorly drained areas of the southern North Carolina mountains this evening. Finally, occasional cloud to ground lightning can occur with any storm. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office. GAZ010-017-NCZ062-063-130100- Rabun-Habersham-Macon-Southern Jackson- 748 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SUNDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia and western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. In addition to the Wind Advisory, a line of heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms is expected to begin crossing the area this evening. Heavy rain falling on top of an already wet ground could result in localized flooding of streams, creeks, and poorly drained areas of the southern North Carolina mountains this evening. Finally, occasional cloud to ground lightning can occur with any storm. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, or flash flooding to our office.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jan 11, 6:19 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
619 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM TSTM WND DMG BRYSON CITY 35.43N 83.45W
01/11/2020 SWAIN NC 911 CALL CENTER
MULTIPLE CALLS FOR TREES DOWN ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PART OF
SWAIN COUNTY.
&&
OUTLAWLocal storm report, Jan 11, 6:26 PM EST, 1 hour 55 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
626 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0605 PM TSTM WND DMG FRANKLIN 35.18N 83.38W
01/11/2020 MACON NC 911 CALL CENTER
TREES DOWN ACROSS MACON COUNTY WITH ONE TREE FALLING ON A
HOUSE IN FRANKLIN.
&&
OUTLAWLocal storm report, Jan 11, 6:47 PM EST, 1 hour 34 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
647 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0400 PM NON-TSTM WND DMG CLAYTON 34.88N 83.40W
01/11/2020 RABUN GA 911 CALL CENTER
REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN RABUN COUNTY BEGAN AROUND 4 PM
WITH STRONG GRADIENT WIND.
0615 PM TSTM WND DMG CLAYTON 34.88N 83.40W
01/11/2020 RABUN GA 911 CALL CENTER
REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN RABUN COUNTY BECAME MORE
FREQUENT AS THE LINE OF STORMS PASSED THROUGH THE COUNTY.
&&
OUTLAWLocal storm report, Jan 11, 7:42 PM EST, 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
742 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0733 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 NNW HENDERSONVILLE 35.39N 82.51W
01/11/2020 HENDERSON NC 911 CALL CENTER
SEVERAL TREES AND POWERLINES BLOWN DOWN ACROSS THE
COUNTY. A TREE DOWN ON PATROL CAR...NO OCCUPANTS.
&&
KRENTZLocal storm report, Jan 11, 8:15 PM EST, 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
815 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0725 PM TSTM WND DMG ASHEVILLE 35.57N 82.55W
01/11/2020 BUNCOMBE NC COUNTY OFFICIAL
BUNCOMBE COUNTY COMMS REPORTS NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ACROSS
THE COUNTY WITH THE LINE OF STORMS.
&&
ARKLocal storm report, Jan 11, 8:20 PM EST, 1 minute before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
820 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0758 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 NE OLD FORT 35.67N 82.11W
01/11/2020 MCDOWELL NC 911 CALL CENTER
MULTIPLE TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN.
&&
KRENTZThe office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 11, 7:13 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Greenville, Pickens | 62 min |
| Jan 11, 7:39 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Anderson, Oconee | 51 min |
| Jan 11, 7:54 PM EST | Tornado Warning | GSP | Anderson | 36 min |
| Jan 11, 8:29 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Pickens, Spartanburg | 45 min |
| Jan 11, 8:34 PM EST | Tornado Warning | GSP | Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens | 26 min |
| Jan 11, 8:56 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Greenwood, Laurens, Spartanburg, Union | 49 min |
| Jan 11, 8:59 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Cherokee, Spartanburg, Union | 46 min |
| Jan 11, 9:21 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Cherokee, Chester, Union, York | 39 min |
| Jan 11, 9:36 PM EST | Tornado Warning | GSP | Chester, Union, York | 24 min |
| Jan 11, 9:55 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Chester, York | 65 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2020Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020
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.