Alert archive / Georgia / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 21, 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, 2:22 PM EDT for Elbert County, Georgia; Abbeville County, South Carolina. It was in force for 38 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
May 3, 2021, 2:22 PM EDT (18:22 UTC)
Expired
May 3, 2021, 3:00 PM EDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.0 in

Counties Elbert County, GA, Abbeville County, SC

The radar

The Greer radar (KGSP), 95 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:21 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 3, 2:34 PM EDTHAIL 1.5Calhoun Falls, SCCO-OP OBSERVER REPORTED PING PONG BALL (1.50) SIZE HAIL IN CALHOUN FALLS

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 3, 1:25 PM EDTTornado WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 193 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 2021-05-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 674 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2021-05-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 207 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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.

712 
WFUS52 KGSP 031822
TORGSP
GAC105-SCC001-031900-
/O.NEW.KGSP.TO.W.0021.210503T1822Z-210503T1900Z/

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

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a

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

* Until 300 PM EDT.
    
* At 222 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 6 miles east of Elberton, or near Middleton, moving
  northeast at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  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...
  Calhoun Falls around 240 PM EDT.

Other locations impacted by this dangerous thunderstorm include
Fortsonia.

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 3411 8282 3424 8256 3406 8245 3406 8246
      3408 8248 3407 8250 3407 8253 3404 8257
      3401 8279
TIME...MOT...LOC 1822Z 245DEG 30KT 3408 8275 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

KRENTZ
3 follow-up statements
034 
WWUS52 KGSP 031827
SVSGSP

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

GAC105-SCC001-031900-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-210503T1900Z/
Elbert GA-Abbeville SC-
227 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL ELBERT AND SOUTHWESTERN ABBEVILLE COUNTIES...
    
At 227 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 11 miles east of Elberton, or near Lake Russell, moving
east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

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...
  Calhoun Falls around 230 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 3412 8275 3424 8256 3406 8245 3406 8246
      3408 8248 3407 8250 3407 8253 3404 8257
      3403 8269
TIME...MOT...LOC 1827Z 248DEG 30KT 3410 8267 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

KRENTZ
747 
WWUS52 KGSP 031833
SVSGSP

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

GAC105-031843-
/O.CAN.KGSP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-210503T1900Z/
Elbert GA-
233 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL ELBERT COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
    
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of 
the warned area. Therefore the warning has been cancelled.

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

LAT...LON 3407 8264 3409 8264 3410 8266 3413 8267
      3415 8271 3424 8256 3406 8245 3408 8248
      3407 8250 3407 8253 3404 8257 3404 8261
TIME...MOT...LOC 1833Z 247DEG 23KT 3411 8260 

$$

SCC001-031900-
/O.CON.KGSP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-210503T1900Z/
Abbeville SC-
233 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 300 PM EDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN ABBEVILLE COUNTY...
    
At 233 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 13 miles west of Abbeville, or near Calhoun Falls, moving
east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

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 remain over mainly rural areas of
southwestern Abbeville County.

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 3407 8264 3409 8264 3410 8266 3413 8267
      3415 8271 3424 8256 3406 8245 3408 8248
      3407 8250 3407 8253 3404 8257 3404 8261
TIME...MOT...LOC 1833Z 247DEG 23KT 3411 8260 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...1.00IN

$$

KRENTZ
434 
WWUS52 KGSP 031852 RRA
SVSGSP

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

SCC001-031902-
/O.EXP.KGSP.TO.W.0021.000000T0000Z-210503T1900Z/
Abbeville SC-
252 PM EDT Mon May 3 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN ABBEVILLE COUNTY WILL EXPIRE
AT 300 PM EDT...
        
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore the warning will be allowed to expire.

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

LAT...LON 3407 8264 3409 8264 3410 8266 3413 8267
      3415 8271 3424 8256 3406 8245 3408 8248
      3407 8250 3407 8253 3404 8257 3404 8261
TIME...MOT...LOC 1852Z 245DEG 30KT 3417 8243 

$$

KRENTZ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 3, 1:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPElbert35 min
May 3, 1:34 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPElbert41 min
May 3, 1:56 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPElbert49 min
May 3, 2:10 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPElbert18 min
May 3, 4:27 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryGSPElbert, Hart3 hr
May 3, 11:58 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementGSPCherokee32 min
May 3, 12:38 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPCherokee, York37 min
May 3, 2:09 PM EDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatGSPAbbeville, Greenwood51 min
May 3, 2:43 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPAbbeville18 min
May 3, 2:49 PM EDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatGSPGreenwood, Laurens41 min
May 3, 2:59 PM EDTTornado WarningGSPAbbeville, Greenwood26 min
May 3, 3:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPGreenwood, Laurens34 min
May 3, 3:28 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGSPGreenwood32 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Georgia, 2021Tornado Warnings in South Carolina, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes 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.