Alert archive / Georgia / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 3, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jan 11, 2020, 5:59 PM EST for Oconee County, South Carolina; Habersham County, Rabun County, Stephens County, Georgia; Macon County, North Carolina. It was in force for 61 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, 5:59 PM EST (22:59 UTC)
- Expired
- Jan 11, 2020, 7:00 PM EST
- In force
- 61 min
- Issued by
- NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Habersham County, GA, Rabun County, GA, Stephens County, GA, Macon County, NC, Oconee County, SC
The radar
The Greer radar (KGSP), 122 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:01 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, 6:15 PM EST | TSTM WND DMG | Clayton, GA | REPORTS OF TREES DOWN IN RABUN COUNTY BECAME MORE FREQUENT AS THE LINE OF STORMS PASSED THROUGH THE COUNTY. |
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 16 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
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 178 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
- 13 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -26 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 557 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 417 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 450 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
204
WUUS52 KGSP 112259
SVRGSP
GAC137-241-257-NCC113-SCC073-120000-
/O.NEW.KGSP.SV.W.0003.200111T2259Z-200112T0000Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
559 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Stephens County in northeastern Georgia...
Habersham County in northeastern Georgia...
Rabun County in northeastern Georgia...
Southeastern Macon County in western North Carolina...
Northwestern Oconee County in Upstate South Carolina...
* Until 700 PM EST.
* At 559 PM EST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 11 miles northwest of Clayton to 9 miles southeast
of Cleveland, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
* Locations impacted include...
Toccoa, Clayton, Clarkesville, Cornelia, Baldwin, Demorest, Mount
Airy, Alto, Mountain City and Tiger.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Scattered trees and power lines will be blown down in the warned
area. 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...western North Carolina...and Upstate South Carolina.
LAT...LON 3482 8365 3488 8366 3491 8363 3492 8360
3494 8360 3495 8355 3499 8355 3500 8348
3501 8352 3501 8311 3447 8326 3446 8340
3449 8354 3443 8362 3450 8366 3454 8362
3465 8366 3474 8362 3480 8368
TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 230DEG 36KT 3503 8348 3447 8370
HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
$$
KRENTZ1 follow-up statement
284
WWUS52 KGSP 112354
SVSGSP
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
654 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
NCC113-120003-
/O.CAN.KGSP.SV.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200112T0000Z/
Macon NC-
654 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MACON COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the warned
area herefore the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until midnight EST for northeastern
Georgia...western North Carolina...and Upstate South Carolina.
LAT...LON 3500 8327 3500 8312 3447 8326 3447 8338
3446 8340 3448 8347 3449 8354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2353Z 230DEG 36KT 3536 8300 3480 8322
$$
GAC137-241-257-SCC073-120000-
/O.CON.KGSP.SV.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200112T0000Z/
Stephens GA-Habersham GA-Rabun GA-Oconee SC-
654 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EST
FOR STEPHENS...SOUTHEASTERN HABERSHAM...EASTERN RABUN AND
NORTHWESTERN OCONEE COUNTIES...
At 653 PM EST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 8 miles south of Waynesville to 9 miles west of
Walhalla, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include...
Toccoa, Mount Airy, Tallulah Falls, Tallulah Gorge State Park, Long
Creek, Pine Mountain, Turnerville, Hollywood, Boydville and
Eastanolee.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Scattered trees and power lines will be blown down in the warned
area. 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...western North Carolina...and Upstate South Carolina.
LAT...LON 3500 8327 3500 8312 3447 8326 3447 8338
3446 8340 3448 8347 3449 8354
TIME...MOT...LOC 2353Z 230DEG 36KT 3536 8300 3480 8322
HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...60MPH
$$
KRENTZWhat 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, 2:11 PM EST, 3 hours 48 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jan 11, 2:11 PM EST, 3 hours 48 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
211 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 210 PM EST Saturday: Shower coverage continues to increase
this afternoon in the moist southerly flow across the area. Expect
the coverage to expand into the evening ahead of the approaching
squall line and associated cold front. Gusty S to SW winds will
continue as well, with the highest winds over the higher elevations
of the Wind Advisory area.
Conditions are looking more favorable for severe storms this
evening. 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 /19Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere: Tricky forecast with a wide variety of MVFR
to IFR cigs and VFR to IFR vsby depending on whether a shower is
affecting a terminal. Have tried to cover the current conditions
with general deterioration in cigs and vsby as shower coverage
increases ahead of an approaching cold front. Gusty southerly winds
will continue through the afternoon. MVFR to IFR conditions continue
through the evening with a chance of TSRA as the front moves
through. Stronger and gustier SW winds are expected. Conditions
improve behind the front as precip and low clouds end and any vsby
restriction dissipates. Gusty SSW wind continues behind the front
then diminishes toward daybreak. VFR and generally light winds
expected for the bulk of the day Sunday.
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...
19-01Z 01-07Z 07-13Z 13-18Z
KCLT High 95% High 97% High 93% High 100%
KGSP Med 78% High 86% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 82% Med 77% High 100% High 98%
KHKY High 84% Med 66% High 100% High 100%
KGMU Med 74% High 86% High 100% High 100%
KAND High 80% High 84% 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...RWH
SHORT TERM...08
LONG TERM...08
AVIATION...RWHHazardous weather outlook, Jan 11, 5:31 AM EST, 12 hours 28 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 531 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 GAZ018-026-028-029-NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-502-504-506-508- 510-SCZ001>014-019-121045- Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan- Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union-Greater Caldwell- Greater Burke-Eastern McDowell-Greater Rutherford-Eastern Polk- Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg- Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Chester-Greenwood- 531 AM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Today and 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 damaging winds, tornadoes, or flooding to our office. NCZ033-048>053-058-059-501-503-505-121045- Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Graham- Northern Jackson-Caldwell Mountains-Burke Mountains- McDowell Mountains- 531 AM 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...Today and 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. In addition to the Wind Advisory, a line of heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms is expected to begin crossing the area this evening. This is expected to enhance the already gusty winds that will be in place across the mountains, and could bring locally damaging winds to the valley floors. A brief tornado also cannot be ruled out. Occasional cloud to ground and very heavy rainfall can occur with any storm. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of damaging winds, tornadoes, or flooding to our office. GAZ010-017-NCZ062>065-507-509-121045- Rabun-Habersham-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-Henderson- Rutherford Mountains-Polk Mountains- 531 AM 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...Today and 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. In addition to the Wind Advisory, a line of heavy rain showers with embedded thunderstorms is expected to begin crossing the area this evening. This is expected to enhance the already gusty winds that will be in place across the mountains, and could bring locally damaging winds to the valley floors. A brief tornado also cannot be ruled out. Heavy rain falling on top of an already wet ground from today's shower activity 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. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are requested to forward any reports of damaging winds, tornadoes, or flooding to our office. Lane
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jan 11, 5:59 PM EST, 0 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
559 PM EST SAT JAN 11 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0535 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 W ROBBINSVILLE 35.32N 83.86W
01/11/2020 GRAHAM NC 911 CALL CENTER
GETTING REPORTS OF TREES DOWN ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY.
&&
OUTLAWThe office that day
Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 11, 6:42 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Oconee, Pickens | 48 min |
| Jan 11, 5:05 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Graham, Swain | 40 min |
| Jan 11, 5:42 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Graham, Macon, Swain | 50 min |
| Jan 11, 6:10 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain | 41 min |
| Jan 11, 6:31 PM EST | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GSP | Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Madison, Transylvania | 44 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia, 2020Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Carolina, 2020Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Carolina, 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.