Alert archive / South Carolina / Special Weather Statements in 2021

Special Weather Statement, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 28, 2021Laurens County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this special weather statement at May 28, 2021, 6:21 PM EDT for Laurens County, South Carolina. It was in force for 24 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 28, 2021, 6:21 PM EDT (22:21 UTC)
Expired
May 28, 2021, 6:45 PM EDT
In force
24 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

County Laurens County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 33 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:21 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

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 10.4 hours before the alert went out and 251 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 2021-05-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 106 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 2021-05-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 83 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
106 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-53 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1467 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
83 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
62 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

310 
WWUS82 KGSP 282221
SPSGSP

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
621 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021
 
SCZ007-012-013-282245-
Laurens SC-Union SC-Spartanburg SC-
621 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN LAURENS...
SOUTHEASTERN SPARTANBURG AND WEST CENTRAL UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM
EDT...

At 621 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Laurens, or over Gray Court, moving northeast at
35 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Laurens, Woodruff, Gray Court, Croft State Park, Fountain Inn, Cross
Keys, Pauline, Cross Anchor, Enoree and Ora.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these
areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.

&&

LAT...LON 3449 8213 3464 8222 3468 8220 3488 8181
      3464 8166
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 243DEG 29KT 3461 8211 

$$

HG

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 Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at May 28, 6:12 PM EDT, 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 28, 6:12 PM EDT, 9 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
612 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will approach from the west this afternoon into this
evening increasing shower and thunderstorm chances for the area. A
few isolated strong to severe storms cannot be ruled out with this
front. Saturday isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible
behind the departing front. Sunday into early next week high
pressure will return leading to drier and cooler conditions.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
600 PM Update...Convective activity is remaining sub-severe and
rather spare currently. There is a semi-defined line of storms with
gusty outflows across ern TN which will move into the wrn NC mtns
over the next couple hours. Have predictive SPSs in place ahead of
this line, which still looks well placed.

An upper trof dropping down over the Midwest and attendant short
wave moving over the lower OH Valley region this evening should
drive a sfc boundary into the region from the west overnight. A
vort lobe out ahead of the main trof axis, combined with some
weak upper divergence in the right entrance region of the jet,
should enhance the coverage of convection across the region mainly
this evening. The convection allowing models show the coverage
peaking during the evening hours from west to east. Of note is the
Marginal Risk from SPC that runs up to the I-85 corridor, which
is accepted on general principles because of a boundary moving in
at this time of year. The relative lack of sfc-based CAPE after
sunset, generally less than 500 J/kg, will be a limiting factor
for the severe chances. Overnight, the precip coverage will shift
eastward and taper off east of the mtns as the front moves east,
while precip prob remains fairly high along the TN border where
an upslope flow develops. The upslope flow is maintained through
Saturday as the upper system lifts to the upper OH Valley, keeping
a low level NW flow in play. Some shower/thunderstorm activity
should spill over the mtns in VA and make its way down into the
NW Piedmont of NC. At this time, think the convection will stay
N of metro Charlotte. High temps on Saturday should get knocked
down two categories compared to Friday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 2:30 PM EDT Friday: An upper level positively tilted
trough will be approaching the CWA at the start of the short term
forecast period while the cold front is draped along the coast of
the Carolinas. This trough will track through the CWA throughout the
day Sunday lifting northeast out of the area by Sunday night while
the cold front continues tracking east offshore the Carolinas. This
trough could lead to a slight chance for isolated showers behind the
departing FROPA Saturday evening into Sunday afternoon from the NC
mtns into portions of the NC Piedmont. Otherwise high pressure will
build in behind the departing cold front Sunday into Monday leading
to much drier conditions and cooler temps while a low pressure
system tracks across the Southern Plains. High temps will return to
below normal Sunday thanks to N'ly and NW'ly flow at the sfc and
aloft.These cooler temps will be a much needed relief after seeing
highs in or near 90 for locations outside the mtns the last several
days. Highs will be closer to normal on Monday with upper 70s to mid
80s outside the mtns and low 70s to low 80s across the mtns. Higher
elevations may see slightly cooler highs for Monday.

&&

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Friday: High pressure will be in place across the
Mid-Atlantic states to start the extended. A low pressure system
located over the Southern Plains Tuesday will track northeastward
into the Midwest thoughout the extended period. Although this system
will remain to our north and west, the warm front associated with
the upper low will lead to southerly flow at the mid-levels as early
as Tuesday afternoon. This southerly flow is expected to strengthen
and dominate Wednesday into Friday allowing for moisture to increase
across the SE CONUS. In response, shower and thunderstorm chances
are expected to become widespread towards the second half of the
long term. Currently global models show the best coverage for shower
and thunderstorms Thursday into Friday. Depending on how models
handle this incoming low pressure system, we could finally see some
much needed measurable rainfall late next week. High temps will
remain near normal through the extended period.

