Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC

May 3, 2021Elbert County, Georgia; Abbeville County, South Carolina

NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC issued this tornado warning at May 3, 2021, 1:34 PM EDT for Elbert County, Georgia; Abbeville County, South Carolina. It was in force for 41 min. 3 reports 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: May 3, 2021, 1:34 PM EDT (17:34 UTC)
Expired: May 3, 2021, 2:15 PM EDT
In force: 41 min
Issued by: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties Elbert County, GA, Abbeville County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:34 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
May 3, 1:41 PM EDT	TORNADO	2 Nw Elberton, GA	TREE DAMAGE AND ROOF COLLAPSE BETWEEN BEECHWOOD RD AND BOWMAN HWY WAS CAUSED BY EF1 TORNADO.
May 3, 1:41 PM EDT	TORNADO	3 Nw Elberton, GA	COUNTY OFFICIAL REPORTED POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE ON THE 1400 BLOCK OF BOWMAN HWY. REPORTED TREES DOWN AND DAMAGE TO METAL BUILDINGS.
May 3, 2:07 PM EDT	TORNADO	3 Sw Lowndesville, SC	* 1 INJ * EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RELAYED TO AN NWS STORM SURVEY THAT A PERSON WAS INJURED WHEN BLOWN OFF A BACK PORCH DURING THIS EVENT.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 3, 1:25 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 5.6 hours before the alert went out and 176 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 674 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -54 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 671 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 207 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 272 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.8
Supercell composite: 4.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

610 
WFUS52 KGSP 031734
TORGSP
GAC105-SCC001-031815-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0018.210503T1734Z-210503T1815Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
134 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Elbert County in northeastern Georgia...
  Southwestern Abbeville County in Upstate South Carolina...

* Until 215 PM EDT.
    
* At 134 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 5 miles west of Elberton, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Elberton around 150 PM EDT.
  Middleton, Russell State Park and Lake Russell around 200 PM EDT.
  Lowndesville and Calhoun Falls around 210 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this dangerous thunderstorm include Dewy
Rose, Sweet City, Rice Town, Richard B Russell Dam and Ruckersville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3406 8299 3408 8300 3408 8301 3410 8303
      3415 8304 3424 8274 3421 8274 3427 8266
      3428 8261 3402 8258 3401 8259
TIME...MOT...LOC 1734Z 263DEG 24KT 3412 8296 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

8

2 follow-up statements

096 
WWUS52 KGSP 031747
SVSGSP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
147 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

GAC105-SCC001-031815-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210503T1815Z/
Elbert GA-Abbeville SC-
147 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
ELBERT AND SOUTHWESTERN ABBEVILLE COUNTIES...
    
At 146 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Elberton, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Russell State Park and Lake Russell around 200 PM EDT.
  Lowndesville around 210 PM EDT.
  Lake Secession and Calhoun Falls around 220 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this dangerous storm include
Ruckersville.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

If on or near Lake Russell, get away from the water and move to safe 
shelter immediately. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough 
to be struck by lightning. Severe thunderstorms can produce large 
capsizing waves, even on small bodies of water. Move into dock and 
seek safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a 
thunderstorm.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3412 8291 3419 8292 3424 8274 3421 8274
      3427 8266 3428 8261 3410 8259
TIME...MOT...LOC 1746Z 256DEG 26KT 3416 8286 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

8

487 
WWUS52 KGSP 031804
SVSGSP

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
204 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

GAC105-031813-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210503T1815Z/
Elbert GA-
204 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL ELBERT COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
    
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of 
the warned area and therefore the warning has been cancelled. 
Additional tornadic storms cannot be ruled out this afternoon.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM EDT for northeastern
Georgia...and Upstate South Carolina.

LAT...LON 3410 8266 3413 8268 3415 8272 3418 8273
      3420 8273 3420 8274 3421 8274 3427 8264
      3428 8262 3428 8261 3410 8259
TIME...MOT...LOC 1803Z 262DEG 25KT 3418 8270 

$$

SCC001-031815-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-210503T1815Z/
Abbeville SC-
204 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ABBEVILLE COUNTY...
    
At 203 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 10 miles northeast of Elberton, or near Russell State
Park, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This dangerous storm will be near...
  Lowndesville around 210 PM EDT.
  Calhoun Falls and Lake Secession around 220 PM EDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 3410 8266 3413 8268 3415 8272 3418 8273
      3420 8273 3420 8274 3421 8274 3427 8264
      3428 8262 3428 8261 3410 8259
TIME...MOT...LOC 1803Z 262DEG 25KT 3418 8270 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

8

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 1:25 PM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Elbert	35 min
May 3, 1:56 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Elbert	49 min
May 3, 2:10 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Elbert	18 min
May 3, 2:22 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Elbert	38 min
May 3, 4:27 PM EDT	Areal Flood Advisory	GSP	Elbert, Hart	3 hr
May 3, 11:58 AM EDT	Special Weather Statement	GSP	Cherokee	32 min
May 3, 12:38 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Cherokee, York	37 min
May 3, 2:09 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threat	GSP	Abbeville, Greenwood	51 min
May 3, 2:43 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Abbeville	18 min
May 3, 2:49 PM EDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threat	GSP	Greenwood, Laurens	41 min
May 3, 2:59 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	GSP	Abbeville, Greenwood	26 min
May 3, 3:23 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenwood, Laurens	34 min
May 3, 3:28 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	GSP	Greenwood	32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2021 Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2021 Every tornado warning in 2021 Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.