Alert archive / South Carolina / Special Weather Statements in 2021

Special Weather Statement, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

July 19, 2021Anderson County, Laurens County, South Carolina; Hart County, Georgia

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this special weather statement at Jul 19, 2021, 6:58 PM EDT for Anderson County, Laurens County, South Carolina; Hart County, Georgia. It was in force for 32 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
Jul 19, 2021, 6:58 PM EDT (22:58 UTC)
Expired
Jul 19, 2021, 7:30 PM EDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

Counties Hart County, GA, Anderson County, SC, Laurens County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 51 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:57 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 229 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2021-07-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 73 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2021-07-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 53 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
73 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-76 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
779 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
53 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
51 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

081 
WWUS82 KGSP 192258
SPSGSP

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
658 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021
 
GAZ028-SCZ006-007-010>013-019-192330-
Hart GA-Laurens SC-Anderson SC-Abbeville SC-Greenwood SC-Union SC-
Spartanburg SC-Greater Greenville SC-
658 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL IMPACT CENTRAL HART...
LAURENS...SOUTHEASTERN GREENVILLE...SOUTHEASTERN SPARTANBURG...
ANDERSON...NORTHERN ABBEVILLE...SOUTHWESTERN UNION AND NORTHERN
GREENWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM EDT...

At 658 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms with torrential
rainfall along a line extending from 15 miles southwest of Union to 8
miles southeast of Laurens to 9 miles north of Hartwell, and moving
south at 10 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Anderson, Laurens, Hartwell, Clinton, Homeland Park, Belton,
Northlake, Honea Path, Ware Shoals and Reed Creek.

Very heavy rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour will be possible in
these areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall may flood areas with poor drainage, such as
ditches and underpasses. Avoid these areas and do not cross flooded
roads. Water levels of small streams may also rise rapidly. Seek
higher ground if threatened by flood waters.

&&

LAT...LON 3431 8303 3448 8303 3447 8300 3458 8288
      3460 8218 3475 8185 3452 8165 3437 8178
      3430 8190 3421 8194
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 345DEG 10KT 3453 8176 3440 8196 3449 8292 

$$

RWH

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 Jul 19, 6:04 PM EDT, 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 19, 6:04 PM EDT, 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
604 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

.SYNOPSIS...
An upper-level trough of low pressure will remain just west of the
southern Appalachians through Tuesday, while a weak stationary front
remains stalled over the region. The trough will finally move
southeast of the area on Wednesday. Until then, increased clouds and
precipitation chances will keep high temperatures below normal.
Somewhat drier air arrives from the north on Thursday and
temperatures rebound to near-normal or slightly above through late
week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/...
600 PM Update...The latest sfc analysis indicates low theta/e air
continuing to advect in across the NW Piedmont. This has kept precip
activity to a minma and will lower PoPs to slight or less across
this area. Temps are running well below the fcst curve in many areas
and will adj the grids. Will likely issue a FF.A for the northwest
Upstate and NE GA as the models continue to indicate a good
potential for heavy rainfall overnight due to an advancing sfc bndry
interacting with mech lift in that area.

As of 205 pm: The latest surface analysis indicates the leading edge
of the weak frontal zone has pushed into the northern tier of SC
counties. The boundary will continue to ooze slowly south across the
area through the period, and continue to be the primary focus of
convective development...although terrain effects will work their
usual magic, while PWATs above 1.75" and a weakly forced environment
acting on modest instability will allow showers to develop just
about anywhere. PoPs therefore ramp up to likely-to-categorical this
afternoon across all areas excepting locations north of the front
(i.e., the northwest NC Piedmont), where chance PoPs should suffice.
As was the deal yesterday afternoon/evening, the potential will
exist for cell training, esp in the vicinity of the frontal zone,
resulting in a continued threat of localized flash flooding.
Meanwhile, thunderstorms will be difficult to come by in the weakly
forced warm/moist environment, and the severe storm threat is
therefore virtually non-existent.