&&

.AVIATION /22Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
At KCLT and elsewhere...An unstable pre-frontal air mass was
supporting the development of scattered showers...and eventually
scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Deep mixing was allowing
for a SW breeze with occasional gusts at all terminals, and that
condition should persist until sunset. Coverage of showers and
thunderstorms will increase into the evening as a cold front
approaches from the west. Cloud bases outside the showers should
stay in the 040 to 060 range with a mid-level ceiling spreading
over the top through late afternoon. The main time period for more
concentrated shower/thunderstorm activity appears to begin around
22Z in the west and end around 04Z in the east. All terminals
get a 4hr TEMPO group to address the thunderstorm chances and
associated MVFR restrictions, then a PROB30 for lingering shower
chances over the eastern terminals into the early morning hours
on Saturday. The passage of the front will barely be noticed as
the wind direction does not change late tonight. As the front
crosses, a low cloud ceiling is likely over the mtns, but guidance
is inconsistent. Have kept an MVFR restriction at most terminals
to handle this. Prior guidance suggested a period of IFR in the
pre-dawn hours at KAVL. That could still certainly happen, but
the trend is away from that. Dry air moving in behind the front
should allow for VFR after 14Z or so on Saturday, with SW wind
maintained. Shower activity, and the possible low cloud ceiling,
is expected to stay in the mtns along the TN border, and perhaps
down across the NW Piedmont. For now, KCLT will be kept VFR.

Outlook: VFR conditions are anticipated through the weekend with
only sparse diurnal activity expected.

Confidence Table...

            22-04Z        04-10Z        10-16Z        16-18Z
KCLT       High 100%     High 100%     High  87%     High 100%
KGSP       High 100%     High  95%     Med   60%     High 100%
KAVL       High 100%     Med   62%     Low   55%     High 100%
KHKY       High 100%     Med   75%     Med   77%     High  97%
KGMU       High 100%     High  97%     Med   60%     High 100%
KAND       High 100%     High 100%     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 are available at
the following link:

www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation

&&

.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...AP
NEAR TERM...PM/SBK
SHORT TERM...AP
LONG TERM...AP
AVIATION...PM
Hazardous weather outlook, May 28, 4:08 PM EDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
408 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-292015-
Rabun-Habersham-Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert-Avery-Alexander-
Iredell-Davie-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe-Catawba-
Rowan-Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania-
Henderson-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston-Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-
Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell-Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-
McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell-Rutherford Mountains-
Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk-Oconee Mountains-
Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains-Greater Oconee-
Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Cherokee-York-
Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood-
408 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia, piedmont
North Carolina, western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms are likely to continue this evening. The
main threats from these storms will be cloud-to-ground lightning and
strong to possibly damaging straight line winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about
observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state,
and CDC guidelines.

MPR

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 28, 5:44 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
544 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

NCZ071-072-082-282215-
Union NC-Cabarrus NC-Mecklenburg NC-
544 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN CABARRUS...
SOUTHEASTERN MECKLENBURG AND NORTHERN UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM
EDT...

At 544 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles northwest of Monroe, or over Lake Park, moving east at 35 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Monroe, Matthews, Mint Hill, Indian Trail, Stallings, Unionville,
Wesley Chapel, Lake Park, Hemby Bridge and Midland.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible in these areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.

&&

LAT...LON 3501 8030 3499 8070 3517 8074 3534 8040
      3521 8048 3519 8051 3518 8050 3518 8048
      3517 8047 3516 8044 3517 8042 3516 8041
      3518 8037 3517 8036 3518 8031 3519 8030
      3519 8028
TIME...MOT...LOC 2144Z 261DEG 29KT 3510 8063

HG
Special weather statement, May 28, 5:53 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
553 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

NCZ051-058-282245-
Graham NC-Swain NC-
553 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SWAIN AND GRAHAM COUNTIES UNTIL
645 PM EDT...

At 553 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from 8 miles southeast of Maryville to 7 miles north
of Ducktown, and moving east at 30 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Bryson City, Robbinsville, Town Of Santeetlah, Smoky Mountains-Deep
Creek, Smoky Mountains-Fontana Area, Lake Santeetlah, Fontana Lake,
Fontana Village, Smoky Mountains-Twentymile Creek and Smoky
Mountains-Oconaluftee.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible in these areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.

&&

LAT...LON 3537 8401 3541 8402 3552 8388 3553 8382
      3556 8377 3558 8360 3556 8350 3565 8335
      3565 8332 3557 8324 3547 8332 3547 8335
      3534 8342 3528 8367 3525 8373 3525 8385
      3522 8396 3523 8400 3531 8404 3535 8404
TIME...MOT...LOC 2153Z 259DEG 26KT 3569 8384 3514 8438

HG
Special weather statement, May 28, 6:01 PM EDT, 20 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
601 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

NCZ048>052-282300-
Haywood NC-Yancey NC-Swain NC-Madison NC-Mitchell NC-
601 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT MADISON...NORTHEASTERN SWAIN...
NORTHERN MITCHELL...NORTHWESTERN HAYWOOD AND NORTHERN YANCEY COUNTIES
UNTIL 700 PM EDT...