Overnight, an upper low is forecast to take shape across the TN
Valley by daybreak Tue. Most short term guidance sources are
developing a weak surface reflection along the boundary to our
west...most likely in the vicinity of the AL/TN/GA border. This
would act to focus low level convergence across far western portions
of our forecast area, with the addition of a respectably strong (for
the time of year) E/SE upslope flow. Therefore, if any part of the
forecast area stands to see more of an organized heavy rainfall
and/or flash flood threat, it would be our northeast GA and
northwest SC zones. We are currently forecasting around 2 inches in
this area through the period, but locally higher amounts are
likely...possibly much higher amount depending upon terrain
exposure. This area is too small and confidence still too low to
consider a Flash Flood Watch, but this area will need closer
scrutiny as time goes forward. Otherwise, PoPs ramp up to
categorical across the southwest quarter or so of the area between 6
and 12Z...tapering to low chance at best across the northwest NC
Piedmont.

Leading edge of the frontal zone is expected to sag south of the
area by the end of Tuesday, taking what little instability there is
along with it. Nevertheless, moisture will remain abundant over the
forecast area, and numerous to widespread showers ongoing at the
start of the day should persist through at least the morning hours,
with a continued potential for locally heavy/excessive rainfall. Max
temps will again be below normal, perhaps well-below normal where
dense low clouds are more persistent (i.e., the Blue Ridge and SC
foothills.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Monday: Tuesday night into Wednesday the trough
axis will remain in place across the CWA, however, PoPs will
gradually decline during this time frame. Models continue showing a
low pressure center breaking off from the trough Tuesday night into
Wednesday and tracking southwest into Texas. The upper-level trough
will track out of the region Wednesday night. The low remains in
Texas as high pressure builds across the Desert Southwest Thursday.
Meanwhile broad troughing remains across the East Coast Thursday
thanks to a large low pressure system in eastern Canada. Moisture
sticks around Tuesday night into Wednesday as the stationary front
remains draped across southern NC and northern SC. PWATs will
continue to hover around 1.5 inches for the mtns and 1.5 to 2.0
inches outside the mtns. The stalled front will lead to southerly
and westerly flow ahead of the frontal boundary with northerly flow
behind it. As a result, diurnal shower and thunderstorm chances
should decrease for the far northeastern zones due to drier air
while scattered diurnal activity looks best across the SC Upstate
and southwest NC mtns on Wednesday. Moisture will gradually decrease
from north to south Wednesday afternoon into Thursday as the
stationary front dissipates. This will allow flow on Thursday to
become mostly westerly and northerly across the CWA leading to
further drying of the lower and mid-levels. In response, PWAT values
should decrease across the northern tier of the forecast area
Thursday. Diurnal shower and thunderstorm chances return Thursday
with the far SW NC mtns and NE GA mtns having the best chance for
PoPs. Highs will gradually increase throughout the short term
period. However, high temps Wednesday will remain a few degrees
below climo, climbing to near or just above climo Thursday.

&&

.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
As of 230 PM EDT Monday: The high pressure system persists out
across the Desert Southwest while low pressure lingers across Texas
for much of the extended forecast period. Broad troughing hangs
around the East Coast Friday into the weekend as a result of large
low pressure systems tracking east across Canada. Lower moisture
content can be expected due to northerly and westerly flow across
the forecast area Friday allowing PWAT values to decrease across the
southern tier. Diurnal shower and thunderstorm chances continue on
Friday with the best chances for PoPs across the mtns. PWATs are
expected to climb back up this weekend into early next week as a
long wave trough digs across the eastern CONUS. A cold front
associated with this trough could track out of the Ohio Valley early
next week approaching the forecast area. This will lead to an uptick
in moisture and PoPs this weekend into early next week. High temps
throughout the extended will be a few degrees above climo.

&&

.AVIATION /22Z MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
At KCLT and Elsewhere: Gradual heating/destabilization combined with
very moist conditions and a weak frontal zone sagging south across
the area will result in a continued expansion of convective coverage
through the afternoon into the evening. TS are expected to remain
quite isolated, so TAF mentions will be limited to VCSH and tempos
for SHRA at most sites into early evening. Flt conditions will
generally be MVFR/low VFR this afternoon/evening, but periods of IFR
visby will be possible in heavier downpours. Convective coverage is
expected to become increasingly confined to the upstate SC terminals
later this evening into the overnight. In fact, shower chances are
actually expected to increase in these areas between 6 and 12Z. As
such, categorical SHRA will be carried at these terminals at some
point during the overnight. Meanwhile, VCSH appears to be adequate
at the NC terminals. Cigs will also begin to lower again at all
sites later this evening, likely reaching IFR, or at least low MVFR
by daybreak Tuesday. Conditions are again expected to be slow to
improve during the daylight hours Tue, while shower chances, albeit
diminishing somewhat, will persist.

Outlook: The moist, unsettled pattern will continue through Tuesday,
with a steady decrease in shower and thunderstorm activity then
expected during the middle to later part of the week.
Overnight/early morning fog/low stratus will be possible each day.

Confidence Table...

            22-04Z        04-10Z        10-16Z        16-18Z
KCLT       High  82%     Low   55%     Med   67%     Med   69%
KGSP       High  92%     Low   59%     Med   75%     High  88%
KAVL       Med   75%     Med   62%     Med   77%     Med   77%
KHKY       High  85%     High  91%     Med   67%     Med   70%
KGMU       High  82%     Low   45%     High  80%     High  88%
KAND       High  95%     Low   52%     High  82%     High  94%

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...DEO
NEAR TERM...JDL/SBK
SHORT TERM...AP
LONG TERM...AP
AVIATION...JDL
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 19, 6:11 PM EDT, 47 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
611 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029-NCZ033-035>037-048>053-056>059-062>065-
068>072-082-501>510-SCZ001>014-019-202215-
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-
611 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

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

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Showers with embedded thunderstorms will continue to develop across
the area this evening and into the overnight. Most of the activity
will occur across the Upstate and northeast Georgia. The main
threats, will be cloud to ground lightning along with heavy downpours
possibly leading to localized minor flooding. Heavier rainfall is
expected to develop across the western Upstate and northeast Georgia
overnight and a Flash Flood Watch will likely be issued this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday.

Numerous showers will persist through Tuesday, producing heavy
rainfall throughout the day. The flash flooding threat will
gradually
increase throughout the day as rain falls on saturated soils and
raised stream levels already primed by tonight's activity. This will
set the stage for additional flood potential on Tuesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

None.

Krentz

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 19, 5:57 PM EDT, 1 hour 1 minute before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
557 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

GAZ017-018-026-028-SCZ001-004>014-019-192230-
Hart GA-Franklin GA-Stephens GA-Habersham GA-York SC-
Greater Pickens SC-Cherokee SC-Greater Oconee SC-Laurens SC-
Abbeville SC-Chester SC-Anderson SC-Greenwood SC-Union SC-
Oconee Mountains SC-Spartanburg SC-Greater Greenville SC-
557 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL IMPACT NORTHERN
HART...NORTHERN FRANKLIN...STEPHENS...HABERSHAM...LAURENS...
SOUTHWESTERN PICKENS...UNION...SOUTHERN OCONEE...SOUTHEASTERN
GREENVILLE...NORTHWESTERN CHESTER...SOUTHWESTERN YORK...CENTRAL
SPARTANBURG...ANDERSON...SOUTHERN CHEROKEE...NORTHEASTERN ABBEVILLE
AND NORTHWESTERN GREENWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM EDT...

At 557 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms with torrential
rainfall along a line extending from 15 miles southwest of York to 14
miles west of Union to 3 miles north of Laurens to 8 miles northeast
of Hartwell to 5 miles southwest of Clarkesville, and moving
southeast at 20 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Spartanburg, Anderson, Clemson, Laurens, Toccoa, Seneca, Union,
Walhalla, Clarkesville and Hartwell.

Very heavy rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour will be possible in
these areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall may flood areas with poor drainage, such as
ditches and underpasses. Avoid these areas and do not cross flooded
roads. Water levels of small streams may also rise rapidly. Seek
higher ground if threatened by flood waters.