At 601 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from 10 miles east of Greeneville Tennessee to 7
miles southeast of Newport to 11 miles west of Gatlinburg, and
moving east at 35 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Burnsville, Marshall, Mars Hill, Hot Springs, Smoky Mountains-Balsam
Mountain, Smoky Mountains-Big Creek, Smoky Mountains-Cataloochee,
Smoky Mountains-Oconaluftee, Bakersville and Smoky
Mountains-Clingmans Dome.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph will be possible in these areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.

&&

LAT...LON 3608 8207 3582 8243 3569 8281 3570 8285
      3565 8287 3548 8331 3557 8362 3556 8350
      3576 8316 3578 8299 3588 8290 3593 8292
      3593 8281 3600 8277 3606 8264 3603 8259
      3597 8261 3595 8256 3611 8237 3616 8222
TIME...MOT...LOC 2201Z 279DEG 31KT 3618 8264 3587 8312 3566 8369

HG
Special weather statement, May 28, 6:03 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
603 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

SCZ006-010>012-282230-
Laurens SC-Anderson SC-Abbeville SC-Greater Greenville SC-
603 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL LAURENS...
SOUTHEASTERN GREENVILLE...EAST CENTRAL ANDERSON AND NORTHEASTERN
ABBEVILLE COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM EDT...

At 602 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11
miles east of Anderson, or near Belton, moving northeast at 15 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Belton, Honea Path, Fork Shoals, Princeton and Hickory Tavern.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these
areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.

&&

LAT...LON 3438 8247 3454 8257 3471 8228 3446 8213
TIME...MOT...LOC 2202Z 243DEG 14KT 3450 8244

HG
Special weather statement, May 28, 6:10 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
610 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

SCZ010-011-019-282245-
Anderson SC-Abbeville SC-Greenwood SC-
610 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN ANDERSON...
NORTHEASTERN ABBEVILLE AND NORTHWESTERN GREENWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 645
PM EDT...

At 609 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles south of Anderson, or 4 miles north of Lake Secession, moving
northeast at 20 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Honea Path, Ware Shoals, Due West, Lake Secession, Donalds, Shoals
Junction, Starr, Belton, Antreville and Broadway Lake.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these
areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.

&&

LAT...LON 3422 8258 3438 8269 3456 8242 3455 8241
      3454 8239 3451 8236 3451 8235 3450 8234
      3449 8232 3448 8231 3447 8231 3445 8229
      3435 8221
TIME...MOT...LOC 2209Z 239DEG 19KT 3434 8257

HG
Special weather statement, May 28, 6:21 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
621 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

SCZ007-012-013-282245-
Laurens SC-Union SC-Spartanburg SC-
621 PM EDT Fri May 28 2021

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN LAURENS...
SOUTHEASTERN SPARTANBURG AND WEST CENTRAL UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM
EDT...

At 621 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Laurens, or over Gray Court, moving northeast at
35 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Laurens, Woodruff, Gray Court, Croft State Park, Fountain Inn, Cross
Keys, Pauline, Cross Anchor, Enoree and Ora.

Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail will be possible in these
areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Gusty winds can blow down trees that are dead, or that have weakened
root systems. Outdoor furniture and similar items can be tossed
around if not anchored. Seek shelter indoors.

&&

LAT...LON 3449 8213 3464 8222 3468 8220 3488 8181
      3464 8166
TIME...MOT...LOC 2221Z 243DEG 29KT 3461 8211

HG

The office that day

Everything else NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 28, 3:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPLincoln37 min
May 28, 3:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPMecklenburg32 min
May 28, 3:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGaston36 min
May 28, 3:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGaston37 min
May 28, 4:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPRowan22 min
May 28, 4:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGraham24 min
May 28, 4:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCabarrus, Rowan34 min
May 28, 4:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGaston29 min
May 28, 4:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPSwain31 min
May 28, 4:48 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCabarrus27 min
May 28, 4:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPMecklenburg25 min
May 28, 5:03 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPCabarrus, Rowan27 min
May 28, 5:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPMecklenburg28 min
May 28, 5:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPUnion31 min
May 28, 5:53 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGraham, Swain52 min
May 28, 6:01 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPMadison, Mitchell, Swain59 min
May 28, 6:34 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAvery, Mitchell, Yancey56 min
May 28, 6:38 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGraham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain67 min
May 28, 7:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAvery26 min
May 28, 2:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAnderson33 min
May 28, 2:44 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGreenville31 min
May 28, 2:55 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPOconee, Pickens35 min
May 28, 2:58 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPLaurens32 min
May 28, 3:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPYork26 min
May 28, 3:21 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPSpartanburg24 min
May 28, 3:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPGreenville30 min
May 28, 3:40 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee35 min
May 28, 4:06 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee24 min
May 28, 4:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPChester29 min
May 28, 6:03 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAnderson27 min
May 28, 6:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAbbeville35 min
May 28, 7:31 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee29 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in South Carolina, 2021Every special weather statement in 2021

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.