&&

LAT...LON 3470 8363 3473 8339 3472 8335 3474 8334
      3478 8306 3468 8211 3498 8205 3505 8172
      3483 8103 3453 8164 3441 8175 3431 8256
      3442 8338 3446 8340 3448 8347 3449 8354
      3445 8360 3451 8366 3454 8362 3465 8366
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 299DEG 16KT 3490 8148 3471 8188 3455 8203 3445
8285 3456 8360

RWH
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:30 PM EDT, 28 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
630 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

GAZ028-SCZ006-007-010>013-019-192300-
Hart GA-Laurens SC-Anderson SC-Abbeville SC-Greenwood SC-Union SC-
Spartanburg SC-Greater Greenville SC-
630 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL IMPACT HART...
LAURENS...SOUTHEASTERN GREENVILLE...SOUTHEASTERN SPARTANBURG...
ANDERSON...NORTHERN ABBEVILLE...CENTRAL UNION AND NORTHWESTERN
GREENWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM EDT...

At 630 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms with torrential
rainfall along a line extending from near Union to 3 miles southwest
of Laurens to 10 miles north of Hartwell, and moving south at 15 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Anderson, Laurens, Union, Hartwell, Greenwood, Clinton, Homeland
Park, Belton, Northlake and Honea Path.

Very heavy rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour will be possible in
these areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall may flood areas with poor drainage, such as
ditches and underpasses. Avoid these areas and do not cross flooded
roads. Water levels of small streams may also rise rapidly. Seek
higher ground if threatened by flood waters.

&&

LAT...LON 3425 8274 3427 8275 3429 8277 3426 8288
      3427 8310 3448 8301 3447 8300 3457 8289
      3462 8207 3487 8156 3461 8154 3420 8209
TIME...MOT...LOC 2230Z 006DEG 13KT 3476 8164 3445 8206 3451 8290

RWH
Special weather statement, Jul 19, 6:58 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
658 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

GAZ028-SCZ006-007-010>013-019-192330-
Hart GA-Laurens SC-Anderson SC-Abbeville SC-Greenwood SC-Union SC-
Spartanburg SC-Greater Greenville SC-
658 PM EDT Mon Jul 19 2021

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORRENTIAL RAINFALL WILL IMPACT CENTRAL HART...
LAURENS...SOUTHEASTERN GREENVILLE...SOUTHEASTERN SPARTANBURG...
ANDERSON...NORTHERN ABBEVILLE...SOUTHWESTERN UNION AND NORTHERN
GREENWOOD COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM EDT...

At 658 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms with torrential
rainfall along a line extending from 15 miles southwest of Union to 8
miles southeast of Laurens to 9 miles north of Hartwell, and moving
south at 10 mph.

Locations to be impacted include...
Anderson, Laurens, Hartwell, Clinton, Homeland Park, Belton,
Northlake, Honea Path, Ware Shoals and Reed Creek.

Very heavy rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour will be possible in
these areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall may flood areas with poor drainage, such as
ditches and underpasses. Avoid these areas and do not cross flooded
roads. Water levels of small streams may also rise rapidly. Seek
higher ground if threatened by flood waters.

&&

LAT...LON 3431 8303 3448 8303 3447 8300 3458 8288
      3460 8218 3475 8185 3452 8165 3437 8178
      3430 8190 3421 8194
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 345DEG 10KT 3453 8176 3440 8196 3449 8292

RWH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 18, 8:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCatawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln36 min
Jul 18, 9:13 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPAlexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston and 3 more4 hr
Jul 18, 10:04 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPCabarrus, Davie, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Rowan3 hr
Jul 18, 10:54 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPCherokee, Chester, Union, York3 hr
Jul 18, 11:06 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPAbbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Spartanburg3 hr
Jul 19, 5:57 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAnderson, Laurens, Oconee, Spartanburg, Union33 min
Jul 19, 6:19 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPOconee116 min
Jul 19, 6:30 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPAbbeville, Anderson, Laurens, Union30 min
Jul 19, 7:28 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPLaurens32 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in South Carolina, 2021Special Weather Statements in Georgia, 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